Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
Tensions have flared in Norwich over the issue of feeding pigeons at the city’s market. In an attempt to manage the pigeon population, Norwich City Council recently enlisted the help of a falconer and a Harris’s hawk to patrol the area, aiming to scare the birds away. This initiative, part of a four-week trial costing around £4,000, seeks to encourage pigeons to roost and nest elsewhere without harming them, as the trained hawk does not attack the birds but merely deters them from the busy market.
Local pigeon welfare advocate Jenny Coupland criticized the council’s approach, describing pigeons as “brilliant” and defending the public’s right to feed them. She lamented the perceived negative attitude toward the birds, stating, “It’s a shame that Norwich City Council seem to have such a backwards approach towards wildlife by promoting the eradication of a species that is synonymous with city life.” Coupland also emphasized that pigeons are “just as clean as any other wild bird” and suggested they are being unfairly targeted for the mess in the market area.
Among market visitors, opinions varied. Sandi Lowe, who regularly feeds the pigeons, insisted that it was her “god given right” to do so, expressing frustration when told not to feed the birds and even daring the council to fine her. Meanwhile, some residents like Trish Goodall, who referred to pigeons as “rats of the sky,” expressed discomfort with their presence around food stalls and urged for a relocation of feeding practices away from the market. Others, including Sharon Williams, showed a more sympathetic stance, acknowledging that while she wouldn’t personally feed the birds to avoid trouble, she felt sorry for them given their longstanding presence in the city.
The debate has also sparked community action in the form of an online petition advocating a gentler solution. This petition, supported by over 370 signatories, proposes converting a nearby building in Chapelfield Gardens into a dovecote and a food source to attract pigeons away from the market. The council remains firm in addressing the concerns of shoppers and traders, with Carli Harper, the cabinet member for finance and major projects, noting that they are considering enforcement measures to target the “small number of irresponsible people” who continue to feed pigeons despite repeated warnings
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.