Pigeons definitely appreciate flat shelves to lounge and perch on. 

 

And ropes (or branches) offer variety (important for pij foot health) and can help less-qualified flyers to get up to high places by providing a diagonal ladder from low to high.

 

I twist two pieces of half inch sisal rope together and it makes an easy surface for little and big and gimpy feet alike. Best not to "over furnish" the air space though because room to move and fly is important.

 

One thing I learned about flat surfaces in an aviary- the smoother they are, the easier to clean (by far).  When I first set mine up, I didn't bother to countersink screw heads when installing shelves and nest boxes.  I will next time!

 

Here's some perching pij in my coop, including Sam- MickaCoo's newest pigeon.  He's an SF blue bar feral that had a head and eye injury and was rescued and nursed back to health by Alice.

 

Elizabeth