Pigeon Patrol's Services Archives - Pigeon Patrol Canada

PIGEONS DISRUPTED THE LIVE BRITISH TALK SHOW

Birds staged in the Studio real chaos.A leading British talk show Good Morning Britain piers Morgan (Piers Morgan) decided to sneer at a, seated on the shoulders of two pigeons.

Soon the birds were out of control and wreaked havoc in the Studio, writes the Chronicle.info with reference to Depo.ua.

A few weeks before the incident, the son of Morgan compared the leading character of the movie “home Alone 2” – s a homeless woman in the Park feeding pigeons. Viewers of the show decided that apparently Morgan is very similar to that actress, and supported the joke. The journalist also wanted to laugh at themselves, so appeared on the air with two birds on his shoulders.

The pigeons did not sit still: first one got Morgan on the head and began to beat its wings in the face. He then flew around the Studio and pooped on the papers co-host Suzanne Reid (Susanna Reid).

Soon in the frame were the owner of pigeons who tried to catch the raging birds. He came to the aid of even the master of the weather. In the end the man managed to throw pigeons on the net.

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Anne Hegerty battles cockroaches, fish guts and a room full of pigeons in I’m a Celebrity

In a memorable segment, Anne fought through fish guts, a shower of cockroaches and an operating theatre filled with pigeons to bring back the stars.

The team gave Anne some motivation before she went off to undertake the trial and put all their faith in her to bring home the bacon.

Singer Fleur East said: “Anne’s grown so much as a person since she’s been here, she’s braver and makes me think she’ll do better than we think she’ll do.”

Anne then joined Dec Donnelly & Holly Willoughby to have her task explained: “This is the Hellish Hospital, your aim is to find the 11 stars that are hidden inside the gruesome vaults, you’ve got 11 minutes to find the stars and each one is worth a meal for camp.”

The first room of the hospital did not phase her as the quiz champ, star of ITV’s The Chase, picked up a star from beneath a snake and soon found another in a chest of drawers.

Anne then opened a wardrobe in the room and it was full of spiders.

After deciding to give the spiders a miss and moving on to the next room she was faced with a star hidden in a pile of offal and fish guts, before a shower of cockroaches fell onto her head.

The next room was an operating theatre full of pigeons which Anne was surprisingly fine with. She rummaged through some more offal and fish guts and found a star.

After finding another three stars she looked for the exit to enter the final room but found she could not go on any longer after discovering a large tunnel with a lizard inside.

She said: “I thought ‘Oh dear’, I’ll be on my hands and knees and just no.

“I said if I got 7 I’d feel like that was enough.” said Anne. “It’s incredible, you should be super proud.” said Holly.

After her victorious return from the trail she said: “The previous trial I was so panicked and the critters were so revolting this time I was able to keep it together a bit more. Having seven stars will mean we get a decent meal tonight.”

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Fierce falcons from Britain keep Hamilton’s pigeons at bay

I recently took my niece and her partner, visiting from Montreal, on a downtown walking tour. We came off James North and headed along MacNab toward the Farmers’ Market.

And there in the grey sky to the west, we saw a falcon. We watched it dart and dive by the rooftop of the G.S. Dunn mustard milling plant. Finally we realized this was no creature of nature.

A couple of days later, I returned to the scene. There was the bird, still on patrol. I headed inside the Dunn plant.

It’s an old building, corner of Park and York, across from Jackson Square. When built more than 100 years ago, it housed the Perry Knitting Company. Through the 1920s and ’30s, Duro Aluminum/Metalwares operated there.

But for the past 60 years, it’s been home to G.S. Dunn, the world’s largest dry mustard miller. They distribute to more than 50 countries across six continents.

Go through the door, and you smell the mustard seed. It’s not unpleasant, but might take getting used to.

Kevin Whyte doesn’t smell it anymore. He’s Dunn’s operations manager and has been at the plant since the early ’80s.

That’s a long time. And all that time, there have been pigeons.

You’re not supposed to feed pigeons. They can be messy critters, splattering acidic goop everywhere. You sure don’t want them roosting in your rooftop heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.

The Dunn mustard seed arrives from the fields of Saskatchewan by rail, then truck. About 42 tonnes at a time, twice a day. Those trucks back up to a shiny drying silo, several storeys tall.

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SICK PIGEON CAME TO THE VET FOR HELP

The bird had a broken wing.

