North Bay City Council has passed a by-law accompanied by offences and set fines prohibiting the feeding of pigeons in the City of North Bay, except in certain settings.
"Pigeons are causing extensive property damage to buildings in North Bay due to the acidic nature of their droppings, which can add to the costs of upkeep. We do want to make housing more affordable," said Coun. Justine Mallah during council's most recent regular meeting.
"Pigeons can carry ectoparasites on them such as fleas, ticks, and mites, which can cause health risks to humans," Mallah continued. "Pigeon droppings are also known to trigger human slips and falