THE war on Bathurst’s pest bird problem is about to get serious.
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A comprehensive study has found an overwhelming number of residents and business owners have had enough of those pesky pigeons, starlings and sparrows.
Defecating and nesting on – or in – buildings have been
highlighted as the biggest concerns.
A plan to combat the problem pests has been in the pipeline for some time and is expected to be released in May.
It follows the release of a draft plan which will be tabled at tonight’s ordinary monthly meeting of council.
Earlier this month Bathurst Regional Council received the findings of the survey it commissioned into the city’s ongoing pest bird problems.
It engaged consultant NGH Environmental to find a solution as part of the region’s first Pest Bird Management Plan.
Businesses in the CBD, as well as community members, were surveyed in early 2012 and asked questions about the impact of pigeons, starlings, mynas, sparr-ows and blackbirds.
Of the 94 businesses which completed the survey, 74.5 per cent had a problem with pest birds.
Of the 75 residents who also completed the survey, 88 per cent found the birds a problem.
Pigeons had the biggest impact on the businesses, and were found to visit buildings nearly every day, while residents had a real gripe with starlings and sparrows.
Council’s director of environmental, planning and development services, David Shaw, said residents were keen to see some action to address the problem and were keen to be involved in the process.
He said hot spots were identified.
Heritage buildings were at the top of the list, while lesser known areas such as the Telstra business centre, St Stanislaus’ College and the old Bathurst Hospital were also included.
“Seventy-two per cent of businesses and 91 per cent of landholders surveyed indicated they would be willing to participate in a pest management program,” Mr Shaw’s report states.
He also noted that the most popular control that seemed to be successful, according to the survey, was removing nests, followed by fake predators and scarecrows.
Methods that were listed as being flops included bird spikes, scare guns, trapping or shooting.
