Bird scarers

[judyvin]

I have noticed quite a few bird scarers recently and I wondered if anyone knows who is selling them?

[The Banshee]

I saw one flying outside the Yapi Market in Karaoglanoglu. Coming from Girne it's the one on the left after the University turning.

[Loobyloo]

Homemaker in South had them about£90.00

[jofra]

£90.00 !!! Ninety GBP?
Are we speaking of these bird-shaped kites that are flown from roach poles (overgrown fishing rods)?
I was half-considering buying one (to keep my terrace clean! ), but at that price?!?!?

[italcyp]

The Yapi market is the one almost opposite Starlux cinema I asked for the price he told me 325tl he may give a bit of discount if you ask

[judyvin]

Thank you for your replies. Sounds like they are the same ones you can get in the UK from a company called Scarem.

[SussexBoy]

Has anyone got experience on the effectiveness of this type of bird scarer - and particularly against sparrows?

[ozankoys]

We bought one from Superhome in the South for €19.95 it seems to discourage the pigeons

[Keithcaley]

We bought one from Superhome in the South for €19.95 it seems to discourage the pigeons

That sounds more like it!

Because the behaviour of the scarer depends on the wind conditions at any particular moment, their actions are not predictable, which seems to me to make them an ideal weapon in your armoury, as birds do get used to the pattern of behaviour of some other devices, and then just ignore them!

[ifonly]

Ozankoys - did you buy it recently and if so was it in the pest control section (where they have the mice traps and bird spikes etc ) or somewhere else in store ? Thanks

[ozankoys]

We bought it a couple of weeks ago in the pest control section but the display model was the only one they had I do not know if they have new stock in yet sorry.
They are cheaper from Amazon if you know anyone coming over they do not weigh anything.
It is possible they sell them in the 'hunting shoôting fishing' shops because the ones we have seen around here seem to be mounted on fishing rods?

[crofter]

Have used Scarem for years and they are very effective. We do not get any pigeons on our roof and our neighbours benefit as well. The initial outlay is pricey but thereafter the Scarem kites/Hawk can be bought separately. Check out their website. http://www.scarem.co.uk. We buy online and friends bring out for us.

[Jonnie]

Pidgeons, best to trap them and kill them. Flying rats but they eat well.

Google pidgeon traps

[ozankoys]

Business opportunity anyone??

[frontalman]

We find putting out bread and birdseed attracts all kinds of birds including sparrows and doves. We love to see them all bathing in the swimming pool when the filtering stops. What's the matter with you sick bunch of excuses for human beings????

[Keithcaley]

This

[Jonnie]

I only have a problem with pidgeons and if you kill them and eat them how does that make me a sick human? It is no different to eating chickens and is in fact probably more humane as most a factory reared and full of growth hormones.

[laptatony]

We bought one from the south side, works great not only stops them crapping by the pool or on the terraces when they fly across. Thoroughly recommend them. Next thing is the cat deterrent otherwise it will not just be pigeon pie but curried cat.

[Ragged Robin]

We find putting out bread and birdseed attracts all kinds of birds including sparrows and doves. We love to see them all bathing in the swimming pool when the filtering stops. What's the matter with you sick bunch of excuses for human beings????

I am entirely with you on this one Frontalman. I enjoy the birds fluttering among the trees and hearing their twittering. Unfortunately I dont get many because of the stray cats fed by neighbours, which makes it pointless putting out food ; but the sparrows at least seem to enjoy something in the jasmine outside my bedroom window and the cats cant reach it. Idid spend a lot of time trying to identify one bird's notes, and eventually traced it to a canary in a cage in my neighbours]'s garden. Before any start on that one, it was carefully positioned in an orange tree, well shaded, and had food and water.

What is the matter with people you ask ? It seems to me that they are so busy showing off their grand villas , racing in their fast cars and shopping for unnecessary luxuries that they miss and destroy all the beauty of nature all around them for free.

[Ragged Robin]

Ps What is wrong with a cat as a bird scarer?

PPS The Cypriots seem to use empty water bottles hung from trees. Also deters flies as due to their weird eyesight they seem themselves magnified to giants flies in the the curved plastic.

[Ragged Robin]

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare

W.H. Davies

[ozankoys]

RR so you would consider pigeon poop all round your house on balconies & terraces a 'beauty of nature' I somehow do not think so. So where do the 4x4's come in how are they relevant to this post you seem to want to include them whatever the subject!

