Controlling the pigeon population
The proliferation of pigeons in the town has given rise to a number of actions on the part of the council services and external operations aimed at reducing the nuisance caused by these birds.
Local context
In Vannes, the pigeon population is estimated at between 1,500 and 2,000 birds. It is neither
desirable nor possible to eliminate them altogether.
However, the excessive concentration of these birds on a site and their proliferation are a nuisance, for the following reasons:
- Dirtying of and damage to buildings and historical monuments
- Safety hazard in streets or squares that have become slippery due to droppings
- Risk of transmission of diseases and parasites
Legal references
From the legal point of view, pigeons are defined as “res nullius”, belonging to nobody. Legally speaking, councils therefore have no responsibilities in the matter.
Measures initiated by the town
In order to reduce the proliferation of pigeons, Vannes town council has established the following techniques:
- Pigeons are driven away from nesting places by the placing of wire meshes, pins, and an electric repellent system (porte Saint Vincent).
- Use of a contraceptive product present in grains of wheat and corn.
- Capture by traps and placing in an aviary at the municipal technical centre under the control of the animal pound’s vet.
- Establishment of a pigeon coop at the prison gate in July 2004. The service monitors the occupation by pigeons.
- Since August 2004, a person has been put in charge of pigeon control operations in Vannes town council, in accordance with the Order dated 29 June 2004, issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Security.
Activities of the department
The pigeon control department is managed as part of the Municipal technical centre’s entertainment equipment workshop.
The number of captures is shown below:
|
2003
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2004
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2005
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305
|
283
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301
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The main sites at which pigeons are trapped
The council administrative centre (on the terrace roof), the drinking water treatment plant at Liziec, the Porte Calmont (at the foot of and on the ramparts), the Porte Notre Dame, the Thomas Cook office in Place de la Libération, rue Noë, Rue de la Monnaie, place Gambetta, Saint François Xavier school, Porte Prison.
Bird scaring campaigns
In the most exposed areas, it is possible to scare away the birds using birds of prey over a period of approximately six months, by overflying nesting areas. In order to protect public buildings and private property, electric repellent techniques have proved successful for several years now.
Two bird scaring campaigns are undertaken every year, birds of prey such as falcons and Harris hawks are used to frighten the pigeons.
The town devotes a budget of €8,000 to this operation.