Probably because there are so many of them around, pigeons get a bad reputation for spreading disease. In fact, pigeons are no more or less prone to getting sick than any other animal. And most of the micro-organisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc) that make pigeons sick are not at all contagious to people. Their bodies and systems are just too different from ours for cross-infection.
Always be careful around pigeon poop
Again, pigeon poop is no more or less dangerous than anyone else’s. But every species’ feces (including dogs, cats, and humans!) is a great breeding ground for lots of different bacteria and fungi that can cause disease. Because pigeons are relatively large birds and tend to congregate in big flocks, their poop can pile up and become a nuisance quickly.
How do I safely clean up the poop?
Be careful cleaning up pigeon poop. Wear a mask and gloves before cleaning up large accumulations of pigeon feces. If the feces are old and dry, you can spritz them with water first to prevent the dust from rising up.
Once the feces are cleaned up, hard surfaces like wood or concrete can be sprayed with a 10% bleach solution or steam-cleaned to get rid of any residual microorganisms. In lawn or garden areas, turn over the soil to minimize exposure and let the organisms in the soil clean things up for you.
