Village Says Bye-Bye Birdies

, after several complaints from Main Street store owners, are dealing with a pesky pigeon population that is destroying business awnings and properties.

"This first came to our attention from Bob Cook from ," said Farmingdale Deputy Mayor Patricia Christiansen. The sports store had installed brand new burgundy awnings and quickly became" heavily stained with pigeon…debris, for lack of a better term," she said.

Christiansen said several neighboring merchants had complained about the issue and the growing mess on the sidewalk for years when Cook finally made a more formal complaint. The village board decided to hire Arrow Exterminating to deal with the problem.

According to the village clerk's office, officials decided on a contract worth $7,500 with a monthly maintenance fee of $300, and they can opt out of the contract within 30 days.

The Arrow Exterminating website said the company uses safe techniques that do not kill the pigeons.

"They'll get rid of the pigeons in a personal and wonderful way," said Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand at the May meeting of the village board.

"You will not see the same pigeons back here, I guarantee you."

Arrow Exterminating's site also said cleaning up pigeon droppings is not recommended, as it "can carry many diseases that can be harmful."

The village said Arrow Exterminating will begin the process this month.