Stop pigeons from entering your garden using one simple household waste item

Pigeons, known for their fondness of seeds, grains and plants, can turn your garden into a feeding frenzy.

Birds can be a nuisance, especially when they're digging up your plants or defecating on your roof. However, you can deter these birds using everyday items or even discarded junk around your home.

There's a method to naturally keep pigeons at bay by using shiny objects with reflective surfaces. Dr Liessa Bowen, a wildlife biology expert from Epic Gardening, suggests that hanging pie tins around your garden can effectively deter birds in a humane way, the Express reports.

She explained: "Pie tins are cheap, shiny, and can be easily hung in trees. Hang several in your fruit trees or along fences where they can gently twirl in the breeze.

"If they are close enough to touch each other, they will not only create flashes of light and movement but gentle clonking sounds as they knock against each other."

The reason why pigeons steer clear of pie tins is because they reflect sunlight, creating random flashes that can startle or confuse these bothersome birds. When suspended from a tree, a pie tin also moves and creates noise. Birds are known to be wary of unfamiliar noises or sights, interpreting them as potential threats.

Dr Bowen added: "Pie tins can be quite effective to deter birds from browsing in your fruit trees, but they work best when you can hang many of them.

"A single pie tin may not have much effect on a flock of hungry birds. But 10 pie tins twirling around will probably cause the birds to think twice before settling in your trees."

Other shiny objects which can also work to deter pigeons are old DVDs or CDs you have around your home which you do not need anymore.

Dr Bowen said "The CDs will gently turn in the breeze and provide both movement and flashes of light. This would be a quick, easy, and free (if you have unwanted CDs lying around) method to help deter birds."

Shiny ribbons blowing in the wind can also have the same effect, and you can even buy special bird deterrent ribbons if you have no fabric around your home.

Dr Bowen said: "One benefit of using shiny ribbons is that they are easy to install. You won't need any sort of special post or hanger to mount some ribbons."

"Simply tie them to your fruit trees, garden fences, tomato cages, stakes, or poles that are near the plants needing protection."

This is just one way that can keep pigeons away, but bear in mind that birds are clever creatures so it is best to try lots of different techniques to see what works best for your garden.

Dr Bowen said: "There are many ways to deter birds from munching on your plants, but these techniques may not work equally well for all situations. You may need to get creative, stay attentive, and perhaps combine a few different scare tactics for the best results."

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