WAR ON SURPLUS PIGEONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19832, 30 December 1927, Page 9

WAR ON SURPLUS PIGEONS.

BIRDS AROUND ST. "PAUL'S.

DIFFICULTIES OF TRAPPING.

LONDONERS AND SENTIMENT

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright

A. and N.Z. LONDON, Dec. 28. The Christmas season witnessed an open-air pantomime around St. Paul's Cathedral, where 2000 surplus pigeons, which were condemned by the city authorities, resolutely refuse to die. These pigeons are birds for which sentimental Londoners have a deep affection. When the trappers arrived with corn to entice the pigeons away, they found the birds unresponsive, as they had gathered around piles of corn and bread distributed in safer places by elderly spinsters. The latter withered the trappers through poised lorgnettes, and the men had to retire without, sny winged victims. Urged by a warrant from the authorities, the trappers reappeared during the holiday and rounded up hundreds of pigeons, but these turned out to be the healthiest, which were adept at hustling the weaker birds aside and obtaining the corn spread as bait. As a result, new methods wen used to-day to lure away the decrepit pigeons, which were seized and placed in bags until two bags full were obtained. This method will take years to thin out the number of birds, but Londoners seem determined that no pigeons shall be taken from St. Paul's.

Complaints have been made constantly of the damage to buildings and annoyance caused by pigeons which nest in St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Guildhall, the Royal Exchange, the Mansion House, the British Museum, and many other buildings in London, and their pecking operations are responsible for damage to the fabric of many structures. The London County Council (General Powers) Act passed this year provides that for the purpose of abating or mitigating any nuisance, annoyance, or damage caused by the congregation of house doves or pigeons having, or believed by the local authority to have, no owner, the authority may seize, destroy, or .sell, or otherwise dispose of such doves or pigeons in excess of the number that is considered reasonable. The offending pigeons in London are estimated to number 6QOO. But the campaign will not mean their extinction. It is recognised that the complete removal of the pigeons that flock in front of St. Paul's Cathedral and other buildings would deprive London of one of its attractions. It was suggested, therefore, that the number should at first be reduced by 2000, and it was proposed that these should be captured by the use of nets. Those beating identification marks indicating that they have a home will be separated from the less fortunate birds, and efforts will ho made to return them to their owners.