Doctors one of the clinics of Omsk (Russia) during the working day he heard a knock at the door. The doctors opened it and saw on the threshold of a pedigree white pigeon. The bird was not afraid of people and was given into the hands. X-rays show that the dove was a fracture of the humerus.

A bird named Frank, and was operated on, fixing the wreckage of a bird’s wing needle. According to veterinarians, Frank on the same day began to eat, drink and waving to the sick wing.

Five weeks after surgery, the needle from the wing removed, but doctors have not yet released the dove to freedom — he needs to work out before the serious flights. Doctors suggest that early bird lived in the dovecote.

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From pigeons to students: India’s never ending fear of ‘Pakistani Spies’

Two Pakistani students on Monday rubbished claims by Indian police and media which accused them of having crossed the border and labelled them terrorists.

The students, who are enrolled in a madressah in Faisalabad, said this in a press conference along with the madressah head Shahid Aziz.

Aziz said that Nadeem and Tayyab had gone to attend the Raiwind Ijtemah in Lahore after which they went to see the flag-hoisting ceremony at Wagah Border. There they snapped pictures, which were taken up by the Indian police, who put up their posters and asked the public to remain cautious of the terrorists.

Two Pakistani students on Monday rubbished claims by Indian police and media which accused them of having crossed the border and labeled them terrorists.

“We want to assure people that the two men are our students and they haven’t even been to India,” said the head of the madrassah.

He remarked that the philosophy of their institution is that students should only focus on their education. “Our students do not engage in any political or religious activism. They are not a part of any organization. Books are their only friends,” he remarked.

One of the students, Tayyab, said that he took a picture with his friend as a memory. He said that he didn’t know how or when the picture went viral on WhatsApp. Indian news channel showing police putting up Pakistani students’ picture-Screengrab.

The students, who are enrolled in a madressah in Faisalabad, said this in a press conference along with the madressah head Shahid Aziz.

An Indian news channel can be seen showing the pictures and claiming that they are terrorists who have entered India to commit terror activities.

This incident indicates the jingoistic sentiments in India which is hell-bent upon maligning Pakistan. In past, India has also accused some ‘pigeons’ of espionage. Even fruit hasn’t been spared when Indian Punjab Police confiscated two apples on which Pakistan Zindabad was written.

Indian media is in a habit of sensationalizing events in a never-ending battle to increase their viewership. It’s better for the Indian media to verify its stories to avoid being embarrassed.

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Homing in on city’s pigeon problem

Among the most famous images of London’s Trafalgar Square is one of people feeding pigeons in its grounds. And closer to home, feeding these birds was a favourite pastime on the weekends around the Vidhana Soudha, when people flocked to it for a bit of relaxation in its gardens. But no more, as the pigeons are now as numerous in most parts of the city as they were once around it.

Far from feeding them, people have now taken to shooing them away as they invade their balconies and kitchens, building nests and dirtying them with their poop and feathers. Their numbers have become their downfall as they are no longer priced as pets either. Instead they are the flying rats of urban Bengaluru.

Observes one fed up Bengalurean, industrialist, Narendra Kumar, “Pigeons have adapted so well to our urban civilisation that they are driving other birds away. Cleaning pigeon droppings has become a huge problem today. People in high- rise buildings are the worst affected and even the plants on the balconies suffer as a result of their invasion.”

But what’s worse, the pigeon droppings are not just an eyesore, but also a health hazard, warn wildlife experts. With the pigeon population growing, they have been spreading diseases like avian influenza and castle fever through their droppings, according to them. “ The pigeon droppings contain bacteria and fungus, which can cause major lung disorders that can be fatal,” they explain.

It is also claimed that those who fall sick as a result of the pigeon droppings, find recovery hard despite downing antibiotics, because of the strong infection they transmit. Bird lovers too admit to being on their guard when it comes to these birds because of the infections and diseases they transmit.

The BBMP , which has received numerous complaints from people about the pigeon menace, is now planning to hold a meeting with wildlife experts, bird lovers , health experts and concerned citizens to deal with it, says Mr Sarfaraz Khan, BBMP joint commissioner (health).

The civic agency is reportedly considering taking a cue from other countries, which have effectively dealt with the growing population of pigeons without harming the ecology and is also planning a study on their impact on humans, animals and other bird species.

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Bedazzled pigeon that flew the coop reunited with owners in Peoria

Birds of a feather were brought back together in Peoria Tuesday afternoon.

