PiCAS INTERNATIONAL

An electronic bird scarer that was installed under a railway bridge in the town of Taunton, UK, by Network Rail to control pigeons is now to be re-assessed due to the fact that residents and passers by are becoming disturbed by the constant noise emitted by the device.

It appears that the device is having no effect whatsoever on the resident pigeons but is having a considerable effect on residents!  According to a local newspaper, Network rail has promised to "..change the noise to stop frightening passers by."

In the opinion of PiCAS International none of the many electronic scaring devices on the market have any effect on pigeons.  The principle of sonic devices is that a noise is emitted that is either unpalatable to the target species or that mimics the distress call of the target species.  Pigeons are one of the few birds that have no distress call so the latter device has no chance of being effective.  The former device has little chance of being effective either due to the fact that noise levels experienced when directly under the rail deck of a railway bridge are so high that the birds roosting there probably have no chance of actually hearing the noise let alone being scared by it.

Although Network Rail must be applauded for investigating non-lethal pigeon control systems, the company is responsible for the deaths of huge numbers of pigeons each year as a result of both dedicated culling operations and pigeons becomming trapped behind netting erected by ‘cowboy’ contractors.  Even though trapping pigeons behind netting is an offence the authorities appear to be powerless, or certainly unprepared to act, to stop large companies like Network Rail from breaking the law.

For further information on deterrents please see the Deterrents page.