Spice suspected in mass pigeon poisoning in Auckland

Spice suspected in mass pigeon poisoning in Auckland

A pigeon.

A pigeon.

The SPCA is investigating possible pigeon poisoning in Auckland.

The bizarre scene, observed outside Vector Arena in central Auckland on Thursday morning, was attributed by residents to the birds eating a packet of chilli instant noodles.

The ordeal began after the birds began acting strangely in the early morning.

One of the drugged pigeons

Daniel Edwards, who lived nearby, found the sickly birds near a packet of opened instant noodles and spicy seasoning.

“It’s pretty sad. A lot of people hate pigeons, but they don’t annoy me,” he said.

Edwards and his friend chased away two large gulls away that had begun clawing at the incapacitated pigeons.

Daniel Edwards found a dozen sick and dying pigeons in Auckland on Thursday morning.

One pigeon was left with a wound in his side while another bird died.

A passer-by poured water on the distressed birds to help revive them from their sluggish state.

Local resident Cynthia Dickey said this was the third time in three months pigeons had been found in a similar state in the park.

In a previous incident, she said three pigeons died and the SPCA took the remaining 12 away for treatment.

Dickey said the birds were being poisoned by the human food being left scattered around the area.

The chilli seasoning would have been dangerously spicy for pigeons, she said.

“Their little mouths can’t cope with it. It would burn your tongue.”

However, SPCA Auckland chief executive Andrea Midgen said they were investigating if the birds were poisoned.

It was the second callout the SPCA had received to the area in a few months.

“In both cases the pigeons appear to be sick from the use of poison.

“The pigeons found today were particularly sick and had wounds from being attacked by seagulls.”

The birds were taken to NZ Bird Rescue where they were being cared for.

It was legal to poison pigeons in New Zealand but you must ensure the birds don’t suffer and not leave any sick birds behind, she said.

“No animal should be left to suffer like this.”

NZ Bird Rescue Trust spokeswoman Hilary Stollery said they had been alerted to more cases of bird poisoning in recent years.

Cafe owners would poison sparrows and pigeons which were seen as a nuisance, she said.

The Trust would like the practice banned.

Human food can also be toxic to birds, including dry noodles and chili, she said.

“It would expand in the poor creature’s stomach and kill them.”

Human food high in salt and chemicals was also bad for birds.

Anyone wishing to feed birds should give them bird seed, she said.

 

About Pigeon Patrol:

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

NP council calls ‘coup’ on pigeons

NP council calls ‘coup’ on pigeons

pigeon airPigeons are a nuisance in downtown North Platte. On Tuesday evening, the local city council approved a plan to get rid of them.

An agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Health Inspection Service was approved on Tuesday at the regular North Platte City Council meeting. The plan is to eradicate the birds through a multi-faceted process that includes using toxicants, trapping and shooting.

Chad Richardson, district supervisor for the service, gave an overview of what needs to be done.

“The situation didn’t develop overnight and it won’t go away overnight,” Richardson said. “The goal is to reduce the population by 50 percent in the first year.”

It is estimated there are around 4,000 pigeons in the city, and Richardson said it will take putting in the man hours to accomplish the goal. Eventually, he believes the service can reduce the population by 90 percent. In Scottsbluff, the service successfully eradicated all but a handful of 2,000 pigeons in that city.

“Toxicant baiting is the key,” Richardson said. “Trapping and shooting is much more labor intensive.”

The toxicant is used after the birds have been baited with corn. Then corn is soaked in the liquid toxicant and the birds eat the tainted feed.

“We have a toxicant that is registered just to the USDA,” Richardson said. “It’s a good toxicant, if there is such a thing. There is no secondary toxicity to these birds. It is different toxicant than what private controllers have used in the past.”

The effect on the birds is that they die in their sleep due to liver failure. There will be dead birds, but the service will remove the birds as they are found. The toxicant does not stay toxic after the bird dies, so people or pets that come in contact with the dead birds are not in any danger.

“Great Plains Health and the Ag Valley Co-op have agreed to share the cost of the service,” City Administrator Jim Hawks said. “The cost will be split three ways with the city.”

About Pigeon Patrol:

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Country & Coast: Crops pest that won’t go away

Country & Coast: Crops pest that won’t go away

pigeon patrolAROUND New Year some Yorkshire farmers and landowners hold the first of what have become traditional shoots at woodpigeon roosts.

The bird is the most common found on UK farmland, and the huge resident population is boosted each autumn by migrants from the Continent. In some areas the shoots are a necessity owing to the woodpigeon’s destructive effect on crops. For example, one large flock – some are as many as 2,000-strong – can take out a field of sprouts or cabbages in a day. They also hammer crops like corn and rape.

