Pigeons sure do get some stick, don't they? I mean, yeah sure, they are kind of pests (and, erm, classified as vermin) but at the same time you can't help but feel a bit sorry for them. If they weren't grey and manky looking, it's hard to imagine them being so widely despised.
And whether
you think pigeons are our winged friends or just rats in the sky,
it's hard to deny that the new anti-birdshit measures being employed
by some of Bristol's wealthiest residents are pretty harsh.
Spikes have been used to stop birds resting and building nests on ledges and nooks on buildings, and now they've been nailed to two trees in an exclusive part of the city - meaning The Man is literally prevent birds nesting in the trees now.
Credit: SWNS
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One
resident, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed the spikes were
'solely to to protect cars', including a number of expensive BMWs and
Audis, from bird droppings.
They said: "The spikes are solely to protect the cars, there is no other reason.
"There is a big problem with bird droppings around here. They can really make a mess of cars, and for some reason the birds do seem to congregate around this area.
"We did try other methods to scare off the birds. I think we had a wooden bird of prey in the branches, but that didn't seem to do anything."
Credit: PA Images
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Green Party councillor Paula O'Rourke, who represents the area, said: "I'm aware that the landowner might be legally within their rights to do this to the trees as they seem to be on private land.
"However, I will be looking into this at the council.
"Whether allowed or not though, it looks awful and it's a shame to see trees being literally made uninhabitable to birds - presumably for the sake of car parking.
"Sometimes it's too easy to lose sight of the benefit that we all gain from trees and green spaces and from the presence of wildlife around us in the city."
Twitter was largely unimpressed, with Jennifer Garrett posting: "Our war on wildlife: now birds are not allowed in trees...?! Pigeon spikes spotted in Clifton, Bristol above a car park. Has anyone seen this before? How is it allowed?!"
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Alexander Henderson responded: "Hard to believe this is true! Are these trees subject to a TPO? Does the law consider this damage, I wonder?"
Meanwhile, Alex Morss summed up the general feeling, adding: "For once, I am actually lost for words."
Featured Image Credit: SWNS
