Norwich Explores Pigeon Contraceptives as Hawk Strategy Fails
Norwich City Council is considering a novel approach to manage its burgeoning pigeon population, with plans to deploy contraceptive-laced feed after a previous attempt using hawks proved unsuccessful. The proposal aims to address growing complaints from shoppers and traders who describe the birds as both a nuisance and a potential health hazard in the city centre.
From Hawks to Hormones: A Shift in Strategy
The Labour-run council previously invested £4,000 in a hawk to deter pigeons from Norwich Market, responding to reports of the birds swooping on and terrorising shoppers. However, this four-week trial was halted following a public backlash, with some residents braving freezing weather to feed the pigeons, undermining the predator's effectiveness.
Councillor Carli Harper attributed the hawk's failure to a "handful of individuals" who supplied "industrial amounts or sack loads of bird feed." This observation was echoed by falconer Adrian Diamond of NBC Environment, who noted seeing people with rucksacks full of seeds for the flock, estimated at 500-600 birds.
The Contraceptive Proposal: Humane but Controversial
The new plan involves mixing contraceptives with grain in bird feeders, rendering pigeons temporarily infertile to reduce new births. Councillors have described this as a "humane" and "non-lethal" method, with Green group leader Lucy Galvin advocating for the scheme as a cost-effective solution.
This approach has precedent abroad; Barcelona used similar methods when its pigeon population reached 85,000, and a trial in Brussels reportedly reduced bird numbers by 50%. About 30 pigeon supporters, including one wearing a pigeon mask, attended a City Hall meeting where the policy was proposed.
Public Division and Alternative Solutions
The issue has sparked significant public debate. A petition by 19-year-old university student Summer Loh, calling for the pigeons to be housed in a nearby park, has garnered over 3,500 signatures. Loh disputed descriptions of overfeeding, claiming she has encountered underweight pigeons.
Opposition to the contraceptive plan centres on several concerns:
- Potential ingestion by other birds, particularly endangered species
- Risk of predators consuming contraceptives through prey
- Environmental spread of hormones via bird waste
Jenny Coupland, founder of pigeon advocacy group Peck Savers, argues the council hasn't adequately researched the method. She points out that contraceptives aren't licensed for this use in the UK and cites a Humane Wildlife Solutions report suggesting they're only a short-term solution. Coupland proposes converting a disused toilet block in Chatterfield Gardens as an alternative, with council support for setup costs.
Regulatory and Practical Challenges
The contraceptive method faces regulatory hurdles, as it's not currently licensed in the UK. Critics like Coupland warn that pursuing it would waste taxpayers' money, similar to previous failed attempts. Meanwhile, the council has agreed to introduce fines for feeding pigeons at the Lutyens War Memorial Gardens, indicating a multi-pronged approach to the issue.
As Norwich grapples with balancing urban management with animal welfare, the contraceptive proposal represents the latest chapter in an ongoing struggle to find an effective, publicly acceptable solution to its pigeon population challenges.
