How to Keep Pigeons Away From Bird Feeders

Pigeons are a nuisance. They're dirty, create noise and scare away smaller birds. Depending on your current bird-feeding setup, it can be easy, or impossible, to keep pigeons away. If the right conditions are met, you just might be able to keep your bird-feeding area pigeon-free.

The best way to keep pigeons away from bird feeders is to make the bird food inaccessible to larger birds. If your bird feeder is open and has adequate space for a pigeon to perch, it will be more difficult to scare the birds away. Consider purchasing or building a smaller bird feeder that will only support the weight of the birds you wish to feed.

Another way to keep pigeons away from bird feeders is to scare the birds. Owls and hawks commonly feed on pigeons, so the birds can be deterred from entering the area if they believe owls or hawks are present. The best way to do this is to encourage actual hawks and owls to frequent your bird-feeding area, but this can be difficult. A cheaper alternative is to introduce fake predatory birds to your environment. Place a plastic hawk or owl decoy close to your bird-feeding station, preferably on a roof top or in a nearby tree.

Another option is to employ an electronic device to repel the pigeons from your bird-feeding area. These devices commonly use the sounds of distressed birds to signal to pigeons that the area around your feeder is potentially dangerous. These devices can target specific species, such as pigeons, and avoid scaring smaller birds. However, there is a noise factor to consider when installing such a device.