Reduce Pigeon Numbers by Feeding?

Reduce pigeon numbers? Feed them ’til they’re too fat to breed
Mar 26 2008 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

COUNCILLORS want to cut the number of pigeons in Huddersfield town centre – by feeding them.

The new plan was discussed at a meeting last week and if the proposal goes ahead, Kirklees staff will feed the pigeons between 7am and 8am at two locations at opposite ends of the town centre.

Brook Street and outside Wilkinson’s on New Street are possible locations.

Clr Tony Brice was at the Huddersfield Town Centre Sub Group meeting where the plan was discussed.

The Lindley Conservative said: “By feeding them, the hope is we will have a few, well-fed pigeons that don’t lay as many eggs. It’s the same system that’s been used in Trafalgar Square in London.”

But members of the public who feed the pigeons will be slapped with a fine.

Clr Brice said: “There will be quite a few enforcement officers who will fine anyone caught throwing bread to the birds.

“The message will get through eventually and people will stop feeding them.”

Clr Brice – who joked that his preferred solution to the pigeon problem would be to release a hawk in the town centre – said the birds were no more than vermin.

He said: “They carry a lot of disease, they are rats with feathers. You wouldn’t feed a rat if you saw it but people do feed pigeons.”

The plan is expected to go to Kirklees Council’s Cabinet for approval soon.

It is the latest idea to rid Huddersfield town centre of pigeons.

In July 1997 council officials suggested a cull by shooting the birds or catching them in traps.

But the council backed down after an Examiner poll found 64% of people against the idea.

Two years later the council spent £6,000 on netting at the railway bridges on John William Street and Fitzwilliam Street in a bid to stop pigeons roosting there.

In 2001 Kirklees decided to build special nests for the birds, and then remove the eggs before they hatched.

Later that year, councillors decided to fix five-inch long steel spikes to the balcony of Huddersfield Town Hall to stop pigeons nesting there.