Pigeon feeding in city centres.

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Byker28i said:
Is it that the birds are distracted by the free food and not watching where they are going? Is this a scottish trait, Pigeon: "Hey did you spill my food. Get out my Fecking way, Stitch that jimmy" etc.

I remember Trafalgar square and the birds were pretty good at avoiding people, same as in my local park. It's different for seagulls who can be aggressive in seeking food.
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No...it's that things always almost happen to Steve.

He almost got assaulted by a pigeon.
He almost spoke to the bird feeder.
He almost got approached on a train by some rather loud and uncouth ruffians who may or may not have ingestion alcohol.
He almost got caught spee........Oh, wait......
 
viv1969 said:
No...it's that things always almost happen to Steve.

He almost got assaulted by a pigeon.
He almost spoke to the bird feeder.
He almost got approached on a train by some rather loud and uncouth ruffians who may or may not have ingestion alcohol.
He almost got caught spee........Oh, wait......
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He should be snapping up one of these bargains as a cheap and environmentally conscious line of defence.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/2010...1=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0
 
"I know a little German. There he is!"
 
If you can't beat them................

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stumeech said:
Buy some sort of owl or hawk to naturally encourage the pigeons to sod off?
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A top hat with a picture of an owl on the front and back, he could wear that when perambulating through the town centre to keep the pigeons away from himself.
 
Update from council

Dear Sir

I refer to your email of the 17th November 2014, in relation to the feeding of pigeons in Sauchiehall Street, note your comments therein and would advise as follows.

Glasgow City Council receives many complaints each year concerning the feeding of pigeons; however, have no enforcement powers available to address this matter directly.

If an excessive amount of food is thrown down by an individual and not eaten by the pigeons immediately it could be regarded as a littering offence with the person responsible being issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice.

It is worthy to note that Community Patrol Officers acting on behalf of Community Glasgow an associate company of Glasgow City Council regularly patrol Sauchiehall Street and issue FPN in this regard.

Trusting this information is of assistance to you.


Regards,
 
ST4 said:
Update from council

Dear Sir

I refer to your email of the 17th November 2014, in relation to the feeding of pigeons in Sauchiehall Street, note your comments therein and would advise as follows.

Glasgow City Council receives many complaints each year concerning the feeding of pigeons; however, have no enforcement powers available to address this matter directly.

If an excessive amount of food is thrown down by an individual and not eaten by the pigeons immediately it could be regarded as a littering offence with the person responsible being issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice.

It is worthy to note that Community Patrol Officers acting on behalf of Community Glasgow an associate company of Glasgow City Council regularly patrol Sauchiehall Street and issue FPN in this regard.

Trusting this information is of assistance to you.


Regards,
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That didn't work, so what next?
 
I've not given up. I'll start approaching community officers when I see it. I'll also maybe get a whistle and blow it when I see the feeders try to feed to scare the pigeons off, I may have to speak to these awful people also to explain why what they are doing is wrong.
 
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ST4 said:
I've not given up. I'll start approaching community officers when I see it. I'll also maybe get a whistle and blow it when I see the feeders try to feed to scare the pigeons off, I may have to speak to these awful people also to explain why what they are doing is wrong.
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Good luck!
 
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ST4 said:
I've not given up. I'll start approaching community officers when I see it. I'll also maybe get a whistle and blow it when I see the feeders try to feed to scare the pigeons off, I may have to speak to these awful people also to explain why what they are doing is wrong.
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I rather think you'll soon be in a hospital getting her umbrella out of your bum!
 
ST4 said:
I've not given up. I'll start approaching community officers when I see it. I'll also maybe get a whistle and blow it when I see the feeders try to feed to scare the pigeons off, I may have to speak to these awful people also to explain why what they are doing is wrong.
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Oh dear. have you ever thought of committing suicide. LOL :exit:
 
ST4 said:
Great. Assault. That'll land her in jail and away from the pigeons and me.
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Get ready for the film Birdwoman of Barlinnie
 
ST4 said:
What part of your post makes you think oh dear. Why would any potential suicidal thoughts of mine be of concern to you?
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I'll just go back to sleep if that's OK with you ;)
 
ST4 said:
On my walk into Glasgow city centres I frequently come accross an old woman that throws bird feed down on Suchiehall street to feed pidgeons. The problem is they all flock round and I nearly got clobbered on the head by a low flying one.

I nearly went up to her to give her a piece of my mind to explain she's encouraging airborne vermin and being a nuisance to the public as they all fly low to get to the feed she puts down and they can hit/injure people.

However before I approach the menace I need to be aware of a few things.

Does putting bird feed on the pavement be classed as littering as she could be acting illegally.

Are pidgeons vermin? I see them as vermin.

Would a council condone such things.

