Pigeons feeders at Norwich Market selfish, says council | UK News

A row has developed between a council and some local people over the feeding of pigeons at Norwich Market.

Norwich City Council recently brought in a falconer and a Harris’s hawk to patrol the busy market and scare off the birds.

But local pigeon welfare campaigner Jenny Coupland said the birds were “brilliant” creatures and defended people’s right to feed them.

Carli Harper, the Labour cabinet member for finance and major projects, said the council was aware of a small number of “irresponsible people” feeding the birds.

“We are looking at enforcement options as a way to stop these selfish few who do not see to reason,” she said.

“We have made it clear people should not feed the pigeons as shoppers and traders have consistently said they cause a nuisance, and especially while we are actively trying to deter them.”

The local authority has paid about £4,000 for the falconer and hawk as part of a four-week trial. The falconer says the hawk is trained not to attack pigeons or gulls but will instead scare them into roosting and nesting elsewhere.

Ms Coupland, 43, said: “It’s a shame that Norwich City Council seem to have such a backwards approach towards wildlife by promoting the eradication of a species that is synonymous with city life.

“Imagine going into someone’s living room and berating them for eating dinner in their own home.”

She said “pigeons are just as clean as any other wild bird” and said they were “an easy target to blame for mess”.

Sandi Lowe, 69, said she fed the pigeons which congregated at the market on a regular basis.

“I have been told not to feed them before. I said just ‘fine me’,” Ms Lowe said.

She said it was her “god given right” to feed any birds she wanted to, and said the council “should get a grip of what else is going on in the city first”.

An online petition – which calls for a more gentle approach – has also been set up and has attracted more than 370 signatures.

The petitioner suggests repurposing a building at nearby Chapelfield Gardens as a dovecote and source of food, in the hope it diverts pigeons away from the market.

Speaking to the from Norwich Market, Trish Goodall, 57, called the birds “rats of the sky”.

She said she did not think it was “a bad thing” that people fed them but did not want it to be done at the market.

“Find somewhere else for them, where they’re not surrounding food,” Ms Goodall said.

Sharon Williams, 52, said the birds had “got to eat” but said she would not feed them as she “didn’t want to get in trouble”.

“I know people say they’re a pest and everything, but they were kind of here before we were, weren’t they?” said Ms Williams.

“I like birds, so I feel a bit sad for them, really. “