5 hours ago
9
Your feature reminds us that debates over feral pigeons are not new (The Norwich pigeon wars: how birds are dividing a UK city, 17 February). They are the archetypical pest. I studied them as an introduced pest on crops of garden peas in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, in the 1960s, and again for Ken Livingstone, who misguidedly ignored pigeon friends in Trafalgar Square in the 2000s.
As an animal population ecologist, I asked why the pigeons’ repertoire made them so successful. They’re smart and mobile, flocking to each distant source of food and moving just far enough away to avoid harm when scared.
As I predicted, all of Ken’s ideas for deterrence failed. Be it explosions, rocket-propelled nets or Harris’s hawks, the number of pigeons steadfastly correlated with the amount of food provided for them and not with the supposed “control” measure. The disturbances merely gave them a bit of exercise as they flew round, only to settle back down for the food. When feeding was deterred sufficiently to actually lower the amount available, which was no small task in the face of determined pigeon-lovers, the birds didn’t die off in droves, but just moved on to other places.
The latest misguided idea is to convince them to breed in dovecotes and harvest their eggs. That is to assume that they are inherently sedentary, which is far from the truth, and that fecundity is the problem, which it isn’t. Investing in dovecotes would be fun and, like Harris’s hawks, a tourist attraction, but sadly the solution to the undeniable problem of excess pigeon populations is to control those who believe that pigeons need feeding. Where we have controlled pigeon feeding, we have achieved humane population control.
Dr Dave Dawson
Former head of environment, Greater London Authority
I read with interest your article about the problems with pigeons in Norwich. Some 25 years ago, I held the environment portfolio on the former Chester city council, where we faced a similar problem. The solution we were offered was to build a specially designed pigeon loft in an open car park near the city centre, and introduce a bylaw prohibiting feeding pigeons anywhere else in the city.
This meant that the pigeons had no incentive to nest anywhere else, and the eggs they laid could be regularly removed from the base of the pigeon loft, thus reducing, or at least stabilising, the pigeon population. This solution seemed to work, and generated very few complaints.
Paul Roberts
Farndon, Cheshire
Instead of declaring war on pigeons, Norwich city council should be commemorating them on their war memorial. On 24 February, International War Animal Day, we remember the millions of animals that served, suffered and died in military conflicts around the world by wearing a purple poppy or badge.
I’ve been researching the role of pigeons in the second world war for a book, and concluded that no other animal did more to save this nation than the pigeons that carried messages in small canisters attached to their legs. Nearly a quarter of a million pigeons served with the army, RAF, navy, civil defence, Home Guard and Special Operations Executive, saving thousands of lives.
Many were killed in the process, with only one in eight making it back alive from missions over occupied Europe. Their work was recognised through the award of 32 Dickin medals (or animal Victoria Crosses) out of total of 54 given out during the war – more than for all the other animals combined. It is therefore deeply ironic that the council are eradicating them from the war memorial in the city.
Nicholas Milton
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Feral pigeons form a major part of the diet of the peregrine falcons that have become established in many city centres in recent years, including London and indeed Norwich, where they have nested on the cathedral, not far from the market place.
Take away the pigeons, and the future will once again be bleak for these iconic predators. Let nature take its course and an equilibrium will be found.
David Jobbins
Kelvedon Hatch, Essex
