Except for their vital historical role as messengers, pigeons don’t have a great reputation. Most people think they’re messy pests who gather in large groups and stick around too long. Sort of like how some malls view teenagers.
And the growth of the solar industry in Arizona, especially with solar panels, has given pigeons another convenient place to hang out.
Kevin McGraw, ASU professor and behavioral ecologist, explained. We also met the Pigeon Guy, Fred Payne, and found out his methods for getting pigeons off of solar panels.