Norwich Pigeons to be put on the Pill
Norwich City Council is considering the measure to address mounting concerns over the birds
Pigeons at Norwich Market could soon be fed contraceptives in an effort to reduce their numbers and ease tensions over the site’s flock.
Norwich City Council is considering the measure to address mounting concerns over the birds, with many traders and shoppers saying they are a nuisance and a health risk.
However, others support the pigeons and have resisted moves to drive them away – such as by using hawks – and have been encouraging more to stay by feeding them.
Councillors have agreed to explore the possibility of using contraceptives, hidden within food, to provide a “humane and non-lethal” population control method to curb the growing flock.
Successful trials have already taken place elsewhere in the UK and Europe and the tactic is now used in cities like Paris, Brussels and Barcelona.
The contraceptives can be stocked in bird feeders, mixed in with grain, and will make birds temporarily infertile. One trial in Brussels saw bird numbers drop by 50pc.
Lucy Galvin, leader of the Green group, called for the scheme to be introduced, arguing it would not be too expensive and had worked elsewhere.
However, there are concerns the contraceptives could be eaten by other birds, particularly endangered species.
There is also the risk that predators could consume them through their prey, while the hormones can also be spread into the environment through bird waste.
Carli Harper, Labour cabinet member for major projects, said: “We have been looking at other methods but it will take time to explore this.
“It will potentially have implications for other avian species, including endangered birds.”
The contraceptive policy was proposed at a City Hall meeting on Tuesday night at which the pigeon issue was discussed.
It was attended by around 30 pigeon supporters – including one man who wore a pigeon mask.
At the meeting, the council also agreed to introduce fines for people who feed the pigeons at the Lutyens War Memorial Gardens at the top of the market.
Labour councillors argued the measures is necessary to prevent the war memorial from damage caused by pigeon guano.
Norwich market traders and visitors have been calling for the bird population to be tackled, saying it is a particular problem for the site’s food stalls.
They say plans to revamp the 900-year-old market by creating a covered food hall have added urgency to the need to tackle the number of pigeons.
Mike Sands, who brought forward the motion to impose fines, said: “The number of pigeons runs into the hundreds. Their droppings are corrosive for the stone work and they represent a health issue.”
Ms Harper, who insisted she was not anti-pigeon, warned some people are engaging in persistent pigeon feeding which is encouraging other vermin like rats.
She added there was “no reason” pigeons couldn’t be fed in other areas of the city.
City Hall’s Labour administration was also criticised by the Greens for how they have handled the issue, with Gary Champion saying the council has been “made a laughing stock” after its battle against the birds made national news.
It followed fans of the pigeons rallying and leaving them large quantities of feed in retaliation to hawks being brought in to scare them off.
Jenny Coupland, of Peck Savers, a group campaigning to protect the birds, said: “There will be great opposition to the fines, which may put an embarrassing burden on the council.
“The implementation will be complex and needs to be supported by Norfolk Police. There will be resistance.”
Summer Loh, a university student whose petition to protect the pigeons has gained more than 3,500 signatures, said she has been left “disappointed” by the lack of engagement with the council.
Labour councillors have also dismissed an idea to create a dovecote in Chapelfield Gardens, arguing taxpayers would not want money diverted to the project.
Ms Loh said: “If they are concerned about the number of pigeons at the market, it seems like a fairly obvious solution to give them somewhere else to live, even if it means investing money into it.”