FEATHERED PLAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19373, 8 January 1925, Page 8

FEATHERED PLAGUE.

SYDNEY’S FLOCK OF PIG-EONS. .From Our Own Ootirpsponpf.nt,) SYDNEY, December 31. Tho operation early in the year of tho powers recently granted to tho city health authorities, under which they can insist upon property owners or lessees keeping the facades of their buildings clean, will inevitably mean u big raid upon Sydney’s homeless pigeons whose favourite haunts are the G.P.0., the big Queen Victoria buildings in George street, the Art Gallery, and other prominent structures. Sydney so far has not worried much about the great flock of pigeons which find sanctuary in its best and biggest buildings, and which in their flights give a picturesque touch to old Martin place and other spots, but, like London, it is finding them something of an unhealthy plague, and is now about to declare war upon them. The pigeons not only dirty the facades and block up spoutings and gutters, but they have introduced vermin into a number of buildings, and it is more than probable that the Government will be asked to pass legislation compelling the council to keep all pigeons out of the city. But in what manner are pigeons to be summarily expelled? Efforts to trap the birds and even to electrocute them have failed; poisoned wheat lias also failed. One can now picture organised pigeon drives by the council in concert with outraged property owners. It looks to be a good opportunity for these with a gastronomic nicety for pigeon pie. No one owns Sydney’s pigeons. All anyone who wants them has to do is to go out and catch or kill them if he can.