Meat market pigeon push

Victor Cusack, who lives near Tweed Heads, read a Western Advocate article about council’s Pest Bird Management Plan.

He said Bathurst should view the pigeons as a unique business opportunity, not as a problem.

Mr Cusack said farmed pigeons in Australia bring close to $20 a bird, making them more expensive than quality seafood.

In France, pigeon is a much-valued bird, eaten by a huge percentage of the population. The birds are regularly put into pies, in casseroles, baked and barbecued.

And it’s not uncommon for householders to build a “pigeonnaire” against their homes – where pigeons are purposely housed in numbers so they can be harvested during the cold months for eating.

“I find pigeon absolutely delicious – sweeter and quite different to chicken, but impossibly hard to buy,” Mr Cusack said.

“Having so many pigeons in town would be a great business opportunity, which is going to waste, and will rid the town of them.

“Instead of shooting them, catch the pigeons and cage them, fatten them up for a month, pluck, pack, ship them out, sell them for less than the high price being demanded.

“It will be very profitable when the market is established.”

Mr Cusack said the business could create jobs, but admitted it would take hard work and some time to change Australian eating habits.

“We are wasting a wonderful prolific food source that can become a useful, profitable business for someone with the guts to try,” he said.

“Early Australian settlers almost ate into extinction our native populations of bronze wing, wampoo and green pigeons.

“If someone is looking for a different career move and wants a successful business, I believe Bathurst has one in the pigeons.”