Illegal Avitrol Used to Control Pigeons in Worcester, Mass.

Article published Dec 30, 2007
Nonlethal means touted for nuisance bird control
Chemical Avitrol causes pigeons great suffering

By Danielle M. Williamson
TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
dawilliamson@telegram.com

In her nine years helping sick and injured wildlife, Sigrid Warren had never seen anything like what she witnessed this summer and fall. First, the Gardner woman tried to save two pigeons that violently seized and convulsed. A few weeks later, she came to the aid of a mourning dove with half of its tail ripped out, unable to walk. Meanwhile, colleagues saw pigeons, a sparrow and a blue jay drop from the sky. In October, the city’s animal control officer brought her a ruffed grouse that had flown into a store window and died. After unsuccessful attempts to save the birds, Mrs. Warren learned that several downtown businesses had hired a pest control company to use chemical-treated corn kernels to rid their rooftops of pesky pigeons. Suddenly, the previously baffling bird injuries made sense.

“I’m not trying to advocate that we have 10,000 pigeons in town,” said Mrs. Warren, a certified wildlife rehabilitator. “But animals — not just pigeons — that get into Avitrol can die miserable deaths.”

Mrs. Warren can’t prove that the unusually high number of bird deaths, or the disappearance of the hawk that normally watches over her backyard, are directly attributable to a chemical that pest control companies use to control nuisance birds. Necropsies are costly, and she already had disposed of some of the birds before she learned that Avitrol could have been a factor. From her experience, however, she suspects that some of the birds ate the treated corn, became disoriented, and suffered fatal injuries by flying into cars and windows, or by becoming vulnerable to attack.

Waltham Services, a pest control company permitted by the state to use Avitrol, says the right mixture of the chemical with corn kernels is an effective means of keeping pigeons away from the roofs of clients, but acknowledged that its sometimes lethal effects makes it a less than an ideal solution.

Even the Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates Avitrol, notes in a September report that the chemical poses “an acute risk” to nontarget species, including hawks.

Wildlife rehabilitators and an international organization that offers pigeon control solutions tout nonlethal options to ultimately reduce the pigeon population, and question why Avitrol, which is banned throughout much of Europe and in New York City, is legal here.

Worcester, meanwhile, has naturally reduced its flock of Canada geese, which, like pigeons, are annoying mainly because of their frequent defecation on public property. “Avitrol doesn’t reduce the pigeon population at all, and we’ve never used it to kill off a flock,” said Richard C. Berman, technical manager for Waltham Services. “Basically, we’re moving the problem from point A to point B.”

The mixture of harmless and chemically treated corn is meant to frighten away pigeons that see other members of their flock become distressed from it. Mr. Berman said that while his company offers nonlethal pigeon control solutions, including netting and bird spikes, Avitrol is the most popular because it is the least expensive.

Gardner officials estimate at least 24 pigeons died over the late summer and early fall, while Waltham Services had permits from the state Division of Fisheries & Wildlife to place Avitrol-treated corn kernels at popular pigeon roosting areas.

The company is still using Avitrol in Gardner, but the city has not seen multiple deaths since the fall. Mr. Berman said at the time it was unusual to see so many deaths, especially since his company has been working in Gardner for years. Typically, there are more deaths when a pest control company starts a program, he said.

Since there is no requirement for pest control companies, clients or the state to notify municipalities of the ongoing use of Avitrol, Gardner officials could not immediately explain the deaths. The problem mirrored an incident in Milford in summer 2004, when, unknown to town officials, Milford Regional Medical Center hired a company to use Avitrol, and handfuls of pigeons died in the hospital parking lot.

“We must have tested seven or eight pigeons for West Nile virus,” said Milford Health Agent Paul A. Mazzuchelli. “When people found out it was Avitrol, there was a public outcry.” Milford has since used Avipel, touted as a nonlethal repellant, to keep pigeons away from its bell tower at Town Hall.

Guy Merchant, founder of the nonprofit Pigeon Control Advisory Service, based in the United Kingdom, works with cities and towns throughout the world to naturally reduce the pigeon population, and recently started advising New York City councilors.

Not only is Avitrol dangerous to the birds that feed near or prey on pigeons, but it is also an ineffective means of controlling pigeon problems in the long term, he said. “It staggers me that Avitrol’s allowed to be used as irresponsibly as it is in America,” Mr. Merchant said. “By using lethal means, all you’re doing is increasing flock size. The only beneficiaries are the pest control companies that offer the service.”

When pigeons lose members of their flock, their instinctive response is to “breed open-endedly” to bring flock size back, Mr. Merchant said. His 35 years of experience in the pigeon control field show him that pigeons that lose part of their flock to death will overcompensate, ultimately increasing the flock by 10 percent to 20 percent.

Pigeon Control Advisory Service recommends several solutions for pigeon control: discouraging residents from feeding the birds in congested areas, setting up feeding areas away from the downtown area, and erecting artificial breeding facilities. The group offers its consulting for free. The breeding facilities — 8-foot by 6-foot structures that resemble a garden shed — encourage pigeons to roost and feed in a controlled area. Volunteers, often wildlife rehabilitators, such as Mrs. Warren, go to the structures once a week to remove the pigeons’ eggs and replace them with dummy eggs, Mr. Merchant said.

An article published Feb. 9, 1993, in The New York Times documents the success of such facilities in Basel, Switzerland, starting in 1988. Led by a team of researchers, students and residents built nine pigeon lofts from which they removed 1,200 eggs a year. After 50 months, the pigeon population had fallen 50 percent.

Worcester officials have reduced the city’s population of Canada geese by implementing a program similar to what Pigeon Control Advisory Service recommends for pigeon control. Neighborhood volunteers monitor the birds’ nests in the spring and put vegetable oil on the eggs, ensuring they don’t hatch. James G. Gardiner, acting director of health and human services, said this practice has reduced the city’s flock by 75 geese. “What a difference this has made with the concerts at Elm Park,” Mr. Gardiner said. The city also has a no-feeding ordinance, which has been effective because of an extensive education program, Mr. Gardiner said, adding the pigeon population has visibly decreased since the ordinance was created in spring 2006. Mr. Gardiner said Worcester has not used Avitrol, and believes that reducing the birds’ feeding sources is one of the best long-term solutions.

Mrs. Warren, meanwhile, is hoping for a time when the downtown Gardner area she now calls “the kill zone,” is free of Avitrol, and she doesn’t have to fear for the lives of songbirds and hawks. Gardner Animal Control Officer Lisa A. Gaudet, who took injured pigeons and birds to wildlife rehabilitators, said she felt horrible that Mrs. Warren spent hours trying to help the animals, only to find there was no way to save them. “I’m sure people who feel they have no choice but to use it (Avitrol) would be willing to consider other options if there was a plan in place,” Ms. Gaudet said.

Protest Planned for Pigeon Feeding Ban Proposal - Friday, November 30th

Protest Planned for Pigeon Feeding Ban Proposal
http://www.1010wins.com/Protest-Planned-for-Pigeon-Feeding-Ban-Proposal/1269475

NEW YORK (AP) -- Pigeon partisans are blasting back at a New York City councilman's proposal to ban feeding the ubiquitous birds.The New York Bird Club and others plan to demonstrate this afternoon in front of City Hall. They say pigeons are peaceful, gentle creatures. And they note that the birds served as flying messengers for American and allied forces in World Wars I and II. But Councilman Simcha Felder sees pigeons as pests. He says they excrete an average 25 pounds of droppings each year, and those droppings can rust steel and corrode infrastructure.Felder is proposing a $1,000 fine for feeding the birds, among other measures to try to trim the city's pigeon population.

http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=76085
Bird lovers are planning to flock to City Hall today to protest a proposal to outlaw pigeon feeding. The New York Bird Club and others say the birds are peaceful, gentle creatures. They also note the birds have even served their country as flying messengers for American forces during the first and second world wars. Councilman Simcha Felder says pigeon droppings can rust steel and corrode infrastructure. Felder is proposing a $1,000 fine for feeding the birds, as well as other measures to trim the city's pigeon population.

