Other Solutions 
(Coming soon)
There are other solutions
Pigeon and other wildlife numbers can be reduced without having to resort to unpopular, inhumane and ineffective killing methods that form the financial foundation of pest control companies across the globe. The solution has to be well thought out; it must be tailored to each location and species. It must encompass all the factors involved, for pigeons, that includes removing food sources and pigeon-proofing the city's buildings.
The environment we all live in is a complex group of factors that accommodate, affect and control our populations. The fundamentals of these environmental factors include geography, temperature, available food, available homes, predation & disease. Unlike humans, other animals are unable to manipulate these factors. They survive only in environments that provide them with sufficient resources and a survivable climate. Some successfully adaptable species, including pigeons, have found that our cities provide them with the suite of resources they require: housing, food and protection from the climate. By adjusting their access to those resources their population can be controlled naturally, without killing a single one.
Shooting the pigeons or operating any other form of lethal control serves only to reduce the older population (this happens by default as it is the older and infirmed birds that are more likely to take the bait and the slowest to escape a gunfire attack). This leaves a younger and healthier population with a sudden relative increase in food resources and roosting sites which inevitably leads to a sudden population growth.
See this population graph
by the American Urban Wildlife Society which shows how the population reacts under lethal and non-lethal control strategies.
Only a few countries still persist with culling as a method of control. Other countries - including most of Europe - have chosen to learn from their earlier mistakes. They now understand that culling exacerbates the problem.
Below is a link to an excellent video entitled "Pigeons in the city" about the different perceived problems with pigeons and the successful solutions being practiced in Europe.
Pigeons in the city - 22.6MB RealPlayer download
Pigeons in the city - 3.9MB RealPlayer download
The below is streaming video of "Pigeons in the city" 47.9MB (push play to start streaming)
PiCAS International is a non-profit International Pigeon Control Advisory Service. They are the only global authority on non-lethal control for pigeons. PiCAS works with councils, shires and private building owners across the globe helping them establish long term, non-lethal strategies to control their pigeon populations. Their clients have had enormous successes from adopting the non-lethal methods proposed by PiCAS. Some pigeon populations have been reduced by as much as 70%, in just a couple of years.
It is this kind of comprehensive control that we recommend that our Council takes on. We are delighted that the cull was called off but doing nothing isn't going to solve the problem. It is only a matter of time before local businesses start complaining again - the Council is irresponsible to ignore it. The Director of PiCAS has offered their services on an 'expenses only' basis which the Council has so far declined. This is a valuable and incredibly generous offer from PiCAS International, in the region of approximately $42,000 discount.
We encourage you to look at the PiCAS website and read about some of their successes.
Every situation is different and a solution needs to be custom made to appropriately suit Wellington. Our Council needs to seek expert advice and initiate talks with PiCAS International, if Wellington is to see a significant and long-term reduction in its pigeon population
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