PIGEONS have ruffled the feathers of some councillors, who are calling for culling efforts to be increased.
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The birds, which are considered pests, continue to find places to roost in the central business district and cause damage with their excrement.
To control the population, Bathurst Regional Council began a culling program in 2012 as a service to all property owners in the CBD.
Director of environmental, planning and building services Neil Southorn said a licensed professional shooter is engaged to use a special air rifle and ammunition to cull the pigeons.
He stressed that the method was "accurate and humane".
Councillor Bobby Bourke, however, said the pigeon population appeared to be increasing in Bathurst and has requested that culling continue.
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He has support from Cr Jess Jennings, who has also become fed up with the damage caused by pigeons.
"It's not a good combination, having pigeon poo and heritage bricks coming together all of the time," he said.
While shooting is the method council uses, Cr Jennings has previously suggested that council investigate the potential of a new solar electric tape to deter pigeons from roosting on buildings.
If a bird lands on the tape, they will receive a small, harmless electric shock - which, in theory, will discourage them from landing there in future.
Cr Jennings is still hopeful this method can be trialled in Bathurst.
"The staff have started looking into it, but they haven't given it a full evaluation," he said.
"There are other considerations about hitting other species that you don't want to hit, but I don't know that it would be a huge problem because you're not talking about habitat for native birds in the CBD to a great extent.
"Most of the birds are non-native in the CBD area and the electric tape doesn't kill them, it just frightens them away."
When asked for an update on the pigeon culling program, Mr Southorn was satisfied with its progress.
"The program is progressing well," he said.
"The program is not designed to eliminate pigeons, which would be impossible, but to keep numbers under reasonable control."