Birds
There are many wild birds that have successfully adapted to our shared environment. Our buildings, gardens and habitats become ideal feeding areas with places to breed and roost. The birds bring pleasure to many but to others their presence is far from welcome.
Birds may become a nuisance when they flock in vast numbers and within our own city by far the largest number of bird complaints received each year are regarding the Herring gull and Feral pigeon. Herring gulls have decreased overall by 40 per cent in the last 20 years however the urban coastal population continues to increase by 7 per cent each year whereas pigeon numbers are increasing annually in all areas.
Plymouth City Council Pest Control Department can offer advice on these subjects and also conduct proofing work to buildings. There are also many reputable firms locally and nationally who conduct this form of work. Always ensure they are registered with a recognised trade body such as the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) or the National Pest Technician Association (NPTA).
- Do not scatter bird food in gardens use feeders and small tables, which do not allow spillage. Remember rats and mice also like scattered food
- Do not feed in built up public spaces the birds will find their own source of food, or the rats and mice may find yours
- Make your garden insect and bird friendly by planting - see your garden centre and the RSPB website for information
- Check out the PICAS website
- Do not put your refuse out any earlier than the night before collection
- Take care when disposing of unwanted fast foods and snacks - use the bins provided throughout the city
- Never approach nesting gulls or their young during the season - they will attack in defence
- Never access a pigeon nesting area without protective clothing and suitable facemasks
Feeding birds
Many people choose to feed birds for pleasure, from gardens, outside office blocks, public areas or at places of work. The size of feeding tables can be anything from a small table to a garage roof or half a garden strewn with all sorts of feed. Not only does this encourage birds but also rats, mice and squirrel. Our Pest Control section is called to approximately 25 households daily to deal just with rats in the garden, 80 per cent of which are due to households or neighbours indiscriminately distributing food for birds.
Gulls and pigeons have proved very successful at adapting their roosting sites to our buildings and due to mans love of feeding birds and careless disposal of food wastes, the birds can breed profusely in the knowledge that food is bountiful. Unfortunately the nature of birds in large numbers creates noise, dangerous waste and sometimes damage. It can be detrimental for the birds, due to a regular conflict with man, the diet of rotten waste they are exposed to and infectious breeding sites for feral pigeons. These feeding sites also encourage them away from their natural environments and sources of food.
The The Pigeon Control Advisory Service (PICAS) is a group that offers information on a number of birds that we sometimes regard as pests, and advises on living alongside each other in this environment. They are not a pest control company but a non commercial advisory service who have successfully assisted many local authorities, other organisations and individuals who want to retain and feed birds in their vicinity with educational and problem solving solutions.
This authority rightly accepts that man and wildlife share this environment and there are many responsible organisations in existence to ensure this is done correctly. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 regulates and guides the way wildlife controls are effected if they are unavoidable.