Pigeon cull: vote here now (From Bucks Free Press)
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Pigeon cull: vote here now
12:30pm Friday 16th July 2010 in
THE Bucks Free Press website today gives you the opportunity to vote on a controversial plan to cull pigeons in High Wycombe town centre.
Our online poll comes after we asked Midweek readers to return one of two forms supporting or opposing the plan by Wycombe District Council. Scroll down to vote now.
Opponents say the plan is cruel and would not decrease pigeons numbers.
They also contest the council’s argument that pigeons are a danger to public health. Some have even said the council is acting illegally.
Yet WDC said pigeon faeces are a danger to health and the cull is within the law.
Pigeons are a ‘nuisance’ and the trapping and culling would be done ‘humanely’ Cllr Clive Harris said. Buildings risk being ‘infected’ with pigeons, he warned.
The council has said options for culling the birds will include breaking their necks and gassing them.
Once numbers have been reduced, a hawk will be introduced to scare away remaining pigeons.
Click the links below to read our stories, letters and columns on the plans.
Comments(34)
Dr Truth
says...
1:05pm Fri 16 Jul 10
There are over 90,000 people in High Wycombe after all.
678
says...
1:21pm Fri 16 Jul 10
Red Fred
says...
1:23pm Fri 16 Jul 10
.
They really are serious aren't they if they are going to break their necks AND gas them!
wayneo
says...
2:59pm Fri 16 Jul 10
RussWWFC wrote:Why is one a tree-hugger just because they have an differing point-of-view to yourself? Are you ill?
57% against at the moment, never knew there was so many tree-hugging numpties around!
Plus ça change...
says...
5:32pm Fri 16 Jul 10
wayneo
says...
5:56pm Fri 16 Jul 10
cheesepie
says...
6:10pm Fri 16 Jul 10
Plus ça change...
says...
6:28pm Fri 16 Jul 10
wayneo wrote:It's not Clive but it could be a pigeon pretending to be Clive.
Yeah but where's clive gone? hope he hasn't been culled.
Is there a 'pigeon cam' yet? Would need a lot of maintenance.
Morag
says...
9:00pm Fri 16 Jul 10
wayneo wrote:Clive has asked me to let you know that he is fit and well since laying off the KFC. Unfortunately he has had to go into hiding since he became immortalised in verse. The publicity was all too much for him and he is now a recluse.
Yeah but where's clive gone? hope he hasn't been culled.
~
Sadly Hortense has left him and never misses a photo opportunity. She can be seen out and about town most nights hanging around fast food outlets and there are fears she may become the victim of a ruthless predator unless she starts exercising more caution. Let’s hope someone takes her under their wing soon.
Voyeur
says...
1:49am Sat 17 Jul 10
.
Would you like pigeons sitting on your roof and doing what they do.
.
They fly there without a by-your-leave.
.
They mess up the place and invite their mates around to do the same stuff.
.
When they leave there is a terrible mess to clean up.
.
They never ever use the bins provided.
Plus ça change...
says...
10:30am Sat 17 Jul 10
guesswork
says...
11:38am Sat 17 Jul 10
Effective pigeon population control versus building roof deterioration would make for an interesting modern ecology project.
Is there a reason the birds have to be culled? Could they be moved instead for a similar cost?
demoness
says...
2:29pm Sat 17 Jul 10
RussWWFC wrote:I am a tree hugging numptie and am proud to be so.
57% against at the moment, never knew there was so many tree-hugging numpties around!
Are you proud of being a prat though?
Katydid
says...
2:37pm Sat 17 Jul 10
BUT - I don't agree with killing the birds.
This is because it has been tried before, in High Wycombe town centre, some years ago now, and it didn't work. In a matter of days there were just as many pigeons as before. As soon as there were food and nest sites available pigeons from nearby moved in.
It was on a Friday morning that I noticed a man moving about the area around the parish church, trapping the pigeons and wringing their necks, so I know it was done, and I was told that he was being paid by the Council. So shouldn't it be in their records? Why are they going to spend more money on repeating a failed experiment, when they are supposed to need to cut unnecessary expenses?
678
says...
4:40pm Sat 17 Jul 10
amazon
says...
10:26pm Sat 17 Jul 10
demoness wrote:demoness, Hades says...
RussWWFC wrote: 57% against at the moment, never knew there was so many tree-hugging numpties around!I am a tree hugging numptie and am proud to be so. Are you proud of being a prat though?
2:29pm Sat 17 Jul 10
RussWWFC wrote:
57% against at the moment, never knew there was so many tree-hugging numpties around!
I am a tree hugging numptie and am proud to be so.
Are you proud of being a prat though?
i always thought tree hugging numpties were prats of the highest order
wbjwebb
says...
10:38pm Sat 17 Jul 10
''Red Kites, Latin name Milvus milvus, were once commonplace in suitable habitat throughout England, Scotland and Wales. As well as in the open countryside, they were to be found around human settlements where they fed on waste – a feature of their behaviour which brought them protection by Royal Charter in the 15th Century. However, with the passage of time, improvements in hygiene arrangements reduced this source of food, alongside which they became increasingly persecuted. In company with many other species of bird and mammal, they were seen as a direct threat to food supplies at a time when the human population was growing. Further pressures from game shooting interests resulted in them becoming extinct in England and Scotland around 150 to 200 years ago, a handful of pairs managing to survive in Wales.''
Bare this in mind!
demoness
says...
11:10pm Sat 17 Jul 10
shame really..
Nick1958
says...
6:43am Sun 18 Jul 10
This made me chuckle!
