Port Pirie mayor Leon Stephens says pigeon problem could be solved by birth control pill

The mayor of Port Pirie has suggested an unusual solution to tackle Port Pirie’s chronic pigeon problem.

A birth control pill could be the solution to Port Pirie’s chronic pigeon problem, according to the town’s mayor.

The regional town, located in the Upper Spencer Gulf, is looking for a solution to tackle the troublesome pigeon overpopulation, with many of the town’s buildings covered in excrement.

The Advertiser previously reported the problem has grown “out of control”, with 23,000 birds culled by the local council in the past 18 months.

However, Port Pirie mayor Leon Stephens said there was hope on the horizon to combat the issue.

Port Pirie Mayor Leon Stephens believes the ship loading gantry at the wharf, which hasn’t been used for 17 years, is a major part of the pigeon problem. Picture: Dean Martin

“There’s a new range (of poisons) that’s come out into the market relatively recently - and sterilisation is probably the best solution we have at our disposal at the moment,” he said.

The drug in question - named OvoControlP - is considered to be a more humane solution than shooting the birds, working by interfering with the animal’s reproductive cycle and ensuring a reduction in the number of hatched eggs.

Mr Stephens said the council had previously practised poisoning the pigeons, but it was a failure.

“The pigeons were pretty clever and they would realise something was wrong when we used poisons,” he said.

“And the issue also was that they wouldn’t consume enough poison to die - so they’d fall to the ground and be in distress.”

One woman told The Adveriser that poisoned pigeons would sometimes throw up green liquid.

The Fam Coffee Shop manager Kerrie Leske said she was limiting her customer capacity because she cannot open her side verandah due to the “constant poop”.

“We have this lovely side alleyway, which would be perfect to fit the overflow of customers or just provide them the option to sit in the sun - but we can’t because of the bird’s,” she said.

The ship loading gantry at the wharf. Picture: Dean Martin

“We tried putting up umbrellas there but the birds just made themselves comfortable atop the umbrellas and poop all over them.

“They (the umbrellas) became too damaged for us to use.

“We’ve just completely shut off that area now.”

Ms Leske said she cleared away the excrement with a pressure cleaner every week.

Portside Tavern worker Bradie Woolford said “the pigeon problem now is probably the worst it’s ever been”.

“I think because we can’t do anything to them anymore - we can’t poison them or anything - there’s just more of them than ever.”

The tavern was forced to take measures to minimise the damage caused by pigeon excrements by installing wired fencing and spikes.

Mr Stephens said Port Pirie was banding together with other regional councils, including Port Lincoln, Quorn, Peterborough and Jamestown, who are all impacted by pigeon infestation due to their silos.

Port Pirie Pigeons in plague proportions, causing health issues and very unsightly mess. Picture: Dean Martin

The balcony above the Fam Coffee shop is caged to keep the pigeons out, but there are still piles of pigeon poo all around. Picture: Dean Martin

He said they were planning to ask the state government for funding to manage the problem.

“What we will do is schedule a meeting with the government sometime next week and we’ll formulate an ask,” he said.

“The ask will be to have the chemical to sterilise birds to be made available to us and we would desperately love to have some funding towards the pigeon shooters.”

Mr Stephens estimated they would need $150,000 towards Port Pirie alone.

The main cause of pigeon overpopulation are large grain silos, as well as the abandoned gantry crane located behind it.

The birds breed and nest in the gantry, which hasn’t been used in the last 17 years, and was built to help transport products to ships.

Despite not being used the gantry hasn’t been removed because of the hefty price tag attached to the project, with Mr Stephens said it would cost “a quarter of a million” to remove the crane.

Bradie Woolford, 29, who works at the Portside Tavern, where the pigeons make such a mess that the staff can’t use their outside break area. Picture: Dean Martin

It comes after The Advertiser revealed a SA Health employee has been admitted to hospital is undergoing tests for respiratory issues linked to working in a rural administration building infested with pigeons.

Approximately 100 employees from Port Pirie’s Community Health administration building were relocated after bacteria was found as a result of “contaminated dust” from pigeon droppings.

Environment Minister Clare Scriven said the impacts of pigeons and other pest birds were “pronounced this season” because of the ongoing drought.

“While widespread population reductions are required to reduce the impacts of pest birds to a manageable level, the only way this can be done is through baiting programs.

“PIRSA staff are undertaking nationally significant research and development work to develop a new, humane bait for pest birds.”

Originally published as Port Pirie mayor Leon Stephens says pigeon problem could be solved by birth control pill