Breeding 'stems pigeon numbers'
SWITZERLAND has found the answer to a sanitary problem that has haunted Admiral Nelson for decades: the only way to control the pigeon population is to breed them, writes Steve Connor.
Killing them was useless, according to Daniel Haag- Wackernagel, the scientist in charge of the anti-pigeon project in Basel. He found that mass extermination of adults only created room for juveniles to thrive.
He said a better approach was to breed colonies in lofts. The birds were healthier and control easier as eggs could be taken from the nest before hatching.
A four-year project has reduced the pigeon population by half, from about 1,400 in 1988 to nearly 700 in 1992, he said.
Previous attempts over 20 years using killing, sterilisation, and a ban on feeding failed, Dr Haag- Wackernagel writes in the science journal Nature. The city authorities also tackled the 'mental attitudes' of the pigeon-feeding public, emphasising how overcrowding caused the birds to suffer.
'We have found a satisfactory change in the mental attitude of the public,' Dr Haag- Wackernagel says. 'Feeding pigeons has become a taboo and only a few incorrigible people continue.'
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies