Norwich council rules out giving pigeons contraceptives

Feeding pigeons birth control was put forward as a way to manage the flock in Norwich after a trial using hawks to scare them away was unsuccessful.

Officials want to reduce the number of pigeons congregating at the market and war memorial opposite City Hall, as their droppings are damaging the site and are causing a nuisance to market traders and customers.

Traders have long complained pigeons are putting off customers at Norwich Market (Image: Copyright: Archant 2016)

But after investigating the idea, Norwich City Council cabinet for major projects, Carli Harper, said it would not be possible to do so as this method is not currently licensed in the UK.

Contraceptives for pigeons have been trialled elsewhere in the UK and they have proved successful in reducing populations in European cities, such as Brussels and Barcelona.

While putting pigeons on birth control is not possible currently, officials are continuing to explore other humane control options.

Summer Loh is one of the pro-pigeon campaigners, who has called for a dovecote to be created at Chapelfield Gardens (Image: Summer Loh)

One possible solution being explored is 'egg swapping', which would involve switching eggs with fake eggs.

The method tricks parents into continuing to incubate the eggs, without laying new ones.

This prevents new generations from being born while allowing the pigeons to continue their natural nesting behaviour without stress.

Norwich City Council is pursuing ways of controlling the birds after feedback from traders and market customers, who wanted to see action taken to curb their numbers.

Falconer Adrian Diamond with Travis the hawk, ready to scare the pigeons at the Norwich Market and City Hall area. (Image: Denise Bradley)

A falconer was brought in last year for a trial to see if hawks could scare off the pigeons.

But people fond of the pigeons began feeding them "industrial quantities of seed," according to the council.

Following this, councillors voted to introduce fines for people feeding the birds.

Pigeons at the Norwich Market and City Hall area. (Image: Denise Bradley)

Ms Harper said: "The main issue remains that the single most effective thing would be for people to stop feeding them next to the market, which concentrates pigeons in one area."

For now, City Hall's war against the pigeons remains unresolved.