GHILLIE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
Pigeon Identification:
This introduced species is now commonly found in flocks around cities and in agricultural areas. They are easily identified, most often grey with black banding and purple/ green iridescent feathers on the throat. However mating with domesticated strains have meant they can show a wide variety of plumage from brown to red to black.
They can be further identified by the cooing sounds they make while roosting or when walking around on the ground. Their wing tips beat together noisily when taking off and is quite distinctive of this species.
Pigeons nest in groups and prefer to nest in building than more natural sites. They mostly breed from early spring to late summer and can have two broods in a year. Two white eggs are produced per brood in a nest made from twigs and roots. They hatch in 17-19 days and fledge from 30 to 35 days. They may live around 6 years in the wild. They are non migratory and spend all year round in their home area. The pigeon becomes independent in 30-70 days, and then commences breeding at 6 months. Pigeons can also lay more eggs before the previous young leave their nest.
When a pigeon finds a preferred nesting, roosting and feeding area they are very reluctant to leave and will bring other pigeons to the area.
Problems Pigeons may cause:
Pigeon droppings deface and accelerate the deterioration of buildings and is corrosive to vehicle paintwork. Large amounts of droppings produce an objectionable odor. Around grain handling facilities, pigeons consume and contaminate large quantities of food destined for human or livestock consumption.
Pigeons may carry and spread diseases to people and livestock through their droppings. They are known to carry or transmit pigeon ornithosis, encephalitis, Newcastle disease, cryptococcosis, toxoplasmosis, salmonella food poisoning, and several other diseases. Additionally, under the right conditions pigeon manure may harbor airborne spores of the causal agent of histoplasmosis, a systemic fungus disease that can infect humans. The ectoparasites of pigeons include various species of fleas, lice, mites, ticks, and other biting insects, some of which readily bite people. The northern fowl mite found on pigeons is an important pest transmitted to poultry.