Simple mathematics really: Take 100 pigeons, kill 25....numbers have decreased.
Plus ça change...
says...
8:30pm Sun 18 Jul 10
We need a few more Wycombe cams that tell our story to the World!
wbjwebb
says...
10:04pm Sun 18 Jul 10
wbjwebb
says...
10:09pm Sun 18 Jul 10
demoness wrote:And what form of benefit allows you to sit on your computer all day? I’m glad my taxes are going to good use.
You aren't very bright are you? shame really..
Gailxx
says...
7:11am Mon 19 Jul 10
Ok, you might not see them during the day (only around Morrison's) but go round the shops at dusk and you will see quite a few!! and I'm dam sure my Grandchildren wouldn't be tempted to admire or feed them!!!!
J B Blackett
says...
12:56pm Mon 19 Jul 10
.
Is that an invitation to imagine naked birds ;only in the head of course ?
.
But that remark might cause some folk to start spitting feathers.
LotusPigeon
says...
5:31pm Mon 19 Jul 10
Nick1958 wrote:Hmmm, you don't know much about this do you? *sigh* the public should really be more educated about these things.
"Opponents say the plan ............would not decrease pigeons numbers."
This made me chuckle!
Simple mathematics really: Take 100 pigeons, kill 25....numbers have decreased.
Yes, okay, so culling would reduce the pigeon population -short term only, maybe for a couple of weeks. But in a very short matter of time, their numbers will have once again, increase to the same level they were before, or even higher!
This is because, pigeons naturally, have a kind of food control system. It's quite clever really.
More food = more baby pigeons.
Less food = Less baby pigeons.
Culling will cost a lot of tax payers money, and it will, in the long run make no difference whatsoever.
This has been proven time and time again; Pigeon culling is simply a waste of time, money and an innocent life.
A much more economic, friendly approach to the issue would be to:
1. Stop littering!
2. Set up controlled areas where the public are allowed to feed pigeons. Don't feed them anywhere else. And provide Public Education Campaigns to educate people not to feed them in public.
3. Set up dove coats and collect and dispose of the eggs layed by the hens. (artificial nesting sites)
4. Deterrents (owls eyes etc)
These methods has been proven to be an amazingly effective methods, and a much better choice than murdering, for both us humans, and the birds.
You can see more info on culling here:
http://www.animalaid
.org.uk/h/n/CAMPAIGN
S/wildlife/ALL/348/
Janiebird
says...
3:08pm Tue 20 Jul 10
As mentioned by another contributor, food is the pivotal element. When food is put down, the birds immediately start courting. Endeavouring to limit pigeon populations by killing, introducing hawks or any method other than by the reduction of food left around, will not work. Pest controllers love it when councils are unaware that culling is a means of perpetuating their income - cull, remaining birds breed back up to original flock: pest controllers again get called in, ad infinitem.
bonkers2010
says...
10:44pm Tue 20 Jul 10
Histoplasmosis
Histoplasmosis is a disease caused by a fungus, which grows in pigeon droppings. It also grows in soils and is found throughout the world. When cleaning droppings a person may breathe in some of the fungus, which in cases of high exposure can cause infection. Common activities, such as cleaning off windowsills, will not result in high exposures
bonkers2010
says...
10:46pm Tue 20 Jul 10
bonkers2010
says...
10:48pm Tue 20 Jul 10
In humans, this bacterial disease is characterized by: fatigue, fever, headache, rash, chills, and sometimes pneumonia. Symptoms develop about 10 days after exposure. Psittacosis can be treated with a common antibiotic.
Since 1996, fewer than 50 confirmed cases were reported in the United States annually. In New York City, psittacosis is very rare with less than one human case identified each year. According to the CDC, about 70% of infected people had contact with infected pet birds. Those at greatest risk include bird owners, pet shop employees, veterinarians, and people with compromised immune systems. No person-to-person cases have ever been reported.
bonkers2010
says...
10:50pm Tue 20 Jul 10
Routine cleaning of droppings (e.g. from windowsills) does not pose a serious health risk to most people. Some simple precautions can be taken to further reduce direct contact with droppings, such as wearing disposable gloves and clothes that can be washed.
bonkers2010
says...
11:01pm Tue 20 Jul 10
smmmmmm
says...
9:08am Wed 21 Jul 10
wbjwebb wrote:LOL- you seem to be doing the same thing. Are you sure you pay taxes? You need to work inorder to that, not Troll around making stupid comments.
demoness wrote: You aren't very bright are you? shame really..And what form of benefit allows you to sit on your computer all day? I’m glad my taxes are going to good use.
smmmmmm
says...
9:16am Wed 21 Jul 10
amazon wrote:My word! What an evil thing you are. YOU need to at the head of that line.
if we were to cull or iradicate all bleeding hearts and do-gooders first then a simple task to clean the rest of our glorious england of all the filth there is without interference should be easy so all you do-gooders line up to be gased /shot/necks rung/or however
Cruelty to animals is one of the distinguishing vices of low and base minds. Wherever it is found, it is a certain mark of ignorance and meanness. You don't have one heart for people and another for animals. Either you have a heart or you don't. You OBVIOUSLY DON'T.
A universe is, indeed, to be pitied whose dominating inhabitants are so unconscious and so ethically embryonic that they make life a commodity, mercy a disease, and systematic massacre a pastime and a profession.
But why am I wasting my time - Never argue with an idiot; they'll drag you down to their level then beat you with experience!
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RussWWFC says...
1:01pm Fri 16 Jul 10