Professional pigeon trapping is the principal manner by which to control pigeons at an airfield and the surrounding environment. The rationale behind the institution of a program of this type is two-fold. The principal difference between professional biological trapping and lethal control (using air rifles inside the hangars for example, as is currently used by a large number of facilities) is the long-term effect of the population reduction in the airfield habitat. Lethal control is messy (blood, feathers, and carcasses must be removed from the hangars and aircraft), time-consuming, immensely obtrusive (affecting hangar and maintenance operations), short-term, and only locally effective (i.e. for that specific hangar for short periods of time). Because lethal control simply empties an ecological niche for a short period of time, soon new individuals will flow back into the hangars to occupy the empty niches. Since lethal control does not effectively reduce the overall population on the airfield, it is only a short-lived effect. many airfields do not have the manpower or time to devote to constant lethal control, the problem goes unaddressed until it becomes unbearable. Even if the facility (or a contractor) could devote such time to lethal control, the effect it would have on hangar operation is considerable (hangars must be cleared of personnel, cleaned afterward, and closed off to prevent escape) and the manpower hours required would be extensive. what about netting in a hangar? 
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Aside from presenting a serious birdstrike risk, pigeons in the hangars also presents health risks to the airmen and maintenenace crews in the hangars, risks to the aircrews through possible corrosion issues and requires many man-hours to clean up the pigeon droppings.
Pigeon trapping must be a long-term and on-going effort that must be handled by someone that has the time, on a daily basis, and expertise to effectively handle the issue. You really need the right person that understands the ecology and behavior of the species involved.
Pigeons are a worldwide species and will simply re-infest the area from surrounding locations once the niche has been cleared. The trapping can typically, once the base area has been cleared than move to off-base locations to increase the safety zone around the airfield.
Early morning flocks of pigeons over airfield
Larger photo [+]
The pigeon problem numbered in the hundreds here at Hurlburt Field before BCP's arrival. Though pigeons were indeed a problem for birdstrikes, equally important was the fecal matter produced by pigeons in the hangar areas. Specifically, due to the pigeon infestation, feces often covered ice machines and water fountains in the worker areas. This opens the base to OSHA compliance issues and potential litigation by contract/civilian personnel for unsafe work conditions. The other issue is bioenvironmental/health, as pigeons are known disease carriers. If OSHA is notified by a worker of unsafe conditions, they can no-notice the base with an inspection. If you have not dealt with OSHA, once they visit a location for non-compliance issues, it's extremely difficult to avoid repeat visits. They will no-notice the base in several areas to ensure non-compliance issues do not spill over into other areas which can create larger problems for the base and its leadership. Bottom line: once visited by OSHA, always visited by OSHA.
The pigeon problem on our base decreased from several hundred to only 4. That's 4 pigeons total. This is how effective the trapping techniques used by the company are. When the problem was first attacked, a previous wing commander elected to both install netting in the hangar ceilings and approve BCP's trapping. BCP advised us that the netting would be ineffective for the cost but the wg/cc elected to go forward with it. The netting has proven ineffective and now very expensive. There are often holes in the netting that need repair and gaps unavoidable in installation; this allows the pigeons to get inside the net, making trapping almost impossible. Repair/replacement of the net is cost-prohibitive. Bottom line: the net is ineffective. The best measure is the trapping method.
Hurlburt Field AFB
BCP’s Pigeon Control Service provides the following (and this should be the minimum requirements for any such service):
- SERVICE PROVIDED
BCP provides, at the direction of the airfield authority, all work, labor, and material for daily (Monday through Friday) service of pigeon control and accessories associated with such services, including daily trap baiting, trapping, collecting and releasing. An airfield visit day is defined as each day we perform pigeon control services at airfield sites as required by the airfield authority;
- PERSONNEL AND SUPPLIES
BCP provides full-time personnel at the airfield site, with a minimum attendance of five days a week, at least 40 hours per week. Working hours (including night hours if necessary) are normally prescribed as dictated by the behavior of the birds and at the direction of the airfield manager. We are responsible for all the cost of bait material and traps and are responsible for the removal of all trapped pigeons and area sanitization surrounding the traps. Also BCP monitors airfield pigeon activity and seeks out new areas in which we can place traps to increase the effectiveness of our pigeon control program, including baiting, trapping, as well as cleaning, sanitizing and removal of trapped pigeons;
- QUALIFICATIONS
BCP's on-site personnel possesses minimally a Master’s degree in wildlife management or in a related field, with a minimum of 2 years experience in airfield wildlife management and 2 years experience in a demonstrably successful pigeon trapping program for large sites (airbase sized). We also maintain reliable insurance to relieve the airfield of any liability from lawsuits against us in conjunction with airfield operations. BCP has a representative present at all Bird Hazard Working Group (BHWG) meetings and provides input and assistance for improving wildlife strike and pigeon population reduction;
- SCHEDULED SERVICE
We generally perform pigeon control services on a daily basis as follows: Monday - After initial placement of traps, we bait thetrap and remove any trapped pigeons and re-bait the trap as necessary. Prior to any extended absence, we also clean and close the trap. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - On these days we monitor and remove and relocate any trapped pigeon(s) that are deemed appropriate. BCP personnel ensure the trap entrance is free of debris and functional. Friday - On this day, we can remove and relocate any trapped pigeons as necessary. If we have a predicted extended absence, the trap is locked out to prevent any pigeons from entering the traps. In the event of a holiday, local disaster or a crisis according to DoDI 3020.37, or any other required absence for an extended period of time, it is understood, the day before the event or the day immediately following the event, BCP personnel remove any and all trapped pigeons and then locked out all traps to prevent any pigeons from entering the traps. Our program includes five consecutive service days for all locations on the airfield with delivery and pick-up to and from any or all airfield facilities, Monday through Friday for 40 hours per week;
- pigeon traps
Each of our traps has an extensive food and water supply to support all trapped pigeons for a period of no less than one month without intervention. The traps consist of two distinct compartments - one to trap pigeons and one to house and maintain pigeons on a long-term basis. Our traps are not single compartment traps, which are far less effective. We also posses and maintain a Nuisance Wildlife Trapper permit in order to trap and remove pigeons;
- REPORTs
We also provide an individual service report for scheduled daily pigeon control services detailing our visits and recommended actions;