Would I best to contact the police or council first to put a complaint in?
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my advice would be to see a doctor about your blood pressure
 
Actually there are 2 potential positive outcomes to this. One is you take action. Change things and get results. The other is you train yourself to become less sensitive to certain things and go about your day in the big city ignoring all the crazy sh*t going on around you. The first way sounds good. And I find tempting. But when you've fixed the first problem, the next one will appear. And so on. If you live in a big city with lots of people crushed together, avoiding trouble is a useful tool to keep you happy.
 
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ianp5a said:
Actually there are 2 potential positive outcomes to this. One is you take action. Change things and get results. The other is you train yourself to become less sensitive to certain things and go about your day in the big city ignoring all the crazy sh*t going on around you. The first way sounds good. And I find tempting. But when you've fixed the first problem, the next one will appear. And so on. If you live in a big city with lots of people crushed together, avoiding trouble is a useful tool to keep you happy.
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I despise apathy in all forms. There are things you cannot change or improve but there are things you can. If you think you can change something IMHO you ought to try. The day you give up trying is the day you stop living.

Pick your battles. The pigeon feeding grates with me and I probably have a chance of improving the situation
 
Seriously you think so ?

All you will do is push the problem on to other areas - the Buchanan Bus station has the low flying scavengers there too - feeding on the scraps falling from folks' snacks , and there will always be crumbs falling there.

Walk anywhere in any city and you have either gulls or pigeons feeding themselves on what we drop.

Till you teach folk that they don't have to walk down a street , eating or drinking you are not going to stop this.
 
camerassassin said:
Seriously you think so ?

All you will do is push the problem on to other areas - the Buchanan Bus station has the low flying scavengers there too - feeding on the scraps falling from folks' snacks , and there will always be crumbs falling there.

Walk anywhere in any city and you have either gulls or pigeons feeding themselves on what we drop.

Till you teach folk that they don't have to walk down a street , eating or drinking you are not going to stop this.
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You are right you will get this. My post was aimed at those who specifically drop significant amounts of food to feed them. They flock in en mass. You get the odd few come in for a few crumbs but we have here people sprinkling grain and/or breaking up half a loaf of bread and putting it down on the pavement. Ie deliberately feeding as many of them as they can. It's not right or fair on others as they come in from all angles causing collisions, mess and annoyance. Never mind the hygiene angle.
 
ST4 said:
I despise apathy in all forms.
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All that hate!
ST4 said:
Pick your battles.
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Precisely. People draw the line in different places. To simply call it all "apathy" below your line is clumsy. You also draw the line at certain things that others may see as apathy. As I said, I too am tempted to take the pro-active path. However experience has helped me draw the my line, way before I end up being a "serial griper" on a photography forum. I have no problem with people sorting things out. But it might take it's toll. Fixing the pigeon problem is just the start of your crusade. You can't stop there or you'll drop back into apathy. The trouble is, you might end up bitter and twisted.
 
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ianp5a said:
All that hate!
Precisely. People draw the line in different places. To simply call it all "apathy" below your line is clumsy. You also draw the line at certain things that others may see as apathy. As I said, I too am tempted to take the pro-active path. However experience has helped me draw the my line, way before I end up being a "serial griper" on a photography forum. I have no problem with people sorting things out. But it might take it's toll. Fixing the pigeon problem is just the start of your crusade. You can't stop there or you'll drop back into apathy. The trouble is, you might end up bitter and twisted.
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I hasten to add that I used the word apathy in the context of myself.

I find the use of "serial griper" a poor form of words. I discuss things I see as issues in an off topic board. It's what forums are for, discussion. I'm not one for puerile topics and the grande olde British tradition of discussing house prices, interest rates on fixed rate accounts and the weather.

I'm not sure I care much of the word crusade. I know what you're driving at but the pigeon issue is a local problem to where I live and work. A crusade would be running for MP and going all the way (rather like our Frankie and Bennies barred person who's gone to the press). I merely am suggesting picking up with the police, council re petty crime that impacts ( literally) me and others.

Who knows what next.
 
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I am unsure if it as urban myth but many years ago I heard that Bradford had a problem with starlings. I understand that they arranged, for a period of a few days, that at roosting time people were deployed on buildings with shotguns, firecrackers etc. The church bells etc were rung and a right racket made.

It was supposed to have worked a treat but with our current problems it would possibly start WW3

The shotguns were intended to make a noise - not shoot anything anywhere
 
ChasG said:
I am unsure if it as urban myth but many years ago I heard that Bradford had a problem with starlings. I understand that they arranged, for a period of a few days, that at roosting time people were deployed on buildings with shotguns, firecrackers etc. The church bells etc were rung and a right racket made.

It was supposed to have worked a treat but with our current problems it would possibly start WW3

The shotguns were intended to make a noise - not shoot anything anywhere
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An urban myth Chas, discharging shotguns in a public place is not just strictly prohibited but illegal !
 
Blank_Canvas said:
An urban myth Chas, discharging shotguns in a public place is not just strictly prohibited but illegal !
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Not strictly true. The law actually says it is an offence to be In possession of a loaded shot gun in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
 
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