Olive, a pet pigeon, flew the coop from its home in north Phoenix on Nov. 7, its owners say. It spent several days on its own until it was found in Glendale in its rhinestone-studded vest and turned in to Fallen Feathers rescue center in Peoria on Nov. 11.

A Fallen Feathers Facebook post and a Reddit thread aimed to help return the bedazzled bird to its nest — the owner had about a month until Olive would be put up for adoption.

Luckily, the reunion wasn’t a wild goose chase: On Tuesday, owners Marlette Fernando and her husband, Norman, recovered their bedazzled companion after one of Marlette’s friends notified her through Instagram of Olive’s whereabouts.

Yes, Olive also has an Instagram account.

With Olive nestling into her shirt, Marlette said it’s been a long couple of weeks without a member of the family around.

“I love this bird, and I’m so happy to have her back home,” Marlette said. “I never thought I’d see her again.”

Norman said receiving the good news brought Marlette to the ground out of pure relief.

“We thought we won the billion-dollar lottery,” he said.

They thanked Jody Kieran, director of Fallen Feathers, who tended to Olive while it was away from its nest.

“We are so ecstatic because, unfortunately, we do get birds in sometimes that we can’t find the owner for,” Kieran said. “So whenever we do, this is, like, a big celebration.”

Decided to ‘go explore’

The Fernandos said they originally didn’t think Olive would fly away. She got along with their four dogs, one cat and a snail; they’ve also taken her outside on multiple occasions.

But one day, Marlette said, Olive decided to “go explore” after Marlette took her along to drop her son off at school.

Olive flew around the house several times and just decided to leave, Marlette said.

Norman remembers the exact time she left: 7:17 p.m.

“We felt comfortable that she was never going to fly away, but we are told, now that she’s a teenager,” Norman said.

Kieran, with her decades of experience with birds, said teenage pigeons have a tendency to rebel.

Norman, a poet, knew Marlette was having a hard time without Olive around, so he wrote a poem about Olive to make the days fly by a little smoother.

A part of the family

Olive, like most pigeons, has more character than one might think.

“People need to love pigeons. We love all of our pets, but (Olive) has more character than any of them,” Norman said.

Marlette said Olive is a big part of the family — so much so that her diamond-studded vest comes from her owner’s affinity for shiny things.

“She takes my earrings, she loves the bling as much as I do … she’ll go up to my shoes and stand next to the shoes and peck at them and it’s really cute.”

The vest was originally supposed to look like a tuxedo, Marlette said. But Olive didn’t approve — thus came the iconic rhinestone vest.

“But she didn’t like the bow or the flower on the tuxedo, so she pecked them all off,” Marlette said. “And I replaced it with bling.”

A bedazzled male pigeon was picked up near 61st Avenue on Sunday. It is currently being cared for at Fallen Feathers in Peoria. The Republic

Olive isn’t Marlette’s first pigeon — she once cared for and raised one when she was 9.

Although they’ve only known each other since September, Marlette’s still not yet sure of Olive’s gender. She loves Olive — or Olivia, or Oliver — just the same, she said.

“I don’t see her as just a pigeon, she’s definitely a family member,” Marlette said. “She gets along with our dogs, our cats — we all love her.”

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Pigeon lovers flock to city convention

Bird fanatics swooped to the Liverpool exhibition centre to meet like-minded people and take part in the Royal Pigeon Racing Association’s UK Olympiad this weekend.

The event, which brought people from all over the country, gave ‘twitchers’ a chance to see the birds which will be taking part in the 36th Pigeon Olympiad in Poland next year.

The RPRA, which has existed since 1896, is the UK’s governing body for the sport and it managed to attract dozens of people to the showcase.

Racing usually runs in families as a tradition. A member of the promotions team at RPRA and pigeon racer, Richard Chambers, 33, from Staffordshire told JMU Journalism: “I’m the third or fourth generation of pigeon flyers. My dad had them, my grandad had them and my great grandad had them.

“My main encouragement was my dad and he won the national in 1997, the Midland National Flying Club from Bordeaux which is 553 miles, and 1,500 pigeons went to that. He came first which is quite a prestigious thing.”

Homing pigeons are smart creatures who can never actually get lost as they will always return to their home. They even carried messages during world wars and were regarded as heroes for the vital role they played.

