Although feeding them is now forbidden, pigeons still flock to London's Trafalgar Square.


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Trafalgar pigeons 'are starving'

An estimated 400 birds flock to Trafalgar Square's north terrace
Pigeons are starving to death in London's Trafalgar Square as a result of a byelaw banning people from feeding them, protesters have said.
The Pigeon Action Group demonstrated in the square against the byelaw, which was introduced earlier this month.

Campaign leader Julia Fletcher said: "Urgent action is needed otherwise the rest of the flock will perish."

They want a feeding area set up in the square. Westminster City Council said its feeding ban would remain in place.

It has been illegal to feed birds in the main square since 2003, but protesters continued to feed pigeons and other birds on the north terrace.

The council estimated that 400 birds continued to flock to the area.

Earlier this month the council secured a byelaw which extended the ban to the north terrace.

It said droppings created a mess and led to complaints.

Under the new law, anyone feeding birds anywhere in the square risks a £500 fine.

'Homing instincts'

"What the authorities cannot seem to understand is that these birds will not go anywhere else because they are a tame flock," said Miss Fletcher.

"Pigeons are known for their homing instincts and they see Trafalgar Square as home."

Ms Fletcher said that a designated feeding area would enable the public to continue feeding the remainder of the flock.

"The cruelty that has gone on in an attempt to drive out these birds is dreadful, it's unbelievable."

Westminster City Council said it would continue to enforce the byelaw throughout the square.

Alan Bradley, the council's cabinet member for street environment, said: "It is a nonsense to suggest that the pigeons will starve because of the ban."

"They are resourceful creatures and go where there is food.

"If anything, it is cruel to feed the pigeons in this way because it artificially increases the size of the flock to unsustainable levels leading to poor health and deformity among the birds."

Arty

TRAFALGAR'S PIGEON BAN EXTENDED

Pigeons can no longer be fed anywhere in central London's Trafalgar Square under a new byelaw.

It has been illegal to feed birds in the main square since 2003, but protesters continued to feed pigeons and other birds on its north terrace.

Westminster City Council has now secured a byelaw which extends the ban to that area, saying bird droppings create mess and spark complaints.

Animal welfare groups said the new law would starve the flock to death.

They called for a more humane approach and accused Westminster Council of scaremongering and untruths.

Under the new law, anyone feeding birds in the north terrace risks a £500 fine.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone originally imposed the ban to make the square "more pleasant for public use".

But its north terrace did not fall under his jurisdiction, so people continued to throw seeds, bread, biscuits and corn to hundreds of birds in that area.

Alan Bradley, Westminster City Council's cabinet member for street environment, said the authority did not want to harm the birds, but wanted to ensure the square was "a clean and welcoming place".

Pointing to a flock of pigeons on the grass behind him, he said: "You see behind me? We've got a scene straight out of Hitchcock.

"If someone dumps a bag of feed, as they do from time to time, that entire lot is going to fly up."

Cllr Bradley said the issue was also one of hygiene.

He said: "The pigeons, attracted by the food, leave a significant amount of droppings.

"This is deeply unpleasant for the large number of visitors to the square as well as to the people who work nearby."

Feeding pigeons also artificially increased the size of the flock to unsustainable levels, which would lead to poor health and deformity, Cllr Bradley said.

But the Save the Trafalgar Square Pigeons group strongly denied the claims.

It insisted that a scheme introduced in 2002 to reduce birds in the area in a humane way, had reduced bird numbers by 75% - from 4,000 to 1,000.

STTSP spokesman Niel Hansen said: "If we stop feeding overnight, all independent experts agree the remaining birds will starve. We will not tolerate that."

The group said the best way to reduce pigeon numbers was in "a humane manner by gradually reducing their food supply".

IMO
Lets take some humans that are known to breed like rabbits, destroy the earth and her resources at a staggering rate, wage war on each other, and starve them...Hmmmm now how humane would that be????

Arty