A few years back I was invited to describe a shoot on one estate, which must remain nameless for fear of attracting animal rights campaigners. By tradition, the first shoot of the winter took place on the final Saturday of December, and after issuing an invite to friends and neighbours the farmer never knew how many guns to expect. Sometimes as many as 25 to 30 turned up.
It helped if there wasn’t much beechmast left, apparently, because when the birds are still finding plenty to eat in beechwoods there are fewer on farmland.

The woodpigeons started flying back to their evening roost in mature conifers about two in the afternoon, by which time everyone was in place beneath trees the birds were known to use year after year. There was no real need for stealth at that point since the pigeons were still out in the fields.

Every corner of the plantations had to be staked out, because once the first shot is heard the birds quickly try to find sanctuary. The guns positioned themselves in any woodland gaps which the birds would fly over on arrival or departure. Others went 50 yards or so outside the wood and tucked themselves behind a hedge.

That particular day there was a stiff northerly blowing and a bit of sleet, which the farmer said was good. Without wind, the pigeons would fly in very high and eventually drop down to their roost almost vertically. If the guns weren’t directly underneath them, they wouldn’t have much chance of a shot.

To begin with there seemed to be a lull, a calm before the storm, when there was no movement in either sky or trees, then suddenly there came lots of banging, pop-pop-pop-pop in the distance, and the sky was full of wings.
Sometimes, as a shot was fired, the bird disappeared behind branches and the gun stood listening carefully to hear the noise of it clattering down through branches and thumping onto the ground. There was usually some visual evidence of a hit, since woodpigeons have quick-release feathers which are thought to be an anti-predator device.

On that particular day the total birds shot reached three figures. Yet the farmer who had organised the shoot said ruefully: “It’s supposed to be all about pest control, but you would scarcely notice any reduction. The very next day these woods are usually blue with pigeons again.”

 

About Pigeon Patrol:

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Pigeons beware – Falcon sweeps Poundbury’s skies to keep them clear from marauding birds

Pigeons beware – Falcon sweeps Poundbury’s skies to keep them clear from marauding birds

bald-eaglePIGEONS in Poundbury beware.

This falcon is sweeping the skies to keep them clear from marauding birds.
Amateur photographer Sheila Hunn captured this stunning shot of the bird on a visit to Poundbury Garden Centre recently.
Sheila, 63, of Portland, said she was ‘thrilled to bits’ when she saw the photo.

“I was lucky enough to see the falcon with her handler. He told me she is flown regularly to keep the pigeons away and was kind enough to let me take a few photos.

“She is well trained and raised her wings on command from him.”

The bird is a cross between a peregrine falcon and a lanner falcon.

Sheila, a retired midwife, added: “She was a beautiful bird, standing there very proudly. I think she’s there most days. I’ve usually got my camera with me but I was lucky to get such nice shots.”

 

About Pigeon Patrol:

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Huntsville declares war on the pigeon

Huntsville declares war on the pigeon

Close-Up-Of-Pigeon-Against-Clear-SkyCouncil orders staff to investigate ways to eliminate pigeon roosting at the Canada Summit Centre entrance.

HUNTSVILLE – Pigeons have been steadfastly opposing the municipality.

Pigeon control program in…
Despite the concerted effort of staff, pigeons have been roosting in large numbers at the entrance to Huntsville’s Canada Summit Centre. At the Dec. 21 council meeting, a motion was passed to escalate the town’s efforts in deterring the fowl.

Kari Lambe, executive director of community services and economic development, explained to council that there have been numerous attempts made to keep the birds from the Summit Centre and they have all been thwarted.

“We have tried a number of things in the past. We’ve tried the fake owls. We currently have the spikes. We even have the spikes serviced on a regular basis because the pigeons actually try to bump the spikes off and try to build nests on top of the spikes,” said Lambe.

“Pigeons actually try to bump the spikes off.”
– Kari Lambe
The pigeon issue has had serious consequences for the municipality. According to Lambe, staff members are routinely at the Summit Centre entrance dealing with it, which takes away from time they could be spending else where.

Scott Aitchison, mayor of Huntsville, said the whole problem has been exasperated by people within the municipality.

“I believe there are a number of well-meaning citizens feeding the pigeons at the Summit Centre. That’s probably not helping the situation,” said Aitchison.

Council voted to direct staff to investigate further options for keeping the pigeons away from the entrance.

 

About Pigeon Patrol:

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)