One of the event organisers, Ian Evans, 44, from Wales told JMU Journalism: “Recently there was research saying pigeons are very intelligent animals. If you think about it you can take it hundreds of miles away from its home somewhere it’s never been before and it can get home at an average of 50/60 miles an hour.”

The RPRA has a rich history with both the former Prince of Wales and the Duke of York starting the royal tradition in their club. Even the Queen herself has continued the family connection.

A new initiative called ‘young fanciers’ looks to get youths involved in pigeon racing and to put their energies into something positive. The RPRA visits schools and reaches out to the disabled as officials believe it can be therapeutic for people suffering with disabilities.

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This Bedazzled Pigeon Is My Summer Looks Icon

It seems the internet loves a fashionable animal, and this week — following the discovery of the social media star that is ‘Hot Duck’ (aka a Mandarin duck that lives in Central Park) — a sassy new contender has stolen our hearts.

He’s gorgeous, he’s majestic, he’s fabulous — he is Bedazzled Pigeon.

According to Gizmodo, Jody Kieran, the owner of a bird rescue and rehabilitation centrein Arizona revealed that the style-savvy male pigeon was rescued last week after someone reached out to her about a bird found near their home that seemed to be wearing something strange.

They told the caller to bring in their new feathered friend. “I said, ‘Okay we’ve got to see this.’ I kind of rolled my eyes.” she says. “I open it up, and there he is, wearing a flight suit,” Jody told the website.

In case, like us, you have NFI what a flight suit is, apparently it’s kind of a bird nappy so they don’t sh*t everywhere while outside their cage (pretty useful tbh). But clearly, this bird’s rhinestone-adorned number is much more extra than your average bird diaper.

“I have been doing bird rehab for over 20 years now — I take in over 2,000 birds a year — and normally wild birds arriving with clothing is enough proof to me that this bird was owned and loved,” she said, adding that she’s still searching for the previous owner.

However, if no one comes forward, she’ll rehome him to a new family — and apparently, there’s already a waiting list for this handsome fella.

It’s also reminded us of other animal fashionistas who totally ~worked~ these wild looks. Remember Ikea Monkey?! Winter style goals, tbh.

Or there’s Remix the Schnauzer, who rocks the hipster look better than half of the Inner West.

Or there’s Hamlet the Piggy, whose eclectic and avant-garde style has earned her a whopping 346,000 followers on Instagram.

Basically, all these animals are absolute #StyleGoals who are just living their best, most fashionable lives, and are living proof that fashion can be fun for anyone — no matter what species you may be.

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The pigeon man

It began as a pastime: Javed Iqbal, pushing 50s, had a small cage on the rooftop of his home where he kept a horde of pigeons. Soon it became an obsession with him.

Today, at the smallish shop he has had for the past almost 25 years now, he deals in the common breed of pigeons, while the “most sought-after breed” — the “Teddy Sethwala kabootar” — is kept fondly back at his residence in China scheme, Lahore, in dedicated cages.

In an exclusive meeting with TNS, Iqbal says that he offers only the “common pigeons” for sale. These include Ferozpuri, Sialkoti, Rampuri, and Kamaggar kinds, which are most popular with the customers. Their prices range from Rs100 to a few hundreds.

According to Iqbal, “Teddy Sethwala Kabootar is a much-loved bird, not only in Pakistan but also abroad, especially in the UAE. This [specie] attracts the lovers of pigeons, for a variety of reasons: primarily because it is suitable for the flying competitions that are held in summers, considered to be the best time for such activities.

“Teddy Sethwala flies like an ace athlete,” he declares. “Of course, its beautiful features are the added attraction.”

The price of Teddy Sethwala starts at Rs50,000 and may go up to rupees one lac, or even more. “My friends in Karachi have often bought these from me, and then sold them to their Arab clients. Every once in a while I receive orders [of this variety] from the UK and other countries.”

People reach out to him through his friends and friends of friends. Among his local clients are professionals as well as those who just buy the birds for hobby’s sake.

Iqbal reveals that veteran film actor (the late) Yusuf Khan was also one of his regular clients. “He had a large number of pigeons on the rooftop [of his home],” he says.

People from different walks of life visit Iqbal and request for pigeons of their choice. “I have over 500 pigeons of the Teddy Sethwala specie in my home,” he reveals. “I may be among the very few people around who boast this huge a collection.”

