Yeah, I agree - this was an unsafe system. We lived in a secluded space, and that surely helped prevent accidents, but i'd not set it up like this again even if I lived alone.

As others suggested, a water cannon would be safer (not entirely sure about a sprinkler - in my experience with pidgeons they do seem able to get used to all but most unpleasant defences). Also, an auto-firing high pressure, precise water cannon would be a cool side project :->