Bird Bath Etiquette – The Pigeon Dilemma

Hi folks,

A few bird varieties use the bird bath in my garden: sparrows, robins, black birds, starlings and goldfinches, but the most frequent users are pigeons. While the other birds have the good sense to only drink and bathe in it, the pigeons drink from it, poo in it and then drink from it again! They clearly have no sense of what is disgusting.

I see that others on this forum have noticed this phenomenon too, but are there any steps to curb this gross practice? I don't necessarily wish to deter pigeons from drinking, but this business of pooing in it has to stop.

Thanks.

 

Not only pooing but they take their talcum powder with them and spread that all over the surface of the water. Constant cleaning up after a pigeon visit is required.

 

Put a sign up with the "Rules" on it like in old Municipal baths.

 

Yes, when pigeons take bath, they leave behind poo and all the rubbish from their feathers. They can stay in the bath for hours having spa I aim to empty and fill the bath again. I anyway change water daiily, and scrub and wash the bath weekly. Other birds just have a quick splash wash and drink.

 

It's what happens in the wildlife, i've seen cows drink from water tough's after another cow has pee/poo-ed in it, you will even see cow's drink the pee (when cow is peeing)of another cow but this is usally for salt/minerals or there is no other water about, then we drink their milk!! just saying there is lots of bad things that happen if you look for it

 

Please beak onsiderate in the pool.

 

Installl a crap Meter ( payment required before entering the bath ) or a notice saying No Pigeons allowed between the hours of 10 am and 6 pm In other words, there is nothing you can do other than to accept it and clean out regularly.

 

Pigeons here sit and soak in the bath and fight off any other bird that comes near.

 

'My' pigeons share the pond and the little tray with the other birds, but they all share quite well. The young robin was in the tray [an old base from a firepit] this morning with a male sparrow and a blue tit.
I clean out the tray regularly, but the pond gets a covering of grease from the pigeons when they use it for bathing. The rain soon disperses it.
It's how it is @tommyrot . You could maybe add another water source though, which will help a little bit.

 

I clean and refill it with the hose jet every time i water which in this weather is every few days

 

Have a smaller bath the pigeons can't fit it. Or a suspended one (like a hanging basket) that won't take their weight without swaying.

 

Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink…

 

I have a small paint roller tray which most of the birds prefer. My big bird bath is mainly used by magpies and pigeons, and I wouldn't want to deny them a bath in this weather.