He makes a special mention of a breed of pigeons that is still used as ‘messengers’: “We call them ‘qasid’ (messenger); they are sometimes used for espionage. They are trained for six months or so. Teddy Sethwala is the best breed for the purpose.Rearing the pigeons is quite a job, and Iqbal makes sure that the birds get proper diet and are well taken care of. Every now and then he gets them vaccinated to keep them healthy and fit. As such, he is always on his toes.

“The qasid pigeons fly linear unlike any other breed of pigeons,” he adds.

Iqbal is all praise for Seth Ashraf who introduced the variety (named after him) through cross-breeding.

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Ipswich port postpones pigeon cull after outcry

Associated British Ports (ABP) had told residents living near the Waterfront, Ipswich, that it would carry out the action on Sunday.

It had raised concerns that the birds around its grain stores were a danger to the food supply chain.

But after a petition, which gathered 3,000 signatures, ABP has now suspended the cull.

Ipswich MP Sandy Martin said he would ask the company to look at alternatives.

The online petition, launched four days ago, called on the Labour MP and Prime Minister to intervene in plans for the cull.

Mr Martin said: “Frightening the pigeons away, making sure they can’t get hold of any grain… those are the sorts of things they might be able to do.

“I am going to have a discussion with Associated British Ports and see if they have tried every possible alternative.”

Animal lover Molly Potter, 21, had helped to set up the petition and was also organising a protest during the proposed cull.

“I have a rescue pigeon and seeing how intelligent he is, it completely broke my heart.,” she said.

“We want to find a more peaceful solution.”

In a statement, ABP said it had decided to “suspend the proposed pigeon cull, whilst we take advice from the appropriate environmental organisations on the latest alternative solutions”.

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Man fed up with pigeons offers £2,500 to solve problem

Geof Lodge spoke at Ross Town Council’s meeting on Monday night with regards to the Wilton Cliff opposite the Man Of Ross pub.

Pigeons gather and roost at the wall which results in a large amount of pigeon faeces on the pavement.

Mr Lodge said: “This area has been horribly neglected in the last few years. The pigeon population is already 500 or more. It will probably be double or triple next year.”

He offered to pay £2,500 towards solving the pigeon problem.

Chairman of the town council and Mayor Harry Bramer said they had received a statement from Herefordshire Council who said a funding scheme would need to be found.

The statement said that feeding of pigeons would need to be addressed as would any issues with bins. The county council also said they did not think culling would solve the problem as the population would quickly recover.

Christopher Kirkham-Sandy from The Old Court House in High Street said: “Ross streets are very untidy – cigarette butts, faeces from the pigeons etc.”

He said the birds need to be killed. He spoke to a falconry company who said trapping and shooting the pigeons would solve the problem.

They charge £500 per visit and traps cost £100 each.

Mr Kirkham-Sandy said: “I am finding people who come and stay with me and unload their cars are disgusted. It is a serious problem.”

The meeting heard that the holes in the wall would need to be covered with chicken wire to stop the pigeons roosting and breeding.

Councillor Chris Bartrum said he receives a lot of complaints about pigeons in the town. He said: “It is obviously a concern to people in Wye Street and the surrounding streets.”

Councillor Richard Mayo said culling seems to be the best option to start with and dealing with the nesting and roosting points.

He proposed that the council accept Mr Lodge’s “generous offer” and to then set up a budget heading under the amenities committee of pigeon control for the next financial year of £2,000, which would be used to keep on top of the problem.

This was supported fully by the town council.

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Pigeons are coming home to roost for DUP over Brexit backing

Many thinking people in the Province warned you of the adverse political, economic and constitutional complications that Brexit would give rise to. You brushed these warnings off with an arrogance that borde recklessness. Now, the pigeons are coming home to roost. Your handiwork has emboldened republicans b anything imaginable previously and has given them enough ammunition to keep them going for years. Th has been backed into a corner and has been shown to be powerless in the face of a united EU. Thanks to y efforts, ultimate control over Northern Ireland looks likely to be surrendered to the Irish Republic and Br Even if some fudge is achieved that allows the UK to save face, the very fact that we have arrived at a situa where the UK government is even considering abandoning Northern Ireland by creating a border in the I means that the future of Northern Ireland in the UK can never be vouchsafed again. Well done, DUP! As f Sammy Wilson, perhaps you might start using your brains instead of your bluster from now on. Not much of that, of course.

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Pigeon cull suspended after protest threat

Associated British Ports (ABP) suspended its planned pigeon cull following a petition against the controlled killing and a planned protest to debunk it.

