Does my balcony belong to the pigeons now?
I frequently chase pigeons off my balcony rails (my apartment building has a whole flock that roosts on our roofs and they poop all over), but I’m not sure if they see me as a threat or a mere nuisance as they often return— although they’ve been pooping on my rails less lately. Sometimes their coo-ing is also super annoying. The nest is completely hidden from a standing perspective so I’m not sure how long it has been here.
Upon realizing I have these new flatmates, I looked up pigeon facts and learned they recognize faces, hold grudges, and appear to poop in vengeance. So I’m sure either these guys or their friends know I’ve been shooing them away but I don’t know where we stand beyond that. They can be also apparently be aggressive and protective of their nests, and chicks will stay near their birthplace for life. So I’m wondering if I can befriend them now — and if that will help keep away other pigeons, or if it will encourage even more to come? Should I feed them? Should I let their babies leave the nest and then start shooing them away again? Should I cover myself in feathers and try to blend in, maybe convince them to pay rent?
Earlier I had gone to repot my plants and one scared me as it flew away right as I put something on the chair, but I still didn’t see the nest. Later I noticed one on the edge of my balcony behind the pot, and it was resistant to me shooing it, it only left when I sort of nudged a stick at it. I re-planted my pots in peace and took a break. As I was cleaning up, I finally found the nest and two pigeons were in it. We just made awkward eye contact while I took away my soil bag (that was flapping right against the poor things oops) and took my plants back inside. They did not coo angrily at me or appear aggressive at any point, but maybe that will change if I use my balcony more.
My new hobby is sitting on my floor and staring at them (from inside). I think they can see me, and they stare back — there is only ever one at a time now. Please advise on how to proceed with minimal pigeon poop in my future.
TLDR: Pigeons. Uncertain if enemies. Try to make friends or just give up?