Norwich City Council might feed contraceptives to pigeons plaguing metropolis centre after hawks fail to cull their numbers

A plague of pigeons in one British city centre could soon be fed contraceptives in an effort to reduce their numbers after previous attempts to cull their numbers failed.

Norwich City Council is considering giving the birds hormones to make them infertile after complaints from shoppers and traders that they are a nuisance and a health risk.

The oral contraceptives, which could be mixed with grain in bird feeders, would render the pigeons temporarily infertile and reduce the number of new birds.

Although councillors have described the use of hormones as a ‘humane’ and ‘non-lethal’ method, it has sparked concern from activists.

The Labour-run council previously splashed out £4,000 on a hawk to rid the pigeons from Norwich Market after receiving complaints the unwanted birds were terrorising and swooping on shoppers.

However, after a four-week trial period, the pigeon purge was put on hold after the operation sparked an angry backlash where some locals came out in the freezing weather to feed the birds.

Previously speaking to the Daily Mail, councillor Carli Harper blamed the failure of the hawks on a ‘handful of individuals’ who ‘fed the pigeons using an industrial amounts or sack loads of bird feed.’

Last month, falconer Adrian Diamond, of NBC environment, told the Norwich Evening News he had ‘seen people bringing rucksacks full of seeds to feed the 500 or 600-strong flock of pigeons.’

A petition to house the birds in a nearby park was set up by 19-year-old university student Summer Loh and has been signed by more than 3,500 people.

Norwich City Council has previously used a hawk (pictured with falconer Mikael ChuFoon (left) and councillor Carli Harper (right)) to rid the area of pigeons

A photo, exclusively obtained by the Daily Mail in January 2026, shows a long trail of bird feed ready for the plague of pigeons to consume behind the Memorial Gardens, behind the market stalls

Miss Loh also disagreed with Cllr Harper’s description of ‘industrial amounts’ of feed, as she said she has encountered pigeons that are underweight. 

Now, councillors have agreed to explore the possibility of using contraceptives, hidden within food, to provide a ‘humane and non-lethal’ population control method according to the BBC.

This method to cut pigeon numbers has previously been used in Barcelona when the species’ population reached 85,000.

One trial in Brussels saw bird numbers drop by 50 per cent, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

About 30 pigeon supporters, including one who wore a pigeon mask, attended a City Hall meeting on Tuesday where the contraceptive policy was proposed.

Leader of the city council’s Green group, Lucy Galvin, called for the introduction of the scheme and argued that it would not be too expensive.

Those opposing the scheme are concerned that the contraceptives could be eaten by other birds, particularly endangered species. 

Other potential risks include predators possibly consuming the contraceptive through their prey and that the hormones could be spread into the environment through bird waste.

University student Summer Loh, 19, set up a petition for the pigeons which has been signed by more than 3,500 people

Jenny Coupland, founder of Peck Savers, a Norwich-based pigeon advocacy group, does not believe the council have properly researched the proposed population control method. 

Ms Coupland told the Daily Mail: ‘I genuinely think they were no doubt trying to be helpful and well-meaning, but they don’t seem to have done any research into it.

‘Firstly it’s not even legal in the UK, it’s not a licenced thing and secondly there’s a recent study by Humane Wildlife Solutions that proves it doesn’t work.’

The report by Humane Wildlife Solutions states that using contraceptives ‘is not currently a licensed option in the UK.’

Referencing other studies, the report writes: ‘It is not considered viable as a method of unlimited pigeon reduction and is recommended as a short-term solution, to eventually be replaced with other methods.’

Ms Coupland continued: ‘We’ve formally and comprehensively informed the Council of this, so if they do go ahead with investing any resources into looking into this, they do so in the knowledge that it won’t work.

‘Just like all the other things that they’ve tried to stop the pigeons, it’s a complete waste of taxpayers’ money yet again.’

Ms Coupland, along with others who oppose the proposed contraceptive method, have suggested an alternative solution to the flock’s growing population size to the council.

She said they have asked the council to help fund the set-up cost of using a disused toilet block in Chatterfield Gardens.

An agreement to introduce fines for people who fed the pigeons at the Lutyens War Memorial Gardens at the top of the market was also made during the City Hall meeting. 

Norwich City Council has been approached for comment.