Home / Environment / Pigeon Wars: Norwich Council vs. Feeders
Pigeon Wars: Norwich Council vs. Feeders
31 Jan
Summary
- Council attempts to deter pigeons with hawks were unsuccessful.
- Pigeon feeders defy council warnings, citing personal rights.
- Proposed fines for feeding pigeons are being considered.
Norwich City Council's attempts to manage feral pigeon numbers on the market have sparked a significant debate. Residents are divided between viewing the birds as a nuisance and deserving of care. Efforts to deter pigeons, including the use of Harris's hawks at a cost of £4,000, proved ineffective as pigeon feeders ignored council pleas.
Defiant individuals, such as Sandi Lowe and Niall Adams, continue to feed the birds, with some providing 'industrial amounts of bird feed.' This direct opposition rendered the scare tactics pointless. Stallholders, like Rob Butcher, have raised concerns about public health and hygiene, describing the situation as unhygienic and a risk.
An evolutionary biologist, Will Smith, noted that feral pigeons are human-dependent and have adapted remarkably to urban environments. He suggested that a gradual reduction in food supply is the most humane method for population control. The council is now contemplating fines, a tactic proven effective in London's Trafalgar Square, and investigating contraceptive methods for a non-lethal approach.
