Bugs/birds -- How High Do They Fly/nest?

[wpcoe]

I was condo-hunting with a friend last month, and in a high-rise condo we saw a fifth-floor unit with a pigeon nesting on the balcony. We then saw a unit on the 27th floor and I joked about not getting a pigeon with the condo, and the agent said they don't fly that high. And that set me to wondering (always a bad thing...)

I assume she meant they don't *nest* that high, though I did notice that the otherwise dirty balcony had no bird poop. I own a 5th floor condo in a low-rise (5 story) building not far away and am *plagued* with pigeons, mynahs and other avians who love to poop all over my balcony and even build nests in my air con units.

When I lived in Hawaii, I once lived in a condo on the 13th floor and when I asked the rental agent why there were not fly screens on the balcony doors, she said bugs don't fly that high. I lived there a couple years, and true enough, we rarely got bugs flying in the open balcony doors.

So, I'm wondering: What is a "safe" height in a high-rise building to be able to leave the windows and balcony doors wide open and not contend with birds and bugs. And, yes, I realize birds can fly quite high, but I'm more concerned about them perching/pooping/nesting on the balcony than flying right in.

PS: If you've never had a large (pigeon-sized or larger) fly into your home/apartment, you're in for a treat some day if it ever happens. Feathers and sh*t all over the place, not to mention being dive bombed by a panicked avian...

[sanook2me]

23rd floor and still get the odd flying thing appear but always balcony door open 24/7.

Experiences from where i have lived have always been over the 10th floor and no problem with birds but i did have a bat one night!

[PennyFarthing123]

15th floor and it is a real problem with the pigeons nesting. They have got to be the dirtiest birds around. I swear they poop more than their body weight each day. Have had to screen the balconies to keep them off.

[wpcoe]

PennyFarthing123, boy ain't that the truth. Then throw in an abundant number of mynah birds, and you can just imagine how hard it is to keep my balconies clean.

Three times, I had to clean out nests from the aircon compressors before I resorted to fastening chicken-wire fencing around the back of each unit.

[kimincm]

PennyFarthing123, boy ain't that the truth. Then throw in an abundant number of mynah birds, and you can just imagine how hard it is to keep my balconies clean.

Three times, I had to clean out nests from the aircon compressors before I resorted to fastening chicken-wire fencing around the back of each unit.

Maybe you should be a bit concerned about what can be in the pigeon <deleted> when cleaning up.

Google "People Associated Pigeon Diseases"

[Crossy]

We get sparrows nesting on the 10th floor, but they are no problem, no smell and the nests are easily removed when the young have gone.

Fish netting around the balcony keeps the pigeons out but allows the sparrows in.

[mahtin]

It's a good thing cows don't fly in BKK.

Variation on a song...

[justcruisin]

Living on a 4th and 5th floor apartment,In two years had to wash the pigeon crap off the balcony once.

But the <deleted>#rkin sugar ants drive me crazy,what is it with these,an hour before it rains have a whole army coming in from the balcony.

Do I need to get a new cleaning lady?

[mahtin]

Living on a 4th and 5th floor apartment,In two years had to wash the pigeon crap off the balcony once.

But the <deleted>#rkin sugar ants drive me crazy,what is it with these,an hour before it rains have a whole army coming in from the balcony.

Do I need to get a new cleaning lady?

Sparrowhawks, ma'am.

Or anteaters.

[IanForbes]

PS: If you've never had a large (pigeon-sized or larger) fly into your home/apartment, you're in for a treat some day if it ever happens. Feathers and sh*t all over the place, not to mention being dive bombed by a panicked avian...

Ain't that the truth. We once had a bald eagle chase a grouse into my son's bedroom... right through a 7 foot high, closed window. There was glass everywhere and the grouse died of a broken neck. The eagle, though stunned, just sat there a while, and then shook itself and flew back the way it came... through the now shattered window.

My son was about 10 years old at the time and had just finished cleaning his room for the first time in about a year. He stood there in shock while swearing at the dearly departed grouse... calling it every name he could think of. It took us another hour to clean up all the glass and bird poop. We had a good laugh about it later and wound up having fried grouse for dinner.

[Meridian007]

From my experience, at least 7 floors above any area where flying insects can breed is safe. I live on the 18th floor, but there is a park on the 7th floor with a plethora of places for bugs to prosper. I rarely get any in my condo. Birds are another issue...

[wpcoe]

Maybe you should be a bit concerned about what can be in the pigeon <deleted> when cleaning up.

Google "People Associated Pigeon Diseases"

I'm quite concerned about bird-borne diseases after the scares of avian flu not so long ago. I didn't want to sound like a paranoid freak (more than I really am...), so thank you for your comment.

I clean the balcony railing -- a nice wide sturdy thing which suits the birds nicely -- with a 50/50 bleach/water combo several times a week.

[wpcoe]

We get sparrows nesting on the 10th floor, but they are no problem, no smell and the nests are easily removed when the young have gone.

Fish netting around the balcony keeps the pigeons out but allows the sparrows in.

I have sparrows occasionally, but they only seem to drop by to sip water from my aircon condensation as it drips into a drain. I never see them lurk around, nor sh*t anyplace.

Fish netting, huh? Hmmm. I wonder what my condo association would say about that? I know they don't sanction any type of roll down patio cover or blinds.