Assuming you can get reasonably close to the access point, use a garden sprayer to introduce household ammonia into the nesting space. This will dispatch them in short order in a non-lethal way. If the nature of the space does not lent itself to barricading, a few serial applications of this technique will soon give them the idea that there are probably more hospitable places to roost. Pigeons are not THAT dumb! This also works well for bats in belfries and other confined spaces.
Bear Nenno: Scammer is right. We got a second guy to come in and give us an estimate. He said he’d put out pigeon repellant and put in the wire netting that will keep them out. Cost: $350. We told him we weren’t interested in the repellant, so what would the charge be for just the netting? $120. So when you were joking around about $19.95, that truly WOULD have been a bargain. $230 for some slippery stuff? I don’t think so!
Is it the alka seltzer in the pigeon bait that gets them? Makes them explode, I’m assuming. But even if that worked, another pair would come to take their place, and another, and another . . .
I just can’t thank enough the brilliant person who originally imported this alien species from Europe to America. They’re actually called “rock doves” and are native to the old world, as are starlings and English sparrows. These three species are hideously overpopulated here, and I have no love for any of them.
The Peregrine Falcon is a possibility, however they have a habit of migrating away. Other possible raptorial bird/pigeon control specialist would be a Cooper Hawk. (Fast bird with eyes that’d put the fear o’gawd into ya.) CHs can exist in an urban environment (had to rescue one from the downtown homeless shelter (broken wing)). Not too long ago, our bird feeder at the office was overrun with pigeons (typical day), when there was this horrible screech (not me!) from outside. I looked out the window and there was a Cooper’s Hawk with a pigeon in its talons. Not a pretty sight… Didn’t have any problems with pigeons for about 3 months. (I saw the CH for about 2 weeks, and it was about 2 months before the pigeons ventured back.) I have tapes of several raptors (Red-shouldered Hawks and Great-Horned Owls), and use them sporadically when they start to venture back. A couple screams or hoots (use one or the other, not both at the same time!) and the pigeons are gone. Also brings in the smaller birds (Blue Jays, Mockers) to investigate and mob the tape player.
The spike wire (can’t remember the brand name, but I’ve seen it referred to as ‘porcupine wire’) is a possibility, however make sure it is clear of debris - I’ve seen birds stuff bunches of dried leaves and grasses into the spaces to minimize the discomfort. I’ve seen this advertized in forestry catalogues.
What you need is are these things:
- BB gun
- plane ticket from huntsville Al to your town.
- rent your own Osip (25 dollars a day plus food, smokes, and a place to sleep on the couch)
- shovel to dig hole to place dead birds.
gimme a week I can put a dent in the problem!
Osip
Actually, Yarster got it right.
Sorry I’m a little late on this one, pug. I’m the Board’s hired killer, BTW.
Wire netting could possibly work, but it’s hard to put it on seamlessly, and they just might be able to get in somewhere.
Although I’ve only done one bird job, the research we did showed that the spikey things work well. They don’t really hurt the birds, they just poke them in the ass when they try to land. Problem is, you might have to put them on every horizontal surface of the building. But if you’ve got good coverage, the birds will definitely find another place to roost.
Don’t go in for toxins, they really aren’t necessary, and they can have bad side effects, such as poisoning a non-target animal, or making the pigeons behave erratically (true story. One avicide caused the birds to go psycho and dive bomb people walking by. Hitchcockian in the extreme!). Plus, who do you think is gonna clean up all them dead birds? Not me, man. Seriously, you could have a health problem with the bird carcasses (and other pest problems, such as flies). And you don’t even wanna think about what it would be like to have a dead bird caught in an air vent.
I’ve been trying to remember what the spikes are called. But I’m drawing a blank on the brand name. Repellants are usually on the order of a caulk-like goo that either causes mild burns on their feet (one product is called Hot-Foot) or else is sticky and gloppy, and they don’t like the feel of it. Just remember, it’s sticky, and leaves and dirt and debris will probably get stuck in it and eventually render it useless.
Depending on the size of the niche you’re talking about, spikes would probably be the way to go. You can trim the base holding the spikes and probably clip the spikes themselves if you need to. And they’re not noticeable from the ground.
I’ll try a web search and see if I can find some products for you. I don’t know if they’re available to the general public, but you might insist to the pest control guy that he goes out and gets it.
OK. Go to this site:
http://www.bird-x.com/index.htm (I really wish I knew how to post links here!! 
). Check out the “products” button. You’ll find a listing for bird spikes. That’s what I was talking about. No wonder I couldn’t think of the name. Who would have ever thought of calling them bird spikes!
As you can see, they’re not exactly cheap, and you have to measure the footage of the spots you want to cover.
Most likely the pest control guy you contacted didn’t handle many bird jobs, and would have had to buy a bulk quantity of spikes, leaving him with a lot of material that he might not be able to unload in a hurry.
You might want to do it yourself, if you’re of a mind, in which case I’ll be glad to give you any advice you need, if I’m able. Otherwise, find an animal control specialist and make sure he deals with birds on a regular basis. You get what you pay for, you know.
This is what Harrod’s does, only they use a hawk - “Harry the Hawk.”
“Nix-a-lite” Clever, huh?
That wasn’t the brand name we used. Actually, we just called 'em spikes. Maybe not so clever, but descriptive in its own Spartan way.
Yes they use it on the City Square here in Toronto and it appears to work.
What they do is very simple no poisons etc, they have very thin steel wire drapped above the square from one end to the other of course pulled very tightly and spaced at about 10 metres apart.
The birds do not fly under this wire since they feel they will get trapped in some way. Not sure why more public squares do not use this technique, since the bottom line is it works.
The other best answer is stop feeding the birds.
Thanks for all the advice, everyone. Osip, are you a member of “Varmint Plinkers” of South Dakota?
DAVEWOO71, now I remember your name! The Board’s own critter cruncher. I think we’ll go for the netting, as it is only one small niche where they can hide and nest. I forwarded your reply to my husband, though, so if he wants to ask for a few additional spikes to discourage them from pushing the netting aside, he can.
screech owl, I like seeing our own birds of prey taking care of the alien bird species problem, and I put out a sign on the roof: “Cooper’s Hawks – Stop and Get a Free Lunch Here! Gas – Eats (Peregrines Need Not Apply)”. I’ll let you know if it works.
Frickin’ nestlings. Now they sound like they’re five pounds each. If they don’t fledge before this Monday (the day the exterminator arrives), they’re squab.
Pug, you might also want to try to trouble shoot some other areas up there while you’re at it. Nothing is worse than taking care of pests in one area only to have them get a toehold in another area. Might as well do what you can while you have a head of steam up.
Oh, and I prefer to be known as a Hired Killer, not a “critter cruncher”, thank you. You make it sound like I’m eating the doggone things. 
Definitely some type of firearm. A BB gun would work, so long as it’s one of those that you have to pump manually. C02 cannister-powered BB guns aren’t powerful enough.
Or buy yourself a shotgun, some bird shot, and a golden retreiver. (You don’t really want to touch those birds after you’ve shot them…)