Pigeons ruffle neighbourhood feathers

The anonymous note was in scrawled block capitals and to the point: ‘‘REDUCE YOUR NUMBER OF PIGEONS OR GET RID OF THEM. WE ARE SICK OF THE MESS.’’

It was followed a week later by another: ‘‘CANN’T (sic) YOU READ. GET RID OF THE PIGEONS.’’

The threatening notes were left in a Nelson letterbox, alarming the elderly homeowner, particularly as she did not own the offending birds.

The flock of pigeons belong to her immediate neighbours, but have made the entire neighbourhood their home.

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said her Bishopdale property had been overrun by the birds.

‘‘Once, the man who helps with my lawns came in and said, ‘Did you know there are two dozen pigeons on your lawn?’. I said I wouldn’t be surprised.

‘‘I’ve always just put up with them. It was a bit annoying hearing them clomping about on my roof, but now after these notes I’m a bit unsettled.’’

After receiving the second note, she called the Nelson City Council and the SPCA for help.

‘‘I just don’t know what else to do. I’m looking for any ideas.’’

The woman said the pigeons had been in the neighbourhood for ‘‘quite a few years’’, but their antics had become worse over time.

‘‘There’s been more and more of them, and they’ve turned wild.’’

When Stuff visited the property yesterday, over the course of an hour dozens of pigeons flew over the woman’s house and lawn, coming and going freely from the open aviary in the neighbouring yard.

The woman said the anonymous notes were a tipping point, and now she ‘‘just wanted anyone to come and take the birds away’’.

She said it was difficult to talk with the owners of the birds, who came from Cambodia and didn’t speak much English.

‘‘I know a few people just wish [the owners] would shift. They’re just sick of the pigeons.’’

When approached by Stuff, the owner of the pigeons said his son had tried to take the pigeons away, but the birds always came back.

All pigeons have the ability to find their way home over significant distances if they have had the chance to learn their surroundings. Since the Bishopdale birds are ‘‘free range’’, and fly over several blocks throughout the day, it is likely they would be able to find their way back.

SPCA inspector Louise Royal

‘‘I’ve always just put up with them . . . I just don’t know what else to do.’’

Affected neighbour

confirmed that the organisation was working on a ‘‘pigeon job’’, but said not much could be revealed until the investigation was complete.

‘‘We’re working with the owner,’’ she said.

The SPCA would not normally be involved in pigeon control, but it can investigate to make sure the birds are being adequately cared for.

The council’s group manager for environmental management, Clare Barton, said pigeons did not come under the regulations the council had limiting the number of chickens people could own.

Pet animals must be kept ‘‘in a clean and sanitary condition’’, with noise and smell ‘‘as far as practicable’’ kept to the property the pets belong to.

However, Barton said it was not practical to contain pigeons in a single property, as they needed to fly regularly.

‘‘We would encourage those neighbours affected and annoyed by the pigeons to make a friendly approach to the pigeons’ owner to discuss their concerns,’’ she said.

‘‘In these circumstances, council doesn’t have an ability to take any action under the bylaw.’’

SKARA BOHNY/STUFF A Bishopdale resident has received harassing notes over her neighbour’s pigeons, in a case of mistaken identity. She says the pigeons have been in the neighbourhood for ‘‘quite a few years’’ and have ‘‘turned wild’’.

BRADEN FASTIER/ STUFF The owner of the pigeons says his son has tried to take them away, but the birds – which are renowned for their homing ability – always come back.