Where: Steps of City Hall, New York, NY Located within the small City Hall Park in lower Manhattan between Broadway, Park Row and Chambers Street.
Transportation:
Subway: 4,5,6 to Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall; R,W,N,R to City Hall; A,C,J,M,2,3 to Chambers Street.

When: Friday, November 30th at noon to 1.

The New York Bird Club and animal rights groups will hold a press conference and demonstration outside the steps of City Hall on November 30th from noon to 1 pm in opposition to Councilman Simcha Felder proposal to issue a fine of $1,000 to anyone caught feeding a pigeon.

reference: Councilman Felder's proposal

We feel the proposal is frivolous, inaccurate and lacking in merit, and is it coincidence that the proposal emerges at a time when there is new construction of high rise apartment buildings almost everywhere in Manhattan.

The proposal cites:

1. Overfeeding which encourages pigeon reproduction.
The Wild Bird Fund who rehabilitate the majority of injured wildlife (pigeons) estimate that there are approximately a dozen people in the metro area who feed pigeons regularly. When you consider there are approximately 9,000,000 million people living in NYC, this is an insignificant amount. There are no facts to support and it is erroneous to state, that wildlife will multiply solely according to their food supply; other factors such as safety, habitat and well being must be present as well, which are surely lacking in the pigeons' existence. Everyday they are faced with predators and danger such as being baited and netted, poisoned, maimed, and trapped both legally and illegally; not to mention being shooed away and regarded as garbage by the average ignorant person, and hawks released into the City for the sole purpose of killing them.

2. Disease.
See proposal: cases of civilians contracting diseases from pigeons or pigeon droppings are rare and the threat is often exaggerated.

3. Infrastructural damage to building.
Proposal is erroneous (see Minneapolis, Minnesota bridge). It was later established that the bridge did not collapse due to pigeon excrement.
CNN report: "In 2005, the 40-year-old bridge had been rated as "structurally deficient" and possibly in need of replacement, according to a federal database. The span rated 50 on a scale of 120 for structural stability in that review, White House press secretary Tony Snow said."
There have been no major incidents of infrastructural damage to buildings in New York City.

Pigeons co-exist peacefully in our city with people, are not predatory in nature and when feeling safe, will come to you and gently and gratefully accept a morsel of nourishment from your hand. Pigeons are gentle, sweet benign creatures who have helped us in wars and saved lives, and it is ethically and morally wrong to treat our fellow inhabitants this way. By enacting the proposal, the message to children -- who are New York City's future, is loud and clear, DO NOT CARE FOR WILDLIFE, DO NOT FEED WILDLIFE. Even if a child wants to interact with any wildlife, he/she will be reprimanded from doing so because wildlife is insignificant, unworthy of respect and a fine will be issued. Children will grow up to become callous and insensitive adults since pigeons will not be the only wildlife who will be affected by new legislation should it come to pass, because one will not feed a squirrel, sparrow or duck for fear a pigeon may join the flock.

Councilman Felder has responded to the outcry of pigeon advocates by saying that those who like pigeons should take them into our homes. I suggest the Councilman read up on NYC law since it is against the law to bring a pigeon into your dwelling, and pigeons are feral wildlife and should be treated as such.

The repurcussions of taking away New Yorkers' right to feed a bird should we choose to do so, is that other inhumane and meaningless legislation may follow, designed only to generate income for the City without regard to its wildlife, nature or it's people. The proposed plan is senseless and cruel, and the people respectfully ask that it not be permitted to pass into our law.

Please attend to rally and show your support in opposition to the proposal.