When you hear the word "bird's nest," what shape comes to mind? Many people have probably seen swallow's nests built under the eaves of private homes, and they have the impression of being carefully and securely constructed, with an open-topped, bowl-shaped structure and layered mud from the base up. In comparison, pigeon's nests appear to be "roughly constructed," with twigs and other materials piled up haphazardly.
In this article, we will focus on pigeon nests and provide a detailed explanation from the perspective of a bird pest control specialist about their characteristics, why they appear to be "carelessly made," and the precautions to take when handling the nests.
table of contents
- What are the features of a pigeon nest?
- Why pigeon nests look 'crudely made'
- Pigeon nesting season and habits
- Places where pigeons are likely to build nests
- Precautions when handling pigeon nests
- Measures to prevent pigeons from building nests
- Creating an environment that prevents pigeons from building nests within living areas is the key to coexistence
What are the features of a pigeon nest?
We will explain about pigeon nests, which are often consulted about as the damage caused by nesting. The characteristics of pigeon nests are as follows.
■ Shape and size
Pigeon nests are flat, shallow, dish-shaped, and look like twigs and dead leaves piled up haphazardly. Compared to the elaborate bowl-shaped or spherical nests built by other birds, pigeon nests are characterized by their fairly simple structure. The size of the nest is small enough for the parent bird to fit inside, so it can be set up in a tree or in a narrow space. There are no variations depending on the habitat, such as the way nests are built changing in colder areas such as Tohoku.
■ Materials used by pigeons to build nests
They mainly build their nests by collecting thin tree branches, dead leaves, feathers, etc. They tend to build their nests from materials that are easily available near the ground, are light and easy to carry, and can be easily assembled. In urban areas, they sometimes use scraps of newspapers and lint discarded by humans, but unlike crows, they do not use large man-made objects such as hangers.
Why pigeon nests look 'crudely made'
The reason why pigeon nests look "crudely made" is thought to be related to the ecology and evolutionary process of pigeons, as follows:
■ Pigeons are birds that build their nests in the crevices of cliffs and rocks.
Pigeons are birds that originally built their nests in the crevices of cliffs and rocks. Therefore, they did not need to tightly join tree branches together to build a sturdy nest; it was thought that a few branches and grass would be enough to secure a place for eggs and chicks.
■They began to live closer to humans and build nests using minimal materials.
Pigeons have adapted to urban areas and human habitations, building nests in stable locations such as gaps between buildings or on balconies. These locations are often less susceptible to wind and rain, and their nests are less likely to collapse, so it is thought that the habit of using minimal materials has remained.
■They have a fast breeding cycle and do not need to maintain a nest for long periods of time.
Pigeons breed five or six times a year, so they need to build new nests frequently, and it is thought that they prioritize building new nests quickly and with a minimum of materials over sturdiness. They also reuse nests, so a simple structure may be more convenient for them to repair and reuse the nests they have built.
■ Designed to prevent eggs from rolling
At first glance, pigeon nests may look "roughly made," but they are simply but exquisitely constructed to keep the eggs in place. Because the parents take turns incubating and protecting the eggs, this is an evolutionary strategy that instinctively creates a place where the eggs and chicks can rest, at the very least.
The reason why pigeon nests look "roughly made" is because, during the course of evolution, they have adapted to an environment where they can survive in simple nests. This was influenced by the ease of reproduction and the ease of living in human society, and there was a rational reason that they did not need to build elaborate nests because a minimal construction was sufficient.
Pigeon nesting season and habits
Pigeons are birds that breed all year round, but are especially active in spring (late March to early May) and autumn (September to November). Pigeons have the following nest-building habits:
■ Before building a nest, check whether the location is safe.
Pigeons have a set pattern of behavior before they build a nest. Before building a nest, they will look around the place, whether it is a safe place or a high place, and will stop there temporarily as a resting place to rest their wings. If they judge the place to be safe and comfortable, they will not only fly there during the day, but will also stay there at night and use it as a roost, and finally start building a nest.
■ They have a strong homing instinct and a strong sense of territory.
