Pigeongate 2012

Our new home in Vienna is really beautiful.  We have a “huge” kitchen by European standards, a washer and dryer which is still something unusual in European cities and though we certainly downsized from our palatial Praia home, we still feel like we have enough space to accommodate our family of 3+dog.  One of the best surprises about our place was that we have a small deck off the kitchen.  We were not expecting ANY outdoor space, so while it is tiny and has a view of…well, nothing at all, it is big enough for a couple of chairs and a grill, and that is all that we really need. 

Our kitchen when we first moved in.

Being on the interior courtyard (more like a shaft for lack of a better explanation) of the building, this little balcony of ours has been plagued by city-dwelling pigeons since we arrived.  Not to state the obvious but pigeons are really gross and they have taken to using our balcony as their toilet as well as a perch in which to torment Strela into endless fits of barking. 

The Embassy maintenance services mentioned the pigeon problem to us when arrived.  The landlord wanted to install a net over our balcony to keep away the pigeons. We were less than excited about sitting on this already tiny balcony underneath a net, so we tried to solve the problem ourselves…with a plastic lawn owl.  We were really banking on this owl to work, and moved it around to make it appear lifelike.  Not only did the owl not deter the pigeons, but the pigeons were so not fooled that they would sit atop the owl and even use him as their toilet as well.  

The owl is creepy to me, just not the pigeons.

So after the owl failed us, we agreed to have the net installed.  We were so pleased when the net did not just cover our little patio, but spanned the entire length of the courtyard really not altering our “view” at all and maintaining an airy feel to the space. This four-day operation was quite impressive, complete with men in harnesses repelling off the roof of the building.  {Sidebar:  Strela thought that they were trying to break into our house and that led to more endless fits of barking.}   After the job was complete Mike asked, “Do you think they made sure that all the pigeons were out of there before sealing it off?”  And I said, “Of course they did!  This is Austria.  Everyone is so serious and diligent, they would never make such a mistake.”  Well, I was the one who was mistaken.  Not only did they leave behind a pigeon but apparently a nest of baby pigeons besides.

Since then the pigeon issue has actually escalated.  Now the one pigeon left has made a complete home on our balcony.  I have come to realize that this is for two reasons: 1) She has much fewer options as she is TRAPPED BELOW THE NET! and 2) Our kind but, in my humble opinion, misguided neighbors across the courtyard above the net, have taken to throwing bread onto our balcony so the pigeon won’t starve to death.  What am I to say to them? Please don’t do throw bread onto my balcony.  This net that was installed solely for our unit should just kill this pigeon mama?! Not to mention our neighbor is the Ambassador from Panama so I do not want to create a diplomatic incident.

The net working...

Stay tuned for resolution of Pigeongate 2012.