Senator’s seagull remarks ‘cruel and short-sighted’

Senator’s seagull remarks ‘cruel and short-sighted’

pigeons-istock_650x400_51448962427Earlier this week Senator Denis O’Donovan became the second Fianna Fail senator to raise the issue of tackling the “vicious seabird”.

Speaking in the Seanad he said that seagulls were “invading the towns and the villages.”

“Seagulls have actually killed lambs and they’ve killed rabbits and I think it is coming to the stage where they are actually endangering society,” Mr O’Donovan said.

He added that “maybe we should look at a cull on this vicious seabird.”

However, animal rights organisation Aran has said that killing the animals won’t keep them away from urban areas.

“Calling for an all-out assault on seagulls is completely irresponsible, cruel and short-sighted,” Aran said in a statement.

The group highlighted that nothing has been done to tackle the real problem of people and businesses leaving out rubbish which “lures the birds in.”

The statement continues: “We are destroying their ecosystem and taking their food from the seas to feed ourselves and the gulls are only doing what is necessary to them by coming inland to try and get food.

“Maybe we, as in society, should take a step back from sucking our seas dry of marine life and letting the fish to the birds and laying off.

“Maybe laying off Senator O’Donovan might not be a bad thing either.”

Speaking to UTV Ireland Senator O’Donovan said some of his comments in the Seanad have been misconstrued.

“I haven’t called for the army to come in. I don’t agree with killing seagulls but a cull can be done in a different way.”

“Their [Aran] response by attacking me is not the response I have been getting from the public,” he added.

He said he had asked for a debate on the issue in the Seanad, and unless a solution can be put forward “people will take the law into their own hands” by poisioning and shooting the animals.

Asked if he would accept Aran’s offer to help draft a humane plan, he said: “I’m willing to meet with them once they acknowledge there is a problem.”

Last year Senator Ned O’Sullivan told the Seanad seagulls had “lost the run of themselves” – and were taking lollipops from young children.

Mr O’Sullivan said while the topic might seem funny to some it was a serious issue in Dublin.

Speaking to UTV Ireland, an expert from Rentokill explained that seagulls are actually protected under animal protection laws.

He admitted the company do receive callouts regarding the marine bird, but rather than killing them there are non-deadly methods like nest removal, netting, bird repellent gels and larus gull wires.

The stainless steel spring wires are apparently effective in preventing birds from roosting on exposed ledges and rooftops.

Nest removal, meanwhile, requires permission under Section 22 of the Wildlife Act.

Removing the habitat without sanction is an offence and breaks wildlife conservation legislation.

“There are very high populations [of seagulls]. Climate and behaviour wise these birds are becoming more established.”

“But from that point of view we are encroaching, we provide food,” he said.

Regarding any cull of the bird, he added that “the last you want to do is to kill, and you have to look at other methods first.”

He said the best course of action would be for an environmental assessment to be carried out, to see how bird populations could be reduced.

 

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)

Seagull feeding fines dropped because religions could be offended, but Swansea says not

Seagull feeding fines dropped because religions could be offended, but Swansea says not

pigeon patrolSWANSEA Council has denied its fines for feedings birds could be offensive to some religions.

It follows a decision by Conwy Council not to impose such fines for just that reason.

The north Wales council tweeted that it had been told there was a right to feed birds in certain religions.

But a spokesman for the Swansea authority said: “The council has never been advised of any aspect of feeding birds being related to religion.”

Seagulls and pigeons have become a menace in the city centre with people complaining they are being dive-bombed by the birds and having their food stolen.

Now, anyone caught feeding the birds in the city centre could face a £75 fine.

“However, it is worthwhile noting that the rules do not prevent people from feeding birds, including pigeons and gulls, in Swansea as they only apply in places like the city centre,” added the council spokesman.

“They do not affect people feeding birds on their own property or land.”

He said gulls and pigeons left a mess on shops and street furniture and food on the ground encouraged more of them to circle the city centre.

“There have even been cases where people say they have been attacked by gulls in the city centre for their snacks.”

But he added: “People issued with fixed penalty notices are entitled to appeal against the decision.”

 

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)

Don’t dye pigeons pink, warns bird expert after they are seen in London

Don’t dye pigeons pink, warns bird expert after they are seen in London

pinkpigeon3People are being warned not to dye pigeons pink after several of them were spotted in London and around the UK.

The brightly-hued pigeons have been spotted as far north as Northumbria, and as far south as Bristol, with sightings of the birds also reported in Manchester, West Yorkshire, and in London.

Pink pigeons were first seen in Walthamstow and at Royal Ascot last month, and the sightings continue, with a bird spotted in Stockport, Greater Manchester just two days ago.

Pictures of the birds have been posted on twitter, with people cooing over their distinctive plumage.

Pink Pigeon in Liversedge in Kirklees, Yorks
A pigeon in Kirklees, West Yorkshire (Ashleigh Richardson)

However, the birds have ruffled feathers at the RSPCA, where it is suspected fowl play may be behind the unusual colouring.

A spokeswoman said: “This is a cruel and unnecessary thing to do to an animal.

“Dyeing a bird could cause allergic reactions and compromise the animal’s’ ability to communicate with other animals of their own and other species and make them more vulnerable to predators.”

 

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)

Pigeon Problems, city looks for options

Pigeon Problems, city looks for options

pigeon patrolMONDOVI, Wis. (WEAU) — It looks like a scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s famous movie “The Birds,” pigeons flying from building to building in downtown Mondovi.

“I look up and the pigeons are kind of swooping around and I have to dodge in the door really quick because they’re really creepy,” said Heidi Michels of Mondovi.

People aren’t taking issue with pigeons’ creepiness, but rather what they are leaving behind.

Tuesday night, the Mondovi City Council will meet to talk about some options to get rid of the birds.

“The droppings were getting dragged into my business on my carpet and it’s just a mess and it’s really gross,” said Lorie Larson.

Larson has owned Petal Pusher Floral and Gifts for five years.

“I would have to clean my sidewalks at least twice a week with bleach water because the pigeon droppings were so bad,” Larson said.

“They like to roost and sit at the very top,” Brian Evans explained, talking about the top of his building.

“We had a lot of issues with droppings and being on the sidewalk and having to scrape them up,” Evans said.

This isn’t the first time the city has had an issue with pigeons.

“We tried Owl decoys, we had some stuff you painted on the sills (window sills) downtown. It was supposed to give them discomfort in their feet,” said City Administrator Dan Lauersdorf.

Lauersdorf explained the city is also dealing with a geese dropping issue.

“They’re dropping their droppings all over the park; I don’t know how you get them out of there,” Lauersdorf said.

No decisions will made at Tuesday night’s meeting, but Lauersdorf says cost will be a factor in the option the city chooses.

 

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)

A feathery felony in park as perps net 200 pigeons

A feathery felony in park as perps net 200 pigeons

11205322-largeIf it seems there are a lot less pigeons in Washington Square Park, it’s because there are.

Earlier last week, on Tuesday afternoon, birdnappers were reportedly out in force on the park’s far west side. In an orchestrated maneuver taking just minutes, the peaceful pigeons were lured to a spot near the Washington Place park entrance, where they were captured by net — they netted three batches — and then whisked away in a van.

Larry the Birdman was near the fountain and missed the abduction of possibly more than 200 birds.

“It happened so fast,” he said. “It was a silver-colored van.”

One member of the cadre who hang out on the park’s western side near the Holley monument said, “We know these birds and some of us have relationships with individual birds.”

Doris Deither, a Community Board 2 member, is among the F.O.B. (Friends of the Birds). She said the pigeon she calls Opal likes her and comes to her as she walks assisted by a walker. Deither said, thankfully, “her bird” is still in the park.

“But they got two of William’s birds,” she said, explaining that William cares for pigeons that are injured.

Seven years ago, the New York Post wrote about “pigeon netting,” the black-market act of snatching pigeons off the streets and selling them for $5 and $10 each, mostly to legal, out-of-state (frequently Pennsylvania) pigeon shoots.

It was believed that the purloined Washington Square pigeons were destined for a similar fate. Diether said word was that the van had New Jersey license plates.

Phew! Some of the lucky survivors, thanking their tail feathers they weren’t scooped up by the birdnappers.
Phew! Some of the lucky survivors, thanking their tail feathers they weren’t scooped up by the birdnappers.
Saturday afternoon at the Holley bust, a memorial service was held for the avian abductees organized by Tina Trachtenberg, an artist and animal advocate. She creates the felt pigeons at Washington Square.

Days later, flowers marked the memorial site and a weathered sign read: “This park is a safe haven for many animals. Today we mourn the tragic death of 200-300 resident pigeons. We loved and cherished their magical presence. They will be deeply missed.”

By Tuesday, flowers and sign were gone.

Joyce Friedman the New York City coordinator at The Humane Society of the United States, read on social media about the memorial and came to the park to learn more.

“I reported it to the N.Y.P.D. Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad,” she said. “We can’t give out any more detailed information, because now it’s an ongoing investigation.”

She reiterated that the investigating officers take it seriously, also mentioning that the same sort of birdnappings took place a couple months ago on the Upper West Side and are also under investigation.

For four days, Tuesday through Friday, security at the Parks Department office at Washington Square Park, the bicycle police on patrol and police in a van watching on Sunday morning were totally unaware of the birdnapping. As of this Tuesday, not all the local patrolling police or Parks employees were aware of the nefarious netting.

However, on Tuesday, Parks spokesperson Crystal Howard warned the pigeon pluckers to beware.

“Don’t steal our animals!” she said in a phone interview. “Pigeons are core to the character of New York City, and it is illegal and dangerous to remove animals from New York City parks.”

Friedman also emphasized that birdnapping is illegal.

“If you see someone doing it, take a picture of the license plate,” she said. “Then call 911. If you become aware afterward, report it by calling 311.”

Early Sunday evening, Haley, a friend of Larry, swung by the park to see if he was all right.

Larry now sits on his usual bench, but no longer bedecked with birds, keeping a vigilant eye on the park’s Washington Place entrance to see if there are any more lurking vans.

“There are surveillance cameras,” he said, hoping they would have caught useful information to bust the birdnappers.

 

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)