Animal lover and carer Molly Potter, 21, organised a protest against on the cull for Sunday, November 18 and has called for activists to protest outside the port offices this week.

On Facebook Miss Potter told the 150 would-be protestors that she wanted them to be “as disruptive as possible”.

Protestors had painted billboards for the event and were planning to save pigeons from being shot in the cull.

But spokesman for ABP has now said: “ABP has taken the decision to suspend the proposed pigeon cull, whilst we take advice from the appropriate environmental organisations on the latest alternative solutions available to us.”

Miss Potter was overjoyed by the latest development.

She said: “It’s absolutely marvellous that it has been suspended.

“We will continue to do everything in the background, if we don’t keep the pressure up I don’t know if the suspension will hold.”

If the cull goes the ahead then Miss Potter and the other activists will be taking action.

She said: “We are planning to be disruptive, we just want to find a peaceful solution to this going forward.”

Miss Potter saved a pigeon called Zazu last year after he fell out of the nest.

She said: “They are such intelligent and beautiful birds, it breaks my heart that people can do this and think of them as pests.”

21-year-old Lauren Bruen, a student at the University of Suffolk, co-created a petition calling for the prime minister to stop the pigeon cull.

Miss Bruen said: “Once I was aware of the cull I knew I wanted to do something about it.

“I believe that the amount of litter humans throw (which is made clear by images of Ipswich areas) is a reminder that we are to blame.

“A cull isn’t going to improve any situation.”

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Pigeons fans flock for the birds

On Saturday, a flock of pigeons gathered inside of the Community Park Center, not just because it was the “coo” thing to do, but because it was part of the Jacksonville Area Pigeon Club’s 45th Annual All-Breed Pigeon Show.

For the uninitiated, a pigeon show is quite the sight. Rows and rows of cages contain beautiful pigeons of all shapes, colors, breeds, all being observed by judges and participants who, for one reason or another, fell in love with these feathered fellows.

Cooper Lorton, 13, posed for a photo with his large green trophy he received for his Voorburg Shield Cropper, a beautiful white bird with a large “globed” neck. Lorton was with his dad, Aaron, both of Williamsville, who got his son into pigeon breeding just as he had done when he was a kid.

“I was into it when I was a little kid, younger than (Cooper) is, and my mom had some birds and I just took a liking to them and then my kids followed in my footsteps,” Aaron Lorton said. “They’re really interesting. They have a lot of different genetic color patterns. They can come out all different colors so it’s a surprise when you get babies out of them. It’s a fun and unique hobby that not a lot of people do.”

The Jacksonville Area Pigeon Club, or JAPC, was founded in 1973 to foster greater interest in the hobby of pigeon breeding and care. Its goal, explained Sarah Brown with the JAPC, is to get more people into the hobby, especially younger kids that might be interested in 4-H activities.

This show, in particular, featured 27 different breeds of birds with over 200 entries into the competition. Not only was there the competition, but there were raffles, auctions, and meals to add to the excitement of a room packed with pigeons.

“I came on as secretary and found out that there were more people into pigeons than I thought,” Brown said. “They just didn’t know we were having the show so we’re kind of branching out.”

The show attracted people from all around the area with interest in pigeons. David Averbeck, a judge at the show that came all the way from St. Louis, said he has gone all the way to California for pigeon shows. There’s quite the interest, he said, but what the hobby needs more than anything is more young people getting interested in what is certainly a unique and interesting hobby.

“It’d be good to see younger people get into the hobby,” Averbeck said. “It’s a hobby that a lot of older people are in but it’d be great to see younger people get involved. Come to junior shows like this. Go to 4-H clubs, have the older people give a presentation out to 4-H clubs. Get the word out there.”

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

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

Animals, birds didn’t have a cracker of a time during Diwali

The noisy Diwali celebration not only affected residents but also animals and birds. Many animals were found injured and scared. Some were seen running helter skelter due to the loud cracker noises. As many as eight animals, including strays and pigeons, suffered injuries or were found in a state of shock due to the noise of crackers during four-day festival, said city-based NGOs. Recommended By Colombia While Pet Owners and Animal Lovers (PAL) had received three cases in which dogs and a pigeon were injured. “All the three strays that were rescued by PAL were either found in a state of shock and were shivering or they had suffered injuries because they were running around in fear. One of the dogs fractured his leg after he rammed into a motorcycle. Another one suffered injures on his paw and maggots were on it. If the wound does not heal then we will have to amputate it,” said Dr. Hemant Thange, a city-based veterinarian. Even Plants and Animals Welfare Society (PAWS) rescued four pigeons who were found in a state of shock. The helpline numbers of animal NGOs were ringing off the hook as many feeders and pet owners were asking for advice. “We came across four pigeons who were found in a state of shock as they are vulnerable to loud noises. We kept them in a cage that was covered with a cloth. They were kept in isolation so that they could calm down. Once they were stable, we shifted them to a shelter home,” said Nilesh Bhanage, founder of PAWS.

