Pigeons are common in the city, but they remain nuisances for many Queens residents who walk under elevated train tracks like the No. 7 line.
The New York City Transit Authority has been trying to do something about it. At numerous stations along the No. 7 line, NYC Transit has installed four different repellants to try to keep the pigeons from congregating in the stations.
The 103rd Street-Corona Plaza and 52nd Street stops are equipped with the “Bird B Gone” shock track. According to Charles F. Seaton, a spokesperson for New York City Transit, the cost of the installation of the track shocks at 103rd Street was $102,550 and 52nd Street was $154,750. However, he said NYC Transit does not monitor the electricity usage.
“This system consists of plastic connectors installed on ledges or areas where pigeons tend to roost,” Seaton said. “These connectors are then wired and installed to a power source. Pigeons receive a mild electrical shock when they come in contact with the connectors.”
Al Perez, who visits his family in Corona often, said there must be a better way to keep the pigeons away.
“Electricity?” Perez said. “Come on! To me that is cruelty. What happens if one falls and a child grabs it?”
Another station is the 74th Street-Broadway stop, which has two systems in place to disperse pigeons, Seaton said. They are the “Avian” system, which operates the same way the shock track does, but has proved to be less effective, and the “Bird B Gone” gel repellant, which is applied to ledges and perches within the station confines.
“This (Bird B Gone) is prone to weather conditions and is most effective within the first 10 months,” Seaton said. “It’s effective as an inexpensive ‘quick fix.’”
The Mets-Willets Point stop has a “Bird Call” system installed in the mezzanine, which mimics the sounds of predators and keeps the pigeons away. The 111th Street stop has metal spikes installed above stairs and walkways to prevent roosting.
Perez said he thinks the spikes are a better idea because it is more cost effective than using electricity.
“They won’t have time to worry about the cost for electricity,” Perez said.
Ruben Peña, president of Corona Community Action Network (Corona CAN), said the shocking system works. He said the Corona Plaza stop had a major pigeon problem for more than five years until The Queens Courier ran a story about the problem three years ago and then finally NYC Transit installed the shock track.
“It truly allowed passersby to rest,” Peña said.
Maria Diaz, who lives in Corona, recalled when she and her husband had been splattered by pigeon excrements more than once as they walked under the Corona Plaza station. Now, she said the problem is better, but that it still exists.
“This was the problem area,” Diaz said. “But the pigeons are still there.”
Peña said the real problem is the people who feed the birds. According to a New York Police Department spokesperson, feeding pigeons is not a crime, but a person can be given a ticket for littering, which carries a penalty of $100 to $2,000.
For Perez, NYC Transit just now needs to clean the dried pigeon waste still on the overpasses. But Seaton said bird droppings are cleaned upon discovery by cleaners at all stations.
“They need to do a good cleaning,” Perez said.
