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Topic ID 2712

23/04/2007 by Steve

Pigeons

I'm not sure if I'm alone here, but is it time we started to do something about the pigeon population in the town centre? They're everywhere.


0 replies

Archived Replies

Reply ID 39015

23/04/2007 by Marilyn

Not just in the Town centre, we do pretty well for them here as well. I seem to remember reading there was once a pigeon loft owned by a baker in what is now Loftcat and they were released and that is where the explosion started, is that true?


Reply ID 39016

23/04/2007 by Drama Queen

Mayor Livingstone and I agree on this one, get rid of the pigeons! They spread a lot of disease in London, they cause hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage with their faeces to the buildings and I for one don't like the things flapping around at all. Its about time we sent in a hawk or two.. I think they are horrid things. I love birds but not these vermin, they are in Hertford because we throw our rubbish away, but the poo and mess they leave on seats and places to sit and eat your food at lunch is disgusting... A cull of some of them wouldn't go amiss..


Reply ID 39055

24/04/2007 by Arty

quote:
Originally posted by Steve
I'm not sure if I'm alone here, but is it time we started to do something about the pigeon population in the town centre? They're everywhere.
Could the errant swans (see Swan Attack thread) be asked to help?[:)]


Reply ID 39063

24/04/2007 by carlos fandango

Chances are the pigeons in the town centre moved there from the bridge at Hertford North after all their roosting places were blocked off.


Reply ID 39065

24/04/2007 by Steve

quote:
Originally posted by Marilyn
I seem to remember reading there was once a pigeon loft owned by a baker in what is now Loftcat and they were released and that is where the explosion started, is that true?
Yes, Mr.Wren (the Baker) bred pigeons.


Reply ID 39067

24/04/2007 by Rachel

quote:
Originally posted by carlos fandango
Chances are the pigeons in the town centre moved there from the bridge at Hertford North after all their roosting places were blocked off.
Pigeons have been considered a pest in the town centre for a long time. Somewhere on this website is a photo of a model owl on a roof in Fore Street which is supposed to frighten the pigeons off, it's been there for years, as have all the anti-pigeon spikes you can see all over buildings such as the Corn Exchange. I should imagine it's an easy life for a pigeon in Hertford, what with low-life oiks leaving rubbish everywhere, all the rich pickings from the aftermath of the 'nightime economy' and the bread ignored by the overfed ducks on the river banks.


Reply ID 39070

24/04/2007 by jez_p

quote:
Originally posted by carlos fandango
Chances are the pigeons in the town centre moved there from the bridge at Hertford North after all their roosting places were blocked off.
Unfortunately when they blocked off the roosting places on the bridge, they only did half a job - the pigeons now roost in the middle and c**p on the cars rather than the people. Shoot the ******s


Reply ID 39076

24/04/2007 by Bubbaoshea

Kill the pigeons....kill the pigeons...


Reply ID 39079

24/04/2007 by shunt

quote:
Originally posted by Drama Queen
Its about time we sent in a hawk or two..
Unfortunately, you would require a Peregrine Falcon (there's never one when you need one, eh). Amazingly, despite pidgeons being shaped like a rugby ball with wings, Fatso can top 100KPH! Part of their success is speed, the other being weight. Many raptors couldn't remain airborn, even if they could catch one.


Reply ID 39081

24/04/2007 by Bubbaoshea

Can we not just take the 'clay' out of shooting, that would get rid of them.


Reply ID 39087

24/04/2007 by burmilla_turbo

smash the eggs in the nests in places like the hertford north bridge That will put an end to a few.


Reply ID 39089

24/04/2007 by Tigger

I'm not too keen on Moggies and their poo but have no intention of trying to incite a cull.


Reply ID 39109

25/04/2007 by carlos fandango

Frau F. wanted me to do something about the big fat pigeons in our garden and the grey squirrels too after they ate het new plants. When I sent her details of the air rifle should could buy me she went all soppy and asked me how I could be so barbaric! Can't win and I suspect her reaction would be echoed across town should real action be taken.


Reply ID 39123

25/04/2007 by lemonjelly

quote:
Originally posted by Tigger
I'm not too keen on Moggies and their poo but have no intention of trying to incite a cull.
...and yet Tigger is a very popular name for moggies, especially the ginger variety. Hertford needs some resident Hawks.



Reply ID 39146

25/04/2007 by burmilla_turbo

Anybody ever tried eating a pigeon?


Reply ID 39147

25/04/2007 by Tigger

quote:
Originally posted by lemonjelly
quote:
Originally posted by Tigger
I'm not too keen on Moggies and their poo but have no intention of trying to incite a cull.
...and yet Tigger is a very popular name for moggies, especially the ginger variety. Hertford needs some resident Hawks.
My hair is red and I only have 2 legs so hopefully I'll be OK [;)]


Reply ID 39149

25/04/2007 by Fish Wife

quote:
Originally posted by burmilla_turbo
Anybody ever tried eating a pigeon?
I knew someone years ago who enjoyed(?) pigeon pie! Apparently pigeon is very dark and gamey. Rats with feathers. Personally I would rather eat my own eyeballs.


Reply ID 39151

25/04/2007 by Wrapper

The pigeon variety you eat is delicious but it is Wood Pigeon. Don't think that Pigeons that eat rubbish will taste nice.


