The Channels

Issue date: 11/10/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Linnea Hjelmtorp

It's Sunday night at the West Campus parking structure. Outside, a falcon glides through the moonless sky and perches upon the tip of a tree. The few cars or trucks scattered about the four levels look fairly clean, as do the building's wide swathes of clean concrete.

That should come as no surprise. The conspicuous absence of pigeons, and their foul leave-behinds, is the result of an effort to rid campus parking lots of the pesky cooers.

"There was a recognized need," said Julie Hendricks, director of facilities and campus development.

She acknowledges her office received complaints about the pigeon and seagull poop, but almost exclusively from college employees and none from students.

"I haven't noticed poo, but trash," said Stephanie Vigeant, a 19-year-old psychology major who works on West Campus during the week. She parks in the structure only on Fridays and acknowledges that her car does get hit, but can't trace the defecating culprits to City College.

"I never really paid attention to it," she said. "But I'll probably start noticing it now."

"Pigeon de-contamination" was already on the maintenance to-do list since last semester. Initially estimated at a cost of $80,000, an extensive cleaning prior to the accreditation visit changed the cost.

Custodial staff suited up in protective gear on Saturdays. They wet the hardened feces, scraped it off, and collected it in bags for disposal. For sanitary and environmental reasons, they avoided high-pressure washers.

Because of that extra effort, the cost for full on poop decontamination was slashed in half. It's now up to the school's Bond Program to find an outside contractor to install the deterrents to keep the birds away.

And although bond director Steve Massetti was not at liberty to discuss which local companies have bids under consideration, he did say that whoever wins will not use hazardous materials.

The college will not allow the trapping and killing of pigeons, either.

Massetti was asked if the college would entertain any proposals from a staff member or student in lieu of a professional bird control company.

"We'd certainly be opened to any options presented," Massetti said. "It's about who can keep the pigeons out of here."

The contractors may install nets, pigeon-spikes, or more of the ultra-slick panels found tucked under the ceiling in some parts of the upper level.

Even natural deterrents, such as hawks, could be used.

Above the garage's ground level exit is a device used to repel the birds. The small metal box is supposed to emit an ultrasonic frequency that drives birds crazy. It too is crowned with foreboding spikes. But perched right on top is a nest.

More effective measures are still needed. Hendricks estimates they "should happen in the next six months or so."

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools