Ornithosis

KEN LIVINGSTONE's plans to cull the capital's pigeon population received a boost today as a green group highlighted Swiss findings that the only way to reduce the number of the birds is to cut off their food supply.

The revelation will give fresh ammunition to the Mayor's policy of starving an estimated 40,000 birds out of Trafalgar Square by removing the only stall which sells pigeon food.

Tidy Britain Group chief executive Alan Woods warned that councils will take drastic measures of their own if nothing is done.

He said: "We must face facts. Councils are not going to let this increase in bird population continue. Just as you wouldn't expect councils to allow rats to roam around the streets unchecked, they will act swiftly to eradicate something they view as a pest. We can at least help them do that humanely by not feeding the birds."

Councils spend 20m every year tackling problems associated with pigeons, including cleaning up droppings and stopping birds roosting in buildings. The birds also present a health risk, carrying diseases such as salmonella and ornithosis, which can lead to pneumonia in humans.

Mr Woods highlighted a study from Basle in Switzerland where a team from the government, a local university and an animal charity halved the city's nuisance pigeon population from 20,000 to 10,000 in just four years.

Using a TV, radio, leaflet and poster campaign showing shocking images of disease and parasite-infested baby pigeons, the team convinced local people not to feed the birds.

Mr Woods said the project should be a model for those tackling the problem in London. He said: "This approach is not going to lead to thousands of birds starving to death all at once. It will just mean birds will be forced to adapt to a reduced food supply leading eventually to a fall in numbers."

He added: "Many people believe feeding urban birds is a kindness. It is not.

Pigeons have become entirely reliant on human beings rather than nature for their food."

The Tidy Britain Group's recommendations met with broad support today.

Britain's expert on pigeons and public health, Dr Tim Wreghitt of Cambridge Public Health Laboratory, said: "Pigeons are very resourceful. They are survivors. If there is lots of food around the pigeons will breed frequently up to the level that the food supply will support. If not much food is available then the population will reduce."

He added: "Where there are pigeons there is the potential for infection."

Judith Warner, chairman of Westminster council environment and leisure committee, said: "Pigeons do carry disease, they can be pests and they breed rapidly. They need to be kept under control and the kindest way to eliminate them is not to feed them. If there is a big problem across London then local authorities will have to have some kind of strategy for dealing with them."

She added that Westminster supported Ken Livingstone's plans to remove the only licensed pigeon food stall in Trafalgar Square, saying: "It is probably best in the long term."

In recent years both Westminster and Wandsworth councils have tried similar methods to the Swiss model with some success, although none have been as wide-ranging.

A spokesman for the London Tourist Board said tourism in Trafalgar Square would not suffer if the pigeon population was reduced. He added: "It would change the character of Trafalgar Square. As to whether it would have a detrimental effect on the character, I suppose that would depend on which side of the fence you sit on your feelings about pigeons."

Copyright 2001
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.