PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 3rd January 2007

PRAISE FOR SURREY HEATH COUNCIL OVER PIGEON CONTROL PROGRAMME

The Pigeon Control Advisory Service, UK Division (PiCAS UK), part of the internationally renowned PiCAS Group and the leading authority on bird control worldwide, today praised Surrey Heath Borough Council for their humane pigeon control initiative.

In 2001 PiCAS UK met with representatives of both Surrey Heath Borough Council (SHBC) and Camberley and District Animal Welfare Group (CDAWG) to advise on the provision of a humane and effective pigeon control programme for Camberley Town Centre. PiCAS UK advised a system that has been used to great effect in towns and cities worldwide but which, at the time, had not been trialed by any other local authority in the UK.

This system, pioneered by the PiCAS Group and using pigeon lofts as the main control option, has been proven to reduce pigeon flock size by as much as 95% in 5 years without the use of invasive and ineffective complimentary controls such as culling. Many local authorities in the UK still use culling as a control option even though killing pigeons as a method of control has been scientifically proven to increase pigeon flock size.

SHBC and CDAWG, in tandem with the Management Team at The Mall Shopping Centre, installed a pigeon loft on a rooftop close to Camberley Town Square in 2003. It is in this area that the Princess Way pigeon flock has historically fed and nested. A recent progress report has confirmed that pigeon numbers in and around the area have remained stable for the last 3-years as a result of the fact that a majority of the flock is now housed in the loft provided and where breeding is controlled by egg removal.  The day to day task of collecting eggs, cleaning the loft and removing sick or injured birds to a wildlife rehabilitator in the area is carried out by CDAWG.

Guy Merchant, Group Director of the PiCAS Group said: “Surrey Heath Borough Council has adopted a bold and forward thinking approach to dealing with this age old problem and we have nothing but praise for their attitude and tenacity. This is the first time that any local authority has used this system to such great effect in the UK and as a result Surrey Heath are setting an example and leading the way for other local authorities throughout the country. We would also like to extend our thanks and gratitude to Camberley and District Animal Welfare Group as well as The Mall Shopping Centre, without whose help and hard work this programme would not have been implemented”.