Pigeons	Sparrows
Above: Droppings left by pigeons.	Power-washing to clean the awnings
Pigeons
Pigeons are found in urban and rural areas and they are the most predominant urban pests.
· They live on or in attics, bridges, houses, steeples, architectural features of buildings, ledges, roofs, and drain spouts.
· In the city pigeons flock together in groups of hundreds.
· > A flocks behavior involves moving, breeding, and resting.
· There nests are different from other birds they involve twigs accumulation of feces to provide a nesting platform.
· Birds carry diseases that affect humans and domesticated animals.
· When pigeons inhabit areas and buildings close to people, the chance of disease transfer is very likely.
· There feces will cause corrosion to vehicles and will kill vegetation.
· Histoplasmosis is a respiratory disease that birds transfer through the wind and is promoted by bird droppings.
· Unless a skin reactivity test or a lung X ray is done, this disease usually goes undetected and misdiagnosed as the flu.
· Omithosis is a pneumonia disease that is spread through the feces of Pigeons, and Sparrows.
· Salmonellas commonly called food poisoning is responsible for about one percent death rate in the United States.
· It is usually spread when birds have feces on their feet and land on food or tables.
· Pigeons and sparrows carry mites, lice, ticks, and fleas in their feathers.
Right: Awning cleaned to perfection. Gutter spikes (not visible from street level) were installed to prevent birds from perching. The spikes don't hurt the birds, they just don't allow them to perch on the gutters.