Hi,

The best you can do is provide food they don't prefer, like sunflower seeds. But they may eat that too.

Also, there are special thistle feeders that only allow small birds to feed.

Thing is, if you put out seed, you really don't have control over who comes for it.

I agree with elly. You really can't control who shows up to eat when you willingly and openly offer dinner. I did a little research and found that you should avoid seed mixes containing corn, oats, wheat and millet. You can also use feeders that have really short perches. Tube feeders might work well. Pretty much what elly already recommended. Good luck! ~~Angie

Thanks...I only offer black oil sunflower, thistle and peanuts. I learned long ago that the mixed seed wasn't good. Guess I will just have to keep a watch and see how things go.
I appreciate your insights :)

Tray feeders, spreading seed on the ground, leaving dry dog food out and throwing people food on the ground usually attracts trash birds/nuisance animals, so if you are offering high quality food in tube or upside down feeders, you are doing the right thing. When I was still in KY, if a flock of trash birds arrived I immediately pulled the feeders until they moved on, but if pigeons are already around and being fed elsewhere it could be more complicated.

City makes it illegal to feed the pigeons(not protected) but how can we feed the mourning doves (legal to feed & protected)w/o the pigeons coming also?

My Mourning Doves eat the BOSS vieja. I never offer any millet or corn. Of course, I am in a rural location and do not have any issues with Pigeons.

We are away from the city also but as our community develops it seems the pigeons are also coming. I still see the odd ones land on the roof of the house but so far they have not come down into the yard or on the patio. If I see them I try to scare them off...like that would work!
I don't have any tray feeders so that will help and I do clean up under the feeders so as not to attract unwanted critters.