Pigeons of North Walsham: Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Moving on from the joys of spring, especially as it seems to have stopped now. This story was posted on Facebook by my good pal Linda.

Horrific stuff.

The pigeons of North Walsham are about to get it, big time. Okay, so you might ask why any pigeon in their right mind would want to live in a place like North Walsham when it is literally in the middle of bum fuck nowhere in the Suffolk** countryside with barely a road in sight, but there ya go. Couple of them probably just ended up there, lost on their way to the East Coast. That’s how it usually happens. It’s also the only rational explanation I can think of. Now though, the council thinks there are way too many of them, and wants rid, so it’s decided to set some traps. Traps? Eh? WTF? You stuck in the middle ages up there or what? Traps haven’t been used for decades. If you really have to, although verbal negotiation is always my chosen route along with pointing them in the direction of an alternative home, there are plenty of friendlier alternatives. I appreciate you’ve given the hawk a go, but dig a bit deeper. It’s not that hard. Or get a hawk that isn’t scared of pigeons.

** Correction – Jim Schofield has kindly informed me that North Walsham is, in fact, in Norfolk. Still the middle of bum fuck nowhere, just in a different county.

Anyway, I checked it out and any pigeons hanging around these particular so-called ‘hotspots’ should be extra vigilant:

* Coral’s bookmaker’s: Mr Wilson said the pigeons were “enjoying” hanging on to netting put there to discourage them

* 4 Market Street: the owners had tried to pigeon-proof the demolished building but the weather had destroyed their work. They would try again

* former Market Place fishmongers: it had been closed at the rear but the pigeons had found their way in. It has now been closed again

* Broadland Travel and Break charity shop: promises to proof both buildings had not yet been carried out. The ledge above the Break shop is now one of the worst for pigeons in the town

You can read the whole story here.