Pigeon Droppings Worsen At Jackson Heights Train Stations

"The Metropolitan Transportation Authority should clean pigeon droppings at the No. 7s train stations before this problem gets worse," urged Councilwoman Helen Sears, adding that she is tired of waiting for an effective response by the transportation agency.
"Pigeon droppings cause innumerable diseases to the community, including the possibility of developing a virus," Sears added. The droppings also affect businesses located near the tracks.
"We have to make our community conscious that it is unhealthy to feed the street pigeons," Sears said.
Insufficient Cleaning
Neighborhood residents say the MTA efforts to clean stations along the No. 7 train route were not sufficient, because they still show layers of these droppings accumulated on the metal structures. Among the most affected train stops are the 111th, 103rd and 74th Street stations; the latter station was renovated last year. Further, residents say some solutions used to remove nests and layers of droppings have resulted in circumstances that are worse than the original dropping problem.
"I see those droppings accumulating on the station rooftops, and I’m afraid they might fall on my head," said Andrea Moreno, a frequent rider of No. 7 train and a resident of Jackson Heights.
The problem has reached tragic-comedy proportions. Some residents claim that the birds do not have enough trees on which to sit and nest. Others worry about "good samaritans" feeding them crumbs in public parks, which attract even greater numbers of birds, which finally end up hiding in the train stations.
"Both assembly and councilmembers should pressure the MTA to do their job so that those train stations do not look so filthy," said train rider Moreno.
MTAs Response
According to the MTA, the pigeon problem alongside the No. 7 train route has been addressed. James Anayansi, an MTA spokesman, said the agency had placed nets and nails along the tracks to discourage pigeons from congregating, but both projects have been unsuccessful.
"These pigeons spent years dropping on the tracks and the MTA has done nothing," Moreno said. "I think this problem affects health and sanitation conditions, as well as the beauty of the community."
"We have authorized the use of the Airway System," said Anayansi, in reference to a low-voltage mechanism manufactured by Avian Flyaway, Inc. that discourages birds from landing and walking on the tracks, due to a ‘non-lethal’ stimulus emitted, according to Avian officials.
"Nobody is able to stop these pigeons; they leave everything so filthy," said Lucy Moncayo, a resident from Jackson Heights. She uses the train at 74th Street, one of the sites with the largest congregation of pigeons. "The solution is to clear and chase them away to other places; they have wings," concluded Moncayo.