[jackvern]

Totally agree with you Ozankoys. It's the mess they make and of course the acid damages paintwork.
Love to see them sunning themselves around the pool,drinking and washing. What they leave behind upsets me and eventually ends up in the pool. Would love them to all fly upside down or at least visit other properties. It's like 633 squadron when they arrive.

[frontalman]

Totally agree with you Ozankoys. It's the mess they make and of course the acid damages paintwork.
Love to see them sunning themselves around the pool,drinking and washing. What they leave behind upsets me and eventually ends up in the pool. Would love them to all fly upside down or at least visit other properties. It's like 633 squadron when they arrive.

The small amount of bird poo (not so small in our case, as our garden is a haven for birds) is taken care of by the filtering and chemicals - it's what they're for. How sad that your paint is being slightly degraded, the rains will come soon and wash it all into your garden where it will fertilise your hungry plants. Isn't nature wonderful!

[PoshinDevon]

I am afraid pigeons are the vermin of the bird world. There droppings do cause damage to paintwork on vehicles and houses plus the deposits are not pleasant should one accidentally step in it.

Animals of all kinds are wonderful things, however some species do need to be controlled or they will and do get out of hand. I would favour a controlled annual cull myself, however some may feel this to drastic. A bit like cats really, lovely furry kittens, gambolling around everywhere.....how lovely. In actual fact in some areas cats are a real menace, often gathering in large numbers outside back doors where they sense a "soft touch" will feed them. Holidaymakers staying in their villas or apts for two weeks come and put food out daily.....the cats arrive, eat, deffecate and often deposit their bin fleas and other undesirables around. Whilst we understand that some are cat lovers, perphaps your neighbour is not and does not want these things hanging around there property. I know of some neighbours who put food out for the cats, who gather around constantly calling every day.....then once the cats have had there fill and are still sat or lying around the neighbour is trying to shoo them away. It's to late, you encouraged them so what do you expect! In addition when people put food out they often just leave it to fester all day encouraging other vermin, flies, hornets etc. Sadly there are many who give little thought of how there so called good deed affects others. If cats must be fed, put the food down in a neutral area away from properties if possible. Clear the excess food away if it isn't all eaten within say 30mins. It surely is just common sense. The interbreeding of cats does them no good either. Some people have tried to reduce the problem by taking the odd cat down to be "done", unfortunately there are so many in some areas that this has little impact. So again harsh as it may seem, maybe a cull is the answer? Enough about cats........

Our neighbour has recently set up a bird scarer on his roof and it seems to be working well in that the pigeons do stay away.....albeit gathering three rooftops down. I will monitor the performance and if the device and rod survive the winter wind and rains then it will be on my purchase list for next year or sure.

[frontalman]

"Animals of all kinds are wonderful things, however some species do need to be controlled or they will and do get out of hand."

One could argue that homo sapiens are the most 'out of control' and are destroying the planet. I remember as a child feeding the pigeons at Trafalgar Square, it was a real treat and we were photographed with about 10 or 12 of them on our arms and shoulders. Red Ken put a stop to this, of course.

[PoshinDevon]

"Animals of all kinds are wonderful things, however some species do need to be controlled or they will and do get out of hand."

One could argue that homo sapiens are the most 'out of control' and are destroying the planet. I remember as a child feeding the pigeons at Trafalgar Square, it was a real treat and we were photographed with about 10 or 12 of them on our arms and shoulders. Red Ken put a stop to this, of course.

Indeed we could argue about Homo sapiens.

I prefer to concentrate on pigeons and cats myself. Pigeons taste not bad actually so culling them would be making best use of them......of course there will probably be a very important health and safety reason why town pigeons would not be good to introduce into the food chain or be fit for human consumption. As for cats, they do need controlling. I believe there are lots of reasons why, plus of course inter breeding does not help them at all.

Food for thought.

[Jonnie]

The protection of cats has probably led to a decline in things like chameleons which in turn probably leads to an increase in certain bugs. No problem with eating pigeons from the wild and probably more healthy than shop bought meat..... this looks particularly nice.

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/pig ... mble-gravy

[Ragged Robin]

RR so you would consider pigeon poop all round your house on balconies & terraces a 'beauty of nature' I somehow do not think so. So where do the 4x4's come in how are they relevant to this post you seem to want to include them whatever the subject!

