New York mulls $1,000 fine for feeding pigeons

[Midnight Mike]

New York mulls $1,000 fine for feeding pigeons By Edith Honan
1 hour, 36 minutes ago



A New York City lawmaker wants to declare war on the city's pigeons and says he will not be dissuaded by the difficulties faced by London and Venice in ridding themselves of the ubiquitous birds.

City Councilman Simcha Felder on Monday called on the city to levy a fine of as much as $1,000 (490 pounds) on people feeding pigeons, distribute bird contraceptives, and employ hawks to scare the birds away.

He also suggested appointing a "pigeon czar" to orchestrate the fight, a plan that has ruffled the feathers of animal lovers.

"Cities are lifeless places. People don't appreciate the fact that we have some wildlife," said Al Streit, director of The Pigeon People, an organization that rescues injured birds.

Felder said he doesn't expect to rid the city of pigeons but that it was time to combat what he called a public health hazard.

Felder said pigeons and their droppings are host to several severe communicable diseases, though a report released by his office noted that cases "are rare and the threat is often exaggerated."

London has outlawed feeding pigeons in Trafalgar Square and brought in trained hawks to kill them. But pigeons still flock to the square, and Mayor Ken Livingston has come under fire for the program's high cost.

Venice is trying to stop the sale of bird seed in St. Mark's Square and prevent pigeons from chipping away at marble statues and buildings. Licensed bird feed sellers do not want to go and animal rights activists have also expressed concern.

This summer, Los Angeles said it would introduce a pigeon contraceptive called OvoControl P to reduce the population.

"The fact is that people have been disgusted and annoyed," said Felder, adding that he frequently dodges pigeon droppings at his Brooklyn subway station. "I might as well say that I'm sick and tired of it."

This isn't the first time New York City has tried to control its pigeon population. In 2003, a hawk was briefly employed to scare pigeons in a Manhattan park but the program was abandoned a few months later after the hawk attacked a Chihuahua.

Hearings on Felder's plan may be called before the end of the year.

[Tom_Turner]

If we're talking about some neighbor that is putting down half a bag of seed on the sidewalk/lawn/street/driveway each day, I can maybe see this making sense.

But fining someone for throwing a french fry to a pigeon, or fining some old lady in a park a grand is not something I would want to see.

I am very glad when dog owners get nailed though. :D

Tom

[Nonstop2AUH]

How are they going to get pigeons to use contraceptives when we can't even get teenagers to put 'em on?

[hiss srq]

How are they going to get pigeons to use contraceptives when we can't even get teenagers to put 'em on?

ha hahaahaha statement of the day!

[Mellyrose]

I'm so glad that they converted the $1000 fine into pounds. ??

[Nonstop2AUH]

Melly the source article must have been from the UK, it makes reference to London and in particular the famous Trafalgar Square which in the past you couldn't walk through without serious risk of a bird (dropping) strike, in fact they used to sell bird seed at the square for people to feed them. Not to date myself but I think it was the inspiration for the "Feed the Birds" number in "Mary Poppins." Glad they've at least tried to clean it up because it's otherwise an interesting part of central London. Maybe 'congestion pricing' shouldn't be the only concept Bloomy borrows from his second hometown! So, any nominations for 'pigeon czar'? I hear Bernie Kerik might be available.

[Matt Molnar]

Bert from Sesame Street gets my vote.