PiCAS INTERNATIONAL

A new pigeon deterrent product called a ‘TeriDove’ has recently been launched by a company in  Israel.  The product is the brainchild of Nir Bacshy, a 3rd year student studying for a BA degree in  Israel, and his father who have patented the TeriDove as a pigeon deterrent.

The TeriDove is constructed to look exactly like a pigeon, certainly from a distance, and is made from polystyrene with a coating to protect the product from UV rays.  According to Nir Bacshy the secret of the TeriDove is a unique smell that has been introduced into the body of the bird that will make the product unattractive to pigeons.  Nir also explained that the colour of the TeriDove (an off-white colour) is designed to deter other pigeons on the basis that this colour will represent a new breed.  Positioning of the TeriDove is also critical, according to Nir, as well as the angle that the product is installed.  Nir went on to explain that there are other elements of the construction of the TeriDove that are designed to deter pigeons but was not prepared to reveal exactly what these unique elements are!

Click on a picture for a larger image

The essential idea of the TeriDove is to place the polystyrene pigeons in pairs and in areas where pigeons have historically roosted or perched.  Nir’s view is that pigeons are territorial and therefore, by placing TeriDoves in areas where pigeons are already roosting or perching, resident pigeons will be deterred from continuing to perch in these areas due to potential competition from the TeriDoves. 

Photographs on Nir Bacshy’s website (see above) suggest that the TeriDove can be provided in a variety of different perching and roosting environments such as windowsills, balcony rails and roof areas.

In order to assess the product fully and carry out tests to measure the effectiveness of the TeriDove in situ we have asked for a sample of the product, but unfortunately the company was not prepared to provide a sample.  Without the ability to test the product we are unable to offer an educated opinion as to how effective this product might be when placed in an area that is experiencing entrenched perching and roosting problems.

There is some doubt, however, as to whether the product may actually have the opposite effect in some situations, where pigeons are attracted to the TeriDove rather than being repelled by it.  This is because the feral pigeon is a flock bird that tends to feed and breed as a flock.  The pigeon is also a highly intelligent and inquisitive bird that will quickly investigate any new infrastructure that is provided within its feeding or breeding environments.  The pigeon is not a particularly territorial bird either and yet, according to the information provided, the effectiveness of the TeriDove is based on the fact that the pigeon will perceive that its territory has been invaded by another, new breed of pigeon, and simply move on to find an alternative roost.  In our opinion this is unlikely to happen, certainly where the feral pigeon is concerned.

Based on the fact that all static deterrents such as plastic owls have little on no effect on the pigeon, certainly in terms of deterring it, there is a very real chance that the TeriDove will not be the success that Nir Bacshy hopes it will be in anything other than the short term.  We wish Nir Bacshy and his father every success with the TeriDove and even though PiCAS International would be reluctant to recommend the TeriDove without having the opportunity to trial it, we are delighted to see another pigeon-friendly deterrent find its way into the pest control marketplace.  For further information on deterrents follow this link to the Deterrents page.  Further information on the TeriDove can be found on Nir Bacshy’s website at:  http://www.bacshy.com