Pigeon control means making a building unsuitable for feral pigeons, so they stop roosting on ledges, nesting in gaps and leaving droppings behind. For homes and businesses in Launceston, the long-term answer is nearly always physical exclusion: blocking the spots pigeons use and removing what attracts them. Trapping and culling exist, but on their own they rarely solve the problem, because new birds move into a site that still offers food and shelter.
Launceston Bird Proofing is a referral service. We do not trap, bait, net or proof, and we hold no pest-control licence. With your consent, we pass your enquiry to one independent Launceston-area business that does pigeon work. That business inspects, quotes and contracts with you directly.
Feral pigeons in Launceston
The feral pigeon is the descendant of the domesticated rock dove. It is an introduced species in Australia and is not listed as protected wildlife under Tasmania's wildlife regulations. Launceston's older commercial buildings around the CBD and the Tamar riverfront give pigeons plenty of ledges, parapets, window heads and decorative stonework. In the suburbs, the same birds use roof cavities, solar arrays, carports and verandas.
Pigeons breed several times a year and return to the same site. A few birds on a ledge can become a resident flock if food and nesting spots stay available.
Why pigeons are a problem
- Droppings. They foul footpaths, entrances, outdoor dining areas, cars and roofs. Accumulated droppings are acidic and can mark paintwork and stone.
- Blocked gutters and downpipes. Nesting material and droppings wash into gutters, causing overflows.
- Health concerns. Health departments describe pigeon droppings and nests as potential sources of disease and parasites such as bird mites. Western Australia's HealthyWA and SA Health both publish guidance on feral pigeons, and both recommend reducing roosting and food sources rather than relying on removal.
- Noise and damage. Cooing and movement in a roof space or under panels can be constant.
For food businesses and strata buildings, droppings near entries can also become a hygiene and slip issue.
What pigeon control actually involves
The approach that health agencies and competitors across Australia describe has three parts.
1. Remove the reasons to stay. Stop any feeding, including well-meaning neighbours or spilled grain and pet food. SA Health identifies food availability as the factor that sets how many pigeons an area supports. Cover bins and clean up outdoor eating areas.
2. Block roosting and nesting spots. This is where most of the work is. The method depends on the location:
- Ledges, parapets, signage and beams: bird spikes, post-and-wire or similar landing deterrents.
- Open voids such as loading docks, light wells, courtyards, carports and under-awning spaces: tensioned bird netting.
- Roof gaps, broken tiles, eaves and gutter lines: mesh and sealing, covered on our gutter and roof bird proofing page.
- Solar arrays: a mesh skirt, covered on our solar panel bird proofing page.
3. Clean up and maintain. Old nests and droppings are removed so the site no longer smells like a roost, and proofing is checked over time.
Most competitor pages note that a cleared ledge with nothing fitted is reoccupied within weeks. Removal without proofing is usually money spent twice.
Trapping, baiting and culling
Some pest businesses offer pigeon trapping, and some offer baiting under licence, mainly for large commercial or industrial sites. These are regulated activities. Poisons must be registered products used according to their label, and baiting carries a real risk to native birds, pets and raptors that eat poisoned birds. We do not recommend that any household attempts to poison or shoot pigeons. If a business proposes lethal control, ask how it protects non-target animals, what product and approval it is working under, and why exclusion alone is not enough.
Under Tasmania's Animal Welfare Act 1993, causing unreasonable or unjustifiable pain or suffering to any animal is an offence. That applies to pest birds as much as to native ones.
Telling pigeons from protected native birds
Several native pigeons and doves live in Tasmania, including the common bronzewing and the brush bronzewing. These are protected. Feral pigeons are the stocky grey birds with iridescent neck feathers and dark wing bars, though colours vary a lot, including white, brown and mottled birds. If you are not sure what you have, a photo helps any business identify it before work starts. If a native bird is nesting, its nest should be left until the young have fledged. See Tasmanian bird laws.
Pigeon control for businesses and strata
Commercial jobs in central Launceston often involve heights, public footpaths and heritage facades. Questions to settle early:
- Who owns or manages the building, and does the body corporate need to approve the work?
- Does the building have heritage controls that affect what can be fixed to the facade? Check with the City of Launceston if you are unsure.
- How will access be managed, for example with an elevated work platform or rope access?
- Will droppings be cleaned before proofing, and how will waste be handled?
The City of Launceston can be contacted on 03 6323 3000 for general advice about environmental health nuisances.
What it may cost
Pigeon control has no standard price, because it depends on how many spots need proofing and how hard they are to reach. Published mainland benchmarks give scale: a Brisbane pest firm lists spike installation from $480 for up to 10 metres of ledge, and netting from $680 for up to 20 square metres. Commercial sites are usually quoted after inspection. Ask for a quote that lists each area to be treated, the method for each, and what clean-up is included.
Frequently asked questions
Are feral pigeons protected in Tasmania?
Feral pigeons are introduced and do not appear on the protected-wildlife schedule of Tasmania's Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulations 2021. Animal welfare law still applies, so any control must be humane. Native pigeons and doves are protected.
Will plastic decoy owls or reflective tape get rid of pigeons?
Residents in forums commonly report that scare devices work briefly, if at all, because pigeons get used to them. Health agencies list them as one option, but physical proofing is the method most likely to last.
Is it safe to clean up pigeon droppings myself?
Small amounts can be handled carefully, but health agencies advise avoiding dust from dry droppings. Wet the area, wear gloves and a suitable mask, and bag the waste. For large build-ups in roof spaces, consider a professional clean.
Why do pigeons keep coming back after the nest is removed?
Pigeons are loyal to a roost and will rebuild if the spot is still open. Removing nests helps only when the ledge or gap is proofed at the same time.
Can the council remove pigeons for me?
Councils generally do not remove pigeons from private property. The City of Launceston can give environmental health advice, but proofing a building is the owner's responsibility.
Next step
Tell us where the pigeons are roosting, roughly how many there are, the building type and its height. With your consent, we will pass your enquiry to one independent business in the Launceston area that does pigeon proofing. Make an enquiry or see how it works.