Main picture, taken by Dr Fenech, shows a pigeon carcass rotting in an air vent following a ‘culling’
Ornithologist Dr Natalino Fenech went on the offensive yesterday both on social networks and in comments to The Malta Independent in reaction to the pigeon culling which was announced for Balzan. In comments addressed to Balzan Mayor Ian Spiteri, Dr Fenech told him to “inform himself well” rather than merely shooting down the winged pests.
When speaking to this newsroom, Dr Fenech explained that he is not against the idea of controlling the pigeon problem in villages around the island, but he opposes the notion of misinformation which is being used to justify the shooting. “Culling in this way will result in a temporary drop in population, but it is in no way a permanent solution to the problem of pigeons as pests.”
“The solution is to educate residents to stop feeding the pigeons and possibly to feed the colony a contraceptive, but this is very expensive in the long run,” explained Dr Fenech. He added that “another solution is for them to be caught at night in their roost and then handed to a vet to be disposed of humanely.”
Pigeons in Cospicua, near the Rialto Theatre. Photo: Jonathan Borg.
There is also the problem of pigeons which aren’t killed when they are shot. “A wounded pigeon will fly off to find a quiet place to die. This results in pigeon corpses rotting away in air vents or on roofs and balconies and this is just as much a health hazard as the illnesses which the pigeons are potentially carrying while alive.”
According to Dr Fenech, areas around the island where this type of culling was done are now once again infested with the same problem. “This is more of the Local Council putting on a show as if they are doing anything to solve the problem when in reality all they’re doing is clearing out the colony temporarily.”
Realto Theatre pigeon-pest problem not solved by February’s mass culling. Photo: Jonathan Borg.
This newsroom has pictures from the old Realto Theatre in Cospicua which shows that, despite the similarly controversial culling which happened at the beginning of February hasn’t solved the problem in the area.
In one of his comments on social media, Dr Fenech pointed out that “if one wants to scare people by posting stuff from the internet about which diseases can be contracted from pigeons, anyone can play that game.” He proceeded to post several links that show how many diseases humans can contract from cats.
Pigeons in Cospicua, near the Rialto Theatre. Photo: Jonathan Borg.
In a separate comment in which he directly addressed Mayor Ian Spiteri, he insisted that the cats in the locality also have ticks and other parasites which the pigeons have and asked whether the Mayor will order for the cats to be shot at as well.
Dr Ian Spiteri retorted by assuring Dr Fenech that he was well informed and that he wasn’t merely shooting the birds just because they’re pigeons. “When there was a case of sick cats, we asked for help. This decision wasn’t taken because they are pigeons, but because they have become pests to the detriment of residents’ health.”