Ah, pigeons sitting on the roof.
If you’re reading this article, then you’re probably dealing with the problem, wondering why those birds are having a congregation at the roof of your house. Their constant cooing might be driving you mad, or you’re scared that they might leave behind droppings and soil your house. Either way, it’s a real problem, and you’re probably wondering why it’s your house, of all places.
So, why do pigeons sit on my roof? Well, pigeons constantly sitting on your roof is usually one of three reasons. One, your roof provides a good view of a regular food source. Two, they have decided to turn your attic into their nest, and three, they’re using your gutters as the perfect place for overnight roosting or to build nests on.
Whatever the reason, your roof has become quite desirable for these birds, and this article will go over the top causes as to why, along with how to effectively stop them from coming back.
What Attracts Pigeons to My Roof?
When you think of pests, you don’t often think of pigeons. Instead, you think of rats, cockroaches, termites, spiders, and the like. And depending on where you live, pests can also be moles, possums, or even rabbits.
Unfortunately, while they do look innocent, pigeons can just as well join this category, especially when a group of them makes themselves feel at home in your roofing.
But what exactly causes this? As birds that are usually found in busy city streets, what does it mean when a group of pigeons sits on your house? Well, it could be for a variety of reasons, the most common of which are:
Great View of a Feeding Source
As animals, the driving force behind the decision of any pigeon is food, either finding it or securing it. Without food, of course, pigeons wouldn’t survive.
And when your roof happens to be the perfect spot to overlook a regular food source, then chances are, it wouldn’t be long before a group of pigeons makes their way on to it every day. This point of interest can be anything, like a nearby fast food restaurant putting out the garbage at a regular time, or any place where food is plentiful.
Unfortunately, this also means that you are unlikely to do anything about that point of interest, and you can’t remove your roof as a vantage point for these birds, so the best course of action is to prevent them from coming back to it in the first place.
Attic Nesting
Another reason for always finding pigeons on your roof is because they already made themselves a nice little nest inside your attic. As birds, pigeons have a strong sense of community and will often nest and roost close to each other. As such, when one pigeon finds a comfortable place to live, their closest group would often come with them.
Essentially, your attic could already be a pigeon neighborhood without you knowing. Unfortunately, this can cause a real mess inside your attic, as they are bound to leave droppings, feathers, and nesting materials inside.
In many cases, this can even lead to more rodents and small animals finding their way inside your attic, which is a different problem altogether.
Gutter Nesting
If they’re not nesting in your attic, then they could be nesting in your gutter instead. Unfortunately, the curved shape of gutters makes them excellent places for nest-building, especially during drier months when it becomes safe from predators and full of sunshine.
This can easily block your gutters, making it harder for water to come down when it’s raining. Worst of all, it’s not always easy to unblock a clogged gutter. And while they’re not aggressive, pigeons are stubborn animals, so trying to get them to leave can be very bothersome.
Is It Bad to Have Pigeons on Your Roof?
In general, pigeons are not pests. And like any animal, all they’re really trying to do is to find food and survive as much as they can.
And when they just land on your roof occasionally, the worst you’ll get is a few droppings here and there. However, it becomes a problem when it always happens, and can eventually lead to some form of property damage.
How to Get Rid of Pigeons from My Roof
In any case, here are some of the best ways to get rid of pigeons sitting on your roof:
Install Scare Pigeons – One of the most common and low-cost to drive away pigeons, this includes installing lightweight kites that look like hawk silhouettes, fooling the birds, and scaring them away.
Use reflective surfaces – Alternatively, you can also make use of reflective surfaces to create a prism effect, which is particularly effective at interfering with a pigeon’s eyesight and driving them away. Best of all you can do this with materials that are usually just found lying around the house.
This includes using reflective tape, or aluminum foil, or even just old CDs. You can then hang these from the trees, and they should work wonderfully.
Use Gel Repellents – If you have some spare cash lying around, you can also purchase some bird gel, which is a natural and non-toxic material that scares them away by emitting an ultraviolet glow.
Usually, these are excellent simply because they can cover a ton of spaces, and applying them is very easy.
Anti-Roosting Spikes – Another solution is to go the anti-roosting route, which involves putting spike strips on roofs so that the birds will no longer be able to perch or roost. That said, this requires more money on your part, as it usually needs to be installed professionally.
Once they are put into place, however, then expect to say goodbye to the birds within a day or two. They’re also low-maintenance and don’t require much upkeep on your part.
Ultrasonic Devices – Last but not least are ultrasonic devices, which drive away birds by emitting sound waves that are irksome for birds, even though we can’t hear them ourselves.
Much like anti-roosting spikes, however, these devices need to be installed by a professional.
Final Thoughts
While they’re generally harmless birds, a bunch of pigeons making noise and leaving droppings all over is not a pretty sight to see. Furthermore, it’s also not ideal for the people living inside.
That said, knowing why they’re on your roof in the first place, as well as being equipped with anti-pigeon precautions, should be enough to keep your home quiet, peaceful, and uninviting to the winged pests.