The Madurai pigeon picture
Pigeons have lived around Madurai’s temples and markets for generations, and many people feed them. That makes the population large and settled. Birds spread outwards into residential streets, looking for quiet, shaded ledges to nest on. The places they choose depend on the type of home:
Old city houses around the temple, in Simmakkal and Goripalayam, have deep ventilators, carved sunshades, inner courtyards and gaps under tiled roofs.
Independent houses in Anna Nagar, K.K. Nagar, S.S. Colony and Thirunagar have ventilators above every window, staircase landings open to the air, and corners under terrace sheet roofs.
Apartments in the newer parts of the city have AC brackets, duct shafts and quiet balconies.
Why a net works better than other methods
Spikes stop birds sitting on one ledge but they simply move to the next one. Sprays and gels wear off quickly in Madurai’s heat. A net physically closes the space, so there is nowhere left to nest.
Materials for the Madurai climate
| Part | What we use |
|---|---|
| Net | UV-stabilised HDPE or nylon, 50 mm mesh |
| Colour | Transparent or black |
| Border | Tensioned rope or coated wire |
| Hooks | Stainless steel, which won’t rust in the monsoon |
The summer sun is the hardest test. A net over a west-facing ventilator or a terrace corner can sit in strong sun for most of the day from March to June. UV stabilisation is what keeps it from cracking.
Step by step
- We find every place birds are landing and nesting, not just the obvious one.
- Each opening is measured.
- Old nests and droppings are cleared from the fixing points.
- Stainless hooks are fixed around the edge at close spacing.
- A border is tensioned and the net tied to it at short intervals, with extra ties at corners.
Courtyards and light wells
Many older Madurai houses are built around an open courtyard, and some newer ones have a light well in the middle. Pigeons love both. A net across the top keeps them out while the courtyard still gets sunlight, rain and air. The net is tensioned firmly so it doesn’t sag, and an opening can be added for cleaning.
Keeping it in shape
Brush the net every few weeks to remove dust, and look at it after heavy rain in the monsoon. With stainless hooks, there is nothing to rust.
For mesh sizes and how nets compare with spikes, see our main pigeon nets page. If birds are using a whole balcony, see balcony pigeon nets in Madurai.
