Pigeons

Information about pigeons

Pigeon Problems

Pigeons carry a range of diseases such as salmonellosis, tuberculosis and ornithosis. Their droppings, nesting material and dead carcasses can contain a wide variey of mites and insects. These can infest areas where people live and can cause skin irritation, disease or allergic reactions.

Pigeon droppings are not only unsightly but can cause long term damage to buildings.

Feeding pigeons exposes them to risk of injury and causees overcrowding. The birds become stressed and disease and parasites may spread quickly throughout the flock. Waste food attract foxes, rats and mice.

There are no rules that relate directly to the act of pigeon feeding but in extreme cases we can consider investigate an alleged offence of “littering”.  Section 18 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 has widened section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 so that it is now an offence to drop litter anywhere in a place in the open air to which the public are entitled or permitted to have access with or without payment.  The food being deposited might constitute “litter”.  

A local authority can take steps for the purpose of abating or mitigating any nuisance, annoyance or damage caused by the congregation in any built-up area of pigeons.