Behaviour of Pigeon Excreta on Masonry Surfaces
-
Dirk HR Spennemann
,
Melissa Pike
Abstract
Pigeon droppings are implicated in spoiling and decay of buildings. Several studies have examined the effects and chemistry of accumulations of pigeon droppings under highly localised pigeon roosts. Scant information exists on the impact caused by individual pigeon droppings at perch sites, even though these constitute the majority of bird use in urban areas. This study experimentally examined the processes that affect masonry immediately after pigeon excreta have been voided from the body and what effects discrete, fresh pigeon droppings have on different kinds of sandstone. The experiments demonstrated the susceptibility of freshly deposited excreta to environmental conditions (relative humidity and precipitation). In real-life situations, with pigeon excreta deposited on window ledges, cornices and parapets, the majority of damage would occur within the first two weeks of deposition. After that, the majority of individual droppings would have either dissolved or desiccated to such a degree that they would have rolled off. Much of the observed staining is superficial. While individual bird droppings make a building look dirty, even for months at a time, the effect on the building material is not substantial unless other factors come into play such as colonisation of the excreta by mould or leaching of salts from the excreta.
Acknowledgements
The authors are indebted to Graham Barber (Albury Wodonga Homing Pigeon Club) for access to his pigeons for excreta collection; Deanna Duffy (Spatial Area Network, Charles Sturt University) for providing a base map; Terri O’Brien (Albury City Council) for the Albury vehicle counter data; Wayne Robinson (School of Environmental Sciences, Charles Sturt University) for statistical support; Ross Wheeler (Albury Internet) for the fine-grained Albury weather data; as well as Sue Hughes (South Yarra) and the staff of the Petaurus Education Group (Albury) for allowing us to place the experimental plots on their premises.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Effect of Different Silicic Acid Ester on the Properties of Sandstones with Varying Binders
- Behaviour of Pigeon Excreta on Masonry Surfaces
- Comparison of Evolution of Pop-Out Damage by Mixed in Burnt Lime Nodules in Precast Concrete in Outside and Inside Exposure Conditions
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Effect of Different Silicic Acid Ester on the Properties of Sandstones with Varying Binders
- Behaviour of Pigeon Excreta on Masonry Surfaces
- Comparison of Evolution of Pop-Out Damage by Mixed in Burnt Lime Nodules in Precast Concrete in Outside and Inside Exposure Conditions
