In a novel approach to controlling a burgeoning pigeon population, a British city center is contemplating using contraceptives to curb their numbers after previous culling methods proved ineffective.
Norwich City Council is exploring the idea of administering hormones to pigeons to render them infertile, following numerous grievances from both shoppers and local businesses about the birds being a nuisance and posing health risks.
The proposed plan involves mixing oral contraceptives with grain in bird feeders, aiming to temporarily prevent the pigeons from reproducing and thereby reducing the influx of new birds.
Council members have characterized this hormone-based strategy as both ‘humane’ and ‘non-lethal,’ although it has ignited concerns among animal rights activists.
Previously, the Labour-led council invested £4,000 in deploying a hawk at Norwich Market, attempting to scare off the pigeons after receiving complaints about the birds harassing and swooping down on shoppers.
Despite this effort, the hawk initiative was paused after a four-week trial, which faced significant pushback, with some residents braving cold temperatures to feed the pigeons in protest.
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.
