WILY BIRDS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1928, Page 4

WILY BIRDS

PIGEON PEST IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, Jan. 12. Another effort is being made to get rid of the pigeons that infest the City buildings, but the birds, like their leathered tribe that have become something of a curse in London, are cunning.

The pigeons will not desert their old haunts. The Town Hull, for example, is one of their favourite homes. It is the scene underground ot vast explosions throughout the day, in connexion with tiie tunnelling for the City railway. The thunderous explosions, while they unnerve the pigeons, as well as giving a momentary shock to pedestrians, cannot frighten the birds away. With caeli loud blast, there is a wild frenzied flight of a vast Hock of birds, which, however, immediately afterwards settle comfortably down again. At frequent intervals during the day caretakers crack gigantic whips over the facades and roofs of some of the big City buildings, to try to scare the birds nil'."’ They circle wildly, and then alight again. Eggs and nests are destroyed. Poison is distributed. Birds are trapped. Architectural nooks which linrhnur them are wired nfi. But, despite it all, the bird:? increase at an alarming rate. Trappers on some of the buildings, with a ready sale tor the birds at the markets for an average of one shilling a head, reap a nice har-

Svdney’s piegons, unlike those In, London, are remarkably shy. The only time they will approach people is the luncheon hour in the parks, and even then they will not eat out of the hand.