Crows and other corvids (magpies, jackdaws, rooks, ravens and jays) are probably the most common predators of bird nests. They may eat the egg on the nest but often carry it off – remains of several eggs can be found at favoured eating points.

Egg nest removal is another effective way to get rid of pigeons, but this method must be carried out by trained pest control professionals.

All birds their nests and eggs are protected by law: the Wildlife & Countryside Act of 1981. This makes it an offence, with certain exceptions, to deliberately take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. It is also illegal to take or destroy the egg of any wild bird.

Yes, crows do kill pigeons. While this may seem disturbing to the average city goer, it is a part of nature. Crows kill and eat pigeons as part of their natural diet. Crows are considered predatory birds and will eat pigeons along with many other small animals.

The natural predator of the pigeon, for example, is the peregrine falcon, a bird that can achieve speeds of up to 200 miles per hour in a dive and one of the few birds that has the speed and the manoeuvrability to outpace and catch a pigeon in flight.

Some pigeon fanciers are concerned that the increase in the numbers of birds of prey, particularly peregrines and sparrowhawks, is posing a significant threat to their hobby. Peregrines and sparrowhawks will kill racing pigeons and can cause injury or disruption to flocks.

Wind chimes will deter birds. The loud noise will startle birds and keep them away. However, If a bird gets used to wind chimes’ noise, it will get “habituated” to the sound, which means that the noise will no longer scare the bird and deter it.

It is a common observation that pigeons are normally terrified of owls as these are their natural predators. People use decoy owls for scaring away pigeons, but this is not known for providing results in real. These plastic decoys are nowhere near the real ones and pigeons can tell this even from a distance.