Norwich Market and Memorial Gardens are frequently visited by flocks of pigeons during the day.

Although they have every right to be there, it is understandable that there is some frustration over their droppings in an area where people have food.

In response to this frustration, Norwich City Council has spent £4000 on hiring a falconer to come with a harris hawk to scare the pigeons away, for a four week trial. We are two weeks in at time of writing, and the pigeons still hang out at the market and Memorial Gardens. Other cities have tried using hawks for the same purpose and found it to be unsuccessful - even if the pigeons are chased away for a bit, they come back shortly after the hawk leaves.
I believe that what should be done instead is to give the pigeons a more ideal place to nest.

Chapelfield Gardens is a 3 minute walk from the market. There is an abandoned public toilet building there that has not been in service for years.

That building can be repurposed into a dovecote and a rehab office, and a source of food for the pigeons. As it is off of the main footpath of Chapelfield Gardens, it would not obstruct parkgoers.

A dovecote like that would protect pigeons from the harsh elements, and allow them to nest safely. Pigeon populations would be able to be managed ethically and effectively by keeping track of and swapping eggs for fakes when needed. Sickly pigeons would be taken care of and monitored more easily, and so illnesses can be prevented from spreading through local flocks. Providing a reliable source of food that is not the market would also mean that pigeons are more likely to hang around there instead of the market. Proper food for the pigeons would also help them receive the proper nutrients that scraps of human food lack.

A volunteer organisation would be set up to carry out these tasks, so the Council would only need to invest in the renovation of the abandoned building. Maintenance of the building would be done by the volunteers.

For the initial startup and renovation, as well as subsequent operations, fundraising can also be done.

It seems that the Council might also be looking to ban feeding the pigeons. However, a lack of people intentionally feeding them birdseed would just drive them to the market and other food establishments as their only source of food would then be the scraps of human food that will inevitably be found there. If the pigeons are not fed proper food, they would also not be able to sustain themselves. Even if they are able to pick up scraps that people have dropped, they will not receive the nutrients they need and as a result would be malnourished and underweight.

Pigeons are heavily reliant on humans for survival due to their history as domestic birds. Common pigeons that are found nowadays are descendants of rock doves that were domesticated centuries ago, and retain the traits of their ancestors. There have been many instances of pigeons helping to carry messages during World War I and II and saving lives. These intelligent birds have been very important in human history!

I find that my suggestion would be a win-win for all members of the community. The pigeons would largely be away from the market, pigeon lovers can still care for and enjoy the pigeons, and the pigeons get the care and help they need and deserve. Of course, this would be a long process requiring a lot of effort, but I am sure that it will be worth it in the long run.

With enough support, we might be able to get Banham Zoo involved to help provide professional animal care insights and support, and turn the dovecote into a space to educate people on wildlife care.

Please sign this petition to urge Norwich City Council to allow this plan to take place. Let's help the Norwich Market pigeons, and give them a safe place to be without causing a nuisance to members of the public.