About Pigeon Patrol:

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

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

Pests are at home around the world

I’ve got bugs in my blood. After 58 years in the pest control industry, it’s something that I can’t easily turn off. This was blatantly evident on our celebratory birthday vacation for my milestone 65th.

Wife Robin, daughter Leah and I enjoyed two weeks in sunny Italy. I was instinctively attuned to the environment around me, especially when it came to my hosts, often possessing six legs or more.

The more we traveled, my perspective of Italian life (read: sanitation) broadened. It really was a land of contrasts.

Our first stop was urban Florence. My eyes were naturally drawn to all of the restaurant kitchen doors being propped open. Each kitchen seemed to be better than the previous: spotless floors, shining equipment.

Flies and other winged pests seemed to be at a minimum here. Outdoor dining, the norm, never seemed to be intruded upon. Our focus could stay uninterrupted on the food, people watching and soaking-up a new and vibrant culture.

It was difficult, if not impossible, to ignore the pigeons. Everyone seemed to regale in strolling among them and tossing food to watch them tussle for their next meal. They seemed to be as much at home as the 16th and 17th-century icons we ritually visited.

As we ventured to rural Florence, pest activity was turned up a notch. We drove, for what seemed an eternity, through countless miles of grape vineyards and olive orchards. We stayed in a renovated early 19th century stone villa in the rolling hills of Tuscany.

Even before getting our bags inside, we were greeted by a stream of solitary wasps. Nesting under the terracotta tiled roof, they seemed to appear as if to say “Ciao, welcome to your vacation home.”

The next day, my outdoor relaxation was brought to a screeching halt. I was rudely given a reality check by a stink bug landing on my forehead and another on my leg. They somehow knew my bug arsenal was left behind on the other side of the world.

Flying Vacuum Cleaners

Our days were filled exploring small towns and villages throughout the Chianti region. Lunch and dinner were shared with the locals, including the resident pigeons.

It became evident that these winged creatures play a useful role in the restaurant trade: flying vacuums.

While stateside restaurateurs readily employ a hand-powered push vac, many eateries we patronized engaged the services of their no-cost winged buddies. Pigeons made themselves at home, strolling under tables, doing a very efficient job of cleaning. They were readily welcomed. I never saw any of them being shooed away. Roosting on a tabletop was commonplace, especially when the previous diner inadvertently left some food crumbs.

It seemed unusual that a culture would welcome parasite-infested creatures into their dining areas, while at the same time they appeared to be operating with superb sanitation procedures.

I often state how fortunate we are to have food laws and regulators to enforce them. It is something that we take for granted until we experience how others live.

About Pigeon Patrol:

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

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

London’s busiest train station has recruited a hawk to scare off pigeons after passengers complained about having to fight them off

London’s busiest train station has recruited a hawk to scare off pigeons following a spate of complaints from angry passengers.

Aria, a five-year-old Harris hawk, has begun patrolling Waterloo station in a bid to stop people having to “fight” off pigeons while eating.

There are 27 food and drink retailers at the Network Rail-managed station, and many customers have complained about pigeons pecking at food and leaving a mess.

The birds have been pictured sitting brazenly on tables and chairs, while some people have reported being defecated on from above while waiting for their train.

Recent TripAdvisor reviews of the station’s venues include a warning about “loads of pigeons flapping around whilst you are trying to eat” and a description of someone having to “fight pigeons for my food.”

Another visitor even suggested passengers should “bring a fly swat for the pigeons.”

Jason Murphy, Waterloo area manager for Network Rail, said: “Pigeons can be a real nuisance for people using the station. They also cause a lot of mess which needs cleaning up at some expense.”

“Aria’s work is really important in making the station a better place for our passengers while saving us money on our cleaning bills.”

“She’s a very hard worker and we’re delighted to have her as part of the station team here at Waterloo.”