Ozankoys: you obviously have a guilty conscience because I never mentioned 4.x4s - I said "Fast cars" which in the context of the op includes but is not exclusive to 4x4s

Actually I would prefer pigeon poops on balconies and terraces to dust , mud and lethal exhaust gases in my living rooms and thrown at me when I open the front door. Perhaps you would like to come round and clean my house twice a day to see what it is like? And that is not to mention the damage said dust and gases does to my health. IN THIS CONTEXT 4 x4s are worse, because of their height which makes their exhausts empty into my windows. As Frontalman says "poops" can be usefully recycled: the "poop" of the internal combustion engine ends up as a parcel of filthy dangerous rags in my dustbin!

Perhaps someone would advise me where I can get a driver scarer - or perhaps a shotgun would be more effective.

[Ragged Robin]

Pigeons, cats, stray dogs, chameleons - it is all a matter of balance of nature. Homo sapiens upsets it, and the ecology generally and then complains when it "*hits" back" and punishes the animals they had ousted from their natural habitat I dont have a problem with pigeons at least not one the dogs cant cope with - but thenI dont have a swimming pool. Probably your villas and pools are built on woodland where the pigeons used to roost and they are trying to find their way home, taking a drink in the pool on the way

[Ragged Robin]

"Animals of all kinds are wonderful things, however some species do need to be controlled or they will and do get out of hand."

One could argue that homo sapiens are the most 'out of control' and are destroying the planet. I remember as a child feeding the pigeons at Trafalgar Square, it was a real treat and we were photographed with about 10 or 12 of them on our arms and shoulders. Red Ken put a stop to this, of course.

Me too - and I think I still have one of the photos around somewhere.

However, when you think about it was probably our sharing our sannies with the birds that contributed to their numbers in Trafalgar Square becoming a nuisance! As Posh in DEvon says about cats, sometimes what people think of as kindness is in fact cruelty either to the creature in question, or another! AS an example there are dogs at nearly in the houses around me , including my own three rescued dogs, and I think mine are the only ones that are kept indoors at night and when I am out. The stray cats encouraged by others, of course, starts them all off barking, and I am terrified that the noise will "inspire" some weak minded person to put down poison and kill off all the animals , innocent or otherwise. If you encourage an animal you should take responsibility for it and do your best to prevent it becoming a problem for others..

sorry,

[frontalman]

I believe pigeons are included in the small game hunt which has just finished here in Cyprus, so they are culled. How many are loose in the hunting areas is a different question, as they tend to congregate. Pigeon nuisance in the UK, which is more built up, is out of my thoughts as I am here in Cyprus. Cats are a bird's worst enemy everywhere. We have a bungalow so are not affected so much by pigeons, although we had collared doves nesting just by our pool this year.

Posh, are your views concerned with birds here in Cyprus or more generally?

[PoshinDevon]

Pigeons both here and in the UK are a problem, especially in built up areas. They congregate on roof tops in large numbers and defecate .....a lot......like pigeons do. No amount of culling by hunting or cats seems to have much affect.

[Ragged Robin]

Actually I am not sure that cats are so effective in killing pigeons : they are more likely to catch the smaller birds. The reason for the increase in pigeons generally may be due, again, to balance of nature: they are more likely to fall foul of the larger raptors, but the numbers of these have declined due to modern farming methods : the carcasses of dead equine animals used to be a source of food for them, tractors are less digestible!

[ozankoys]

Funnily enough one of our cats caught a pigeon yesterday & brought it indoors. After a bit of a mad few minutes which required a lot of cleaning up himself managed to get it outside & it flew off very strongly to carry on pooping.
RR please accept my apologies you unusually did not indeed mention '4x4s' on this particular occasion.

[Ragged Robin]

If you really want to see really nasty bird excreta, try getting a swallow trapped in your house. Happened to me some years ago, and the place looked as if someone had been throwing a bottle of ink around. A friend had a swallows' nest on her property and she simply put a sheet of newspaper underneath each day.

I hope I am not putting the cat among the pigeons by following a sideline to the main topic, but has anyone else been watching "One man and his dog" on BBC TV ? Always lovely to see those beautiful clever dogs, but this year it is taking place on Hampstead Heath!!! They did a short feature on the way they were managing the Heath and its woodland so that it remained a habitat for many unusual species of wildlife , but was kept safe and pleasant for humans without disturbing the ecology. And all with the background of the central London skyline! A wonderful example - I wish someone here had had the will, knowledge and influence to follow the precepts before covering so much of the country with concrete boxes.

There - not a word about you know what vehicles, but I couldn't resist concrete boxes