CEL Robox Threatens Pigeon Population with Formidable 3D Printed Birds of Prey

In most metropolitan areas, you might have contact with pigeons on a daily basis whether you want to or not, and most of us have experienced the dreaded splat on the nicely washed car, had one deposited generously in the hair, or even, horrifyingly, right in the eye (here’s one that will send you straight to Google for known pigeon diseases and a multitude of scary outcomes).

The human population of New York City is fed up with the population of pigeons. Flat out. Finally. How to battle them, without bringing on legions of PETA members? And what might scare a pigeon? How about the thought of a bird of prey snatching them up in their claws, carrying them away to their city lair? Or a predatory hawk? Pigeons don’t stand a chance. At least that’s what the folks at CEL, who created the Robox 3D printer, want them to think, as they’ve used 3D printing to employ an age-old method: the scarecrow.

Soon, you may be seeing colorful 3D printed birds of prey scattered around areas heavily infested with pigeons, who will have no choice but to flee to other cities with less creative and technologically savvy citizens. The 3D printed predatory birds can be placed on the ground in city parks to thwart the scavenging, pooping pigeons, and can also be placed on decks, window ledges, doorsteps, and a variety of other platforms.

Saying goodbye to pigeons is as easy as downloading the shared files and 3D printing one or a few of your own ‘scarecrows.’ This could lend a whole new angle to birdwatching, as you put your owl or hawk in place near an area where the offending pigeons like to hang out and party, and see what happens. And don’t forget the idea of giving them a little help.

Pigeons are even more likely to be deterred if they have seen real birds of prey in the area, so you could further deter them by putting out items that attract real owls and predators too, like poles for perching on and boxes that they would be interested in nesting in. You can also try using real bird calls to attract birds of prey.

The scarecrows themselves though should be effective at keeping the ‘flying rodents’ out of your hair, literally, as well as keeping them from making inconvenient messes everywhere else. The CLA Robox team tested them in a city park and found the birds of prey to be effective, as pigeons were not willing to get close, even for a potential snack.

 “3D printing, as a technology, has plenty of use outside of corporate perimeters and inside the homes of everyday consumers, and our 3D printed pigeon scarecrows are merely an example of that,” said Chris Elsworthy, CEO of CEL and maker of the Robox 3D printer. “With the tech in your home, it opens the possibility to print solutions to common household problems, even ones you wouldn’t expect you could remedy with a printer! In the case of our birds of prey, if you find that pigeons are plaguing your stoop, rooftop, or garden, you can print either one of our hawks or owls to keep them, and their ‘gifts,’ at bay.”

You can download the files at myminifactory.com. They are printed at 0.2 mm layer height, with 10% infill. The 3D printed owls and hawks in the pictures were printed with PLA, using Robox’s dual-nozzle system.

Keep in mind also that the 3D printed owls and hawks should be good for keeping away not only pigeons but also other pesky birds that you don’t want in the vicinity. And even if they don’t work for some reason in your particular area, they are awfully cute.

Might these particular 3D printed items help you out? Are you planning to download the files? Discuss in the 3D Printed Birds of Prey forum thread over at 3DPB.com.