THE $10,000 spent preparing the Bathurst Pest Bird Management Strategy could have been better spent on hiring the “Flick Man” to exterminate the region’s feral pigeons, according to a Bathurst councillor.
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The strategy which came before Wednesday’s meeting of Bathurst Regional Council was ultimately adopted, but not everyone was impressed.
Cr Bobby Bourke, who made the Flick Man remark, said the strategy didn’t tell council anything and objected to the fact that five species of bird were talked about when it is pigeons that have been the problem.
“I see a booklet telling him about birds, but that’s not solving the problem,” he said.
“I understand this is a feral pest, but making businesses owners get rid of them isn’t right.
“We need to show leadership,” Cr Bourke said.
He also said the matter needed to be dealt with as soon as possible.
Cr Ian North said he could understand Cr Bourke’s frustration.
He said some time ago he was a sent a letter by a resident who outlined to council how a Sydney hospital had solved its pigeon problem.
“I don’t know what has happened to that letter. Did we follow it through? If they had success in Sydney, we didn’t have to re-inventing the wheel.”
At this point Cr Monica Morse sighed and said: “I am so sick and tired of pigeons”.
She was reminded that the report did contain referrences to “lethal control and nest destruction”.
Cr Tracey Carpenter said she agreed with Cr Bourke’s sentiments in wanting to see the matter dealt with as soon as possible.
“Probably two generations of pigeons have been born while we were waiting for this report,” Cr Carpenter said.
“I hope we see some runs on the board soon.”
Recommendations outlined in the report included removing food sources such as feeding by humans and increasing native vegetation and habitat for competing native species, nest removal and trapping across a range of sites.
Pest bird and management fact sheets will be made available to the public.
The Pest Bird Management Strategy is available on council’s website and at Bathurst Regional Library.
Copies of the fact sheets will be available on the website or from the Civic Centre.
The report lists birds of concern in Bathurst as feral pigeons, the common starling, house sparrow, Indian myna and European blackbirds.
