Feral’ killer seagull ‘munching’ through Plumstead pigeon population

Feral’ killer seagull ‘munching’ through Plumstead pigeon population

Pigeon PatrolA ‘feral’ killer seagull has been butchering Plumstead pigeons before feasting on their dead bodies, it is claimed.

Residents near Plumstead Common claim the violent bird has been picking off an average of four unfortunate pigeons per day.

Aine McGrillen raised the alarm on the Plumstead People Facebook page, saying: “We are trying to figure out if it is just one feral seagull or if this is a group of them. Is this usual seagull behaviour?”

She wrote: “It killed one in Barnfield Gardens car park this morning, then flew off with it in its beak. Imagine if that dropped on your head!

“I guess it is just nature doing its survival thing. It is quite tense when you watch it just hanging out with the pigeons, casual as anything and then he picks his mark and swoops in.”

Other neighbours claimed the bloodthirsty bird has a voracious appetite and has been menacing the bird population for several years, once “munching” through 10 in one night.

Kirsty Wilson wrote: “It was doing it a couple weeks back and killed about 10 in one night.

“For 3-5 days every morning when I’d leave for work at 5 I’d see him there, then when I returned still be there, just munching away at the pigeons! Never seen such a sight before.”

And Emma Ledgerwood chimed in: “It’s been doing it for over two years and kills at least four pigeons a day.

“It’s awful to watch for the pigeons’ sake but I suppose it’s all nature’s ways of keeping the population down.”

But Gordon Guthrie had little sympathy for the pigeons. He wrote: “Seagulls are carnivores. What is worse when you’re at the seaside and they pinch the kiddies’ ice cream or stalk you for chips.”

This is not the first time a killer seagull has made headlines. Last October a Hyde Park bird was accused of drowning pigeons in the Serpentine before devouring them.

Amateur photographer Johanna van de Woestijne, 57, told Mail Online: “It was one of the most violent things I have ever seen. After it happened I felt I had witnessed a murder.

“I’ve seen him hunting pigeons on two separate days, both times he picked them off, dragged them into the lake and drowned them.”

 

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)

Rufus swoops into action on first day at Wimbledon

Rufus swoops into action on first day at Wimbledon

Pigeon Patrol

He is used by the All England Tennis Club to keep the courts free from pigeons.

His handler is Imogen Davis, of Avian Environmental in Brigstock.

Speaking to the Northants Telegraph after last year’s tournament, which was won by Novak Djokovic, she said: “Rufus is a lovely character, he’s very friendly and is happy to be passed from hand to hand for photos.

“He goes to Wimbledon all year round so it is his playground and he sees it at its busiest and its quietest times.”

Family firm Avian Environmental has been keeping the courts of Wimbledon pigeon-free since 1999.

It also helps control birds at the Royal Marsden Hospital and Westminster Abbey as well as Northampton Saints ground.

Imogen said: “We’re getting busier as people are starting to learn that it’s not good to eradicate an entire species.

“Using birds is an environmentally friendly way of controlling pests, it’s nature at its best.

“We have eight birds so we can tailor our services to different purposes.”

Although Rufus and Imogen do their work before play gets under way they did get to meet Andy Murray last year.

Imogen said: “He’s so lovely, it was really sad how he went out.”

Avian Environmental got the contract to keep Wimbledon pigeon-free after Imogen’s mum gave them a call.

Imogen said: “My mum was watching Tim Henman against Pete Sampras and they had to keep batting the pigeons away from the baseline, which was interrupting the points and not what the players wanted.

“She gave them a call and went along to give a demonstration and we’ve been to 14 or 15 championships since.

“Grass seed is like caviar to pigeons and they’re not fazed by humans so we go along to stop them from roosting because once one starts to roost somewhere you get lots.”

 

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)

Newent has had enough of the pigeon pest and mess in the town and want action

Newent has had enough of the pigeon pest and mess in the town and want action

Pigeon droppings under railway bridgeTHE pigeon pest is back in Newent, and some traders in the town are fed up.

Anne Haines, who runs florists Flowercraft of Newent in Broad Street with her daughter Emma, is so incensed she has written to Newent Town Council pleading with them to do something – like a cull.

“The pigeons just make a huge mess, on the canopy, the walls and pavements,” she said.

The problem isn’t new. Last year Mrs Haines had to replace her canopy, that protects her flowers, at a cost of £750 because it was covered in mess and rotting through.
Peter Curtis of the Buttery Tea Rooms is opposite Flowercraft and sees first hand the problem – but he isn’t affected.

“It’s not a problem here. Probably because they have nowhere to perch or roost. But the flower shop and the pharmacy opposite is covered in pigeon poo. It’s a right mess and can’t be very nice for them,” he said.

Newent Town Council’s clerk said she would be approaching the district council for advice on how to deal with the problem.

Councillor Roger Beard of Newent Town Council said he will back moves for the town’s pigeon population to be controlled.

“Pavements are covered in detritus in certain areas. The big problems is that their population is increasing and it’s not being controlled,” he said.

If tourists are to be encouraged to the town, said Mr Beard, then the streets will need to be clear of pigeon mess.

A district council spokesman said: “It is the responsibility of the building owners and landlords to put in place pigeon-proofing measures. The district ouncil’s pest control team is happy to advise on the different types of preventative measures available and assist where possible.”

But some traders believe the birds are “part of the countryside” and the authorities will never get rid of them.

Gloucester city has a similar problem with seagulls and the search continues for an effective solution.

Councillor Paul Toleman (C, Westgate) is unequivocal in his views on these ‘feathered rats’.

He said: “They are dreadful winged vermin and are an absolute nuisance in the city.”

Gloucester City Council has tried many methods to manage the problem, he said, but thus far the seagulls continue to return.

“I understand there have been considerations for a hawk to scare them off. I don’t know if it would do it. They are a serious problem. But the council we has made other efforts and have made sure all food outlets use gull-proof bags, because food is one the reasons they come here,” he said.

The key, he believes, is to stop the birds nesting. But it will all cost money.

Now is the wrong time to tackle the seagull pest in the city because the birds have nested and chicks born, he 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)

Coo-blimey! Pigeon’s treat as inquisitive bird photobombs town centre webcam

Coo-blimey! Pigeon’s treat as inquisitive bird photobombs town centre webcam

zombie-pigeon-apocalypse-moscow-2-510x600Everyone loves an animal photobomb – and now Rochdale has its own contender to be the ‘coo’-lest!

Seals, horses and squirrels have become overnight internet sensations and this Rochdale pigeon looks like it wants to join the party.

The inquisitive bird appears to be having a good look into the camera in Rochdale town centre, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The photo, taken from Rochdale Council’s webcam high above the town centre, was posted by hairdresser and former councillor Greg Couzens on the Rochdale Future Facebook page.

He posted: “The best Photo Bombed Ever?” much to the amusement of the other group members.

Greg added: “I posted this photo on the Rochdale Future Facebook site and within a very short period of time it received over 100 likes.

“It’s a real bird’s eye view of river development!

“It’s a great way to promote the webcam and keep up-to-date with the river opening development.”

The camera is situated on top of the Regal Moon pub and gives great views over the soon-to-be-uncovered River Roch and towards the town hall.

 

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)

This Town Will Put Birds on Birth Control Pill

This Town Will Put Birds on Birth Control Pill

Pigeon PatrolLondon: Frustrated with increasing bird population in the town. The officials have taken a drastic step to curb the issue by introducing birth control pills to these Pigeons.
A Spanish town is planning to feed its pigeons a special birth control pill in a bid to slash the soaring bird population.
The Catalan town of Badia del Valles will use three automatic dispensers to scatter the required dosage to the pigeon population every morning.
Each pigeon will be fed 10 grammes of Ovistop, a product made of corn seeds covered in Nicarbazin, which acts as a contraceptive for the birds.
The first dispenser was installed on Monday near the town’s Civil Guard headquarters, while the other two will be installed on school roofs next week.
The pigeons will be put on the birth control pill from July until December, the high season for pigeon breeding.
One pair of birds can produce 48 pigeons a year, which has led to an overpopulation of the species in the Catalan town.

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)