Pigeons have a strong homing instinct, and it is said that they can return to their nests even from 500 to 1000 km away. They also have a strong sense of territory, so once they have built a nest, they will attach themselves to the place and return again and again. For this reason, even if their nest is removed, they will not give up easily and will try to build a nest in the same place again and again.
⇒You can also find detailed information about pigeons' ecology and habits here.
Places where pigeons are likely to build nests
Pigeons tend to build their nests in high places where they can get away from the wind and rain, in places where there is a moderate amount of human presence and no predators can approach, and in places where they feel safe and comfortable.
- Under the air conditioner on the balcony of the apartment
- Eaves, gutters, and attics of private homes
- Under the solar panels on the roof
- Viaducts such as expressways
- Gaps in steel frames (H-beams) in warehouse and factory ceilings
- Parks, shrines, food-related factories and flour mills
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Precautions when handling pigeon nests
If you already have a pigeon nest, you may wonder if it is okay to remove it yourself. In that case, it depends on whether there are eggs or chicks in the nest.
● If you have eggs or baby birds
It is prohibited for individuals to remove nests without permission. Please wait until the chicks leave the nest.
● If you absolutely need to remove it immediately
You will need to contact your local government and get permission to remove it.
- If there are only remains of the nest
You can remove them yourself without getting permission from the local government. However, working at high altitudes can be dangerous, and the nests can be infested with mites and bacteria, making cleanup and disinfection difficult, so we recommend hiring a professional company.
Our company can remove the remains of nests that do not contain eggs or chicks only in connection with construction of bird pest control measures. (*We do not handle the removal of only the remains of nests.)
Also, when handling the nest, you should pay attention to the following points:
● Legal restrictions
Pigeons tend to build their nests in high places where they can get away from the wind and rain, in places where there is a moderate amount of human presence and no predators can approach, and in places where they feel safe and comfortable.
● When removing the item, attention must be paid to hygiene.
Pigeon droppings and feathers may contain pathogens and parasites. When requesting professional removal of a nest, please be aware of the following:
- Elderly people with weak immune systems, children, and pregnant women should not be present.
- Don't show up on a bad day
- Under the solar panels on the roof
- Avoid windy days
- Close windows and doors to prevent dust from entering the house
You can find more information about bird damage and cleaning tips here.
⇒ What are the serious health hazards caused by birds? Learn about the four major bird hazards!
● Working at heights is dangerous, so be careful.
Even if you are concerned about pigeon nests, climbing onto the roof to check is extremely dangerous. Always hire a professional to work at heights.
Measures to prevent pigeons from building nests
It is difficult to take measures once pigeons have built nests, so the best thing to do is to create an environment that keeps pigeons away on a daily basis.
- The balcony is a place where the cat can sense the presence of humans and recognize that it is not a safe place.
- Do not leave anything on the balcony and avoid blind spots.
- Clean up frequently and do not leave branches or trash around the area that could serve as nesting materials.
- Take measures to physically keep pigeons away by installing repellents, pins, wires, bird nets, etc.
Fujinaga offers the following bird pest control items:
BF3 Bird Net (Bird Prevention Net)
Standard methods for bird control are explained in detail here.
Creating an environment that prevents pigeons from building nests within living areas is the key to coexistence
Pigeon nests may look "roughly made" at first glance, but they are the product of their own ingenuity in the evolutionary process, and are therefore "important homes." Just like pigeons, they want to live in safe and comfortable places to raise their young. However, these places are often within the range of human habitation, and pigeon droppings, noise pollution, and the risk of infectious diseases have a major impact on people's lives, so nesting nearby can become a troubling problem. For "coexistence between birds and humans," the best solution is to create an environment that prevents birds from building nests in the first place.
Fujinaga's corporate philosophy is "coexistence between birds and people," and we are committed to developing bird pest control items that do not harm birds and promoting bird pest control measures that are premised on the conservation of bird ecology.
We have a long track record of preventing bird damage in apartment buildings and collective housing, as shown below.
⇒Apartments and buildings | Bird damage prevention track record
Please contact us if you are having trouble with bird damage.
