Norwich City Council is considering feeding contraceptives to the local pigeons in an effort to reduce the number of birds in the city’s central market.
Traders and shoppers complain that the large flock of resident pigeons are a nuisance, while others argue the birds are harmless and are part of the city market’s charm.
The council, which has also trialled a falconer to drive the birds away, is considering hiding contraceptives in pigeon food as a ‘humane’ way to control their numbers.
A council spokesperson said: ‘We are exploring a range of legal and humane ways of deterring the pigeons from our market as part of our wider plans to make it not only the best market in the UK but also Europe.’
