House sparrow, Passer domesticus. Male (left) and female (right).

Pigeons and House Sparrows

Pigeons and House Sparrows are urban and farmyard birds whose droppings deface and deteriorate buildings. Around storage facilities they consume and contaminate grain. Pigeons and sparrows may carry and spread various diseases to people, primarily through their droppings (Weber 1979). Droppings allowed to accumulate over several years are of particular concern because they may harbor spores of the fungus that causes histoplasmosis. House sparrows can damage small grain crops but this is normally of economic concern only around agricultural experiment stations with small but valuable research plots (Royall 1969). Sparrows build bulky grass nests in buildings, drain spouts, and other sites where they can cause fire hazards or other problems.

Summary of Damage Prevention and Control Methods

Exclusion

Block entrances larger than 3/4 inch (2 cm).

Design new buildings or alter old ones to eliminate roosting and nesting places.

Install plastic bird netting or overhead lines to protect high-value crops.

Cultural Methods

Remove roosting sites.

Plant bird resistant varieties.

Frightening

Fireworks, alarm calls, exploders.

Scarecrows, motorized hawks, balloons, kites.

4-Aminopyridine (Avitrol®).

Repellents

Capsicum.

Polybutenes.

Sharp metal projections (Nixalite® and Cat Claw®).

Toxicants

Fenthion in Rid-A-Bird® toxic perches.

Trapping

Funnel, automatic, and triggered traps. Mist nets.

Shooting

Air guns and small firearms. Dust shot and BB caps.

Other Methods

Nest destruction. Predators.