Aria will be on duty at the station twice a week for two-hour shifts.

She was raised in St Albans and has previously been deployed by London King’s Cross station and the Treasury to keep pigeons away.

Aria’s handler, Max Bell, said: “Aria really enjoys the environment at Waterloo and is delighted to be here.”

“She does a great job and often likes to reward herself with a relaxing bath in the puddles that gather on the rain shelters over the platforms.”

About Pigeon Patrol:

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

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

Pigeon cull at Ipswich Waterfront for ‘public safety reasons’

Associated British Ports (ABP), who own the port at Ipswich, have informed people living nearby that they are due to carry out a controlled killing of pigeons on Sunday, November 18, between 10am and 1pm.

They will be carrying out the cull to curb the pigeon population and ensure it doesn’t endanger the UK’s food supply chain.

ABP have reiterated their reasoning for carrying out the cull and reassured residents the culling will be completed quickly and humanely using trained professionals.

“ABP is part of the UK’s food supply chain and as such, we adhere to strict regulations regarding the control of pests at the Port of Ipswich,” a spokesman said.

“Measures are in place to prevent the spread of disease, stop serious damage to food and preserve public health and safety.

“We are committed to safeguarding the integrity of the UK’s food supply.

They added: “The cull will be carried out by shooting, the quickest and most humane method, by trained professionals under licenses issued by the appropriate government agencies.”

According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), land owners and people given permission by authorities or the Environment Agency are granted a general licence to cull certain wild birds.

The licence can only be used to preserve public health or to ensure public safety.

It cannot be used to simply cull birds that considered to be a nuisance.

Strict laws also state the birds must be killed and/or taken quickly and humanely.

This can be done using either a semi-automatic weapon, a cage trap or even a net.

If all these rules are adhered to, then a number of birds, including pigeons, magpies and Canada geese, can be killed or taken.

Bosses at ABP also said they had explored other avenues in managing the pigeon population.

The spokesman said: “We have examined all the possibilities in managing the pigeon population and we are now fulfilling our legal obligations in the most effective and humane way possible.

“These actions are necessary to protect the UK public.”

About Pigeon Patrol:

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

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

Animal lover banned from feeding birds after scraps attracted rats in Wanstead

An animal lover has been banned from feeding the birds after scraps of raw meat she left out to attract wildlife triggered a series of rat infestations.

Jennifer Bagram, 65, placed meat, bird food and nuts in open spaces, alleyways and under trees near her home and in the back gardens of her neighbours.

Despairing locals in Wanstead were forced to install anti-bird spikes to protect their properties from damage by flocks of pigeons, while families of foxes dug up their gardens.

Bagram was served with a community protection notice by Redbridge council in 2016 following complaints about her behaviour and claims that she verbally abused people who challenged her.

She was taken to court last month after being caught on CCTV repeatedly flouting the order. A neighbour said: “We’ve had pigeons, seagulls, rats, foxes, everything … it’s been incessant.

“She has been plaguing the neighbourhood for years.” Another local, who moved in last week, said: “The bloke who I exchanged with said she was very nice but would be out in the street at 3am feeding birds when he came home from clubbing.”

Bagram, of Grosvenor Road, pleaded guilty at Barkingside magistrates’ court last week to breaching a total of six community protection notices issued by the council.

She was fined £600 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs and a victim surcharge of £170.An indefinite criminal behaviour order now bans her from putting out food anywhere in the borough or abusing anyone who has reported her anti-social behaviour.

A breach of the new order could lead to an increased fine or prison.

Bagram, who has lived alone in her ground-floor flat for 30 years following the death of her mother, claimed the neighbours’ complaints were a “witch hunt”.

She said today: “My mum used to take me as a little girl to feed pigeons in the park and she always told me to ‘do one nice thing every day’.

“Feeding birds makes me feel closer to her, it’s in my DNA. I understand about the birds causing problems for people but there has been so much character-bashing of me. I’ve never been aggressive to anyone, I just stand up for myself.

“I wish my neighbours had just come to speak to me. I’ve never hurt anyone and now I’ve been treated like a criminal.”

Councillor John Howard said: “It’s not fair for people to be suffering because of her persistent anti-social behaviour and she left us with no option but to take court action.”

But one neighbour was more sympathetic and said: “Everyone’s different … she’s definitely an eccentric and she just loves animals.”

About Pigeon Patrol:

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

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