Reply ID 39152

25/04/2007 by Joby

quote:
Originally posted by burmilla_turbo
Anybody ever tried eating a pigeon?
I've eaten wood pigeon, which as FW says is dark, gamey and, if not cooked just right, tough as an old shoe. I believe the pigeons in the town centre are mainly rock pigeons, which I've never seen for sale in a butchers.


Reply ID 39155

25/04/2007 by Wrapper

Wouldn't eat them Joby though seeing what they eat!!!


Reply ID 39179

26/04/2007 by Andrew

The town (feral pigeons) are a completely different species from the Wood pigeon. Feral pigeons tend to live colonially and as we know are very unhygenic creatures. Living in urban areas with few enemies also means that you see many more with obvious physical disabilities compared to other bird species as urban conditions enable specimens that would not survive in the real wild to survive. In many ways they are flying rats as Fish Wife suggests. As a vegetarian I wouldn't eat any pigeon, but I can see that the rather chubbier wood pigeon feeding on seed and insects would be a better bet than a scrawny feral pigeon feeding on fast food and dustbin waste.


Reply ID 39182

26/04/2007 by gemipicorn

quote:
Originally posted by Andrew
As a vegetarian I wouldn't eat any pigeon, but I can see that the rather chubbier wood pigeon feeding on seed and insects would be a better bet than a scrawny feral pigeon feeding on fast food and dustbin waste.
As another vegetarian I totally agree. Besides fast food is bad enough first hand let alone second hand some via flying rat YUK !!!! [:D]


Reply ID 39183

26/04/2007 by furrybunny

and it's caustic deposits!!!!


Reply ID 39187

26/04/2007 by carlos fandango

Had pigeon in a nobby restaurant in France once. Not one of my happier choices. very gamey.


Reply ID 39231

27/04/2007 by Kitty Kat

quote:
Originally posted by carlos fandango
Frau F. wanted me to do something about the big fat pigeons in our garden and the grey squirrels too after they ate het new plants. When I sent her details of the air rifle should could buy me she went all soppy and asked me how I could be so barbaric! Can't win and I suspect her reaction would be echoed across town should real action be taken.
Same thing happened in our house - only my husband got me to have a go and now I love it - target shooting is fun - get her down to Lea Valley Gun Club to take some shots, she'll be hooked - Girl Power!!


Reply ID 39240

28/04/2007 by Pez

Pigeons are descended from a breed of birds that like to nest on cliff faces. Built-up areas, with their sheer walls and ledges, are a perfect, modern-day environment. They'd have found their way here and settled here whether anyone was (carelessly, it would seem..!) breeding them or not..


Reply ID 43804

24/08/2007 by SallyB

Sorry to resurrect an old thread... As an aside, yes I have eaten pigeon, at Down Hall in Essex. It was really delicious! However, I wouldn't eat one of the riff-raff pigeons that frequent the strees of Hertford, just in case [:p] In the last month or two, I have noticed an ever increasing number of pigeons, mainly on the roads. They tend to sit around until you get close, then they fly up toward your car windscreen, often just as you think you are about to hit one, it is taken by the slipstream, but it is very disconcerting. You say they are a problem in the town centre, but my Bengeo neighbourhood has recently been invaded by lots of the birds! I know that, psychologically, once you become aware of something you will see it all around you, but this time I think it is fact rather than my imagination! Almost ten times now in the last couple of months has my car windscreen almost come into contact with pigeon in Hertford, and I'm sure I've never had this before. I'm not looking for a statistical analysis of the bird population in Bengeo/Hertford, it's just a layman's observation that they seem to be on the increase, particularly doing some dangerous low flying on local roads.


Reply ID 43812

24/08/2007 by shunt

It doesn't all go the pidgeon's way. On the busy A602 yesterday, Fred and Murtle Pidgeon had just settled on the road when they noticed an approaching car and had to take off again. Fred left it a bit late and dissapeared in a cloud of feathers. Murtle landed back on the road and spent several milliseconds wondering where Fred went before, BOFF!, she also dissapeared in a cloud of feathers. Meanwhile, back at the nest, the Pidgeon family are wondering why Mummy and Daddy have been so long at the shops and at what time will lunch be. I'm surprised the Mercury didn't pick up on the tragedy and demand traffic-calming measures.


Reply ID 43814

24/08/2007 by teddylad

for the record, i hate pigeons and the should all be shot! they don't like us either, why when they fly do they insist on flying right at your head.......pigeon ban for whole country......


Reply ID 43818

24/08/2007 by justin

local rabbit, wood pigeon and sage terrine, with celeriac remoulade, cornichons and sourdough toast. on my menu at the moment for all you pigeon lovers.


Reply ID 43825

24/08/2007 by SallyB

quote:
Originally posted by justin
local rabbit, wood pigeon and sage terrine, with celeriac remoulade, cornichons and sourdough toast. on my menu at the moment for all you pigeon lovers.
Mouth is watering at the very thought of it, justin [:)] For approximately how much longer is wood pigeon on the menu?


Reply ID 43828

24/08/2007 by justin

quote:
Originally posted by SallyB
quote:
Originally posted by justin
local rabbit, wood pigeon and sage terrine, with celeriac remoulade, cornichons and sourdough toast. on my menu at the moment for all you pigeon lovers.
Mouth is watering at the very thought of it, justin [:)] For approximately how much longer is wood pigeon on the menu?
dont know really. but this dish will be on for a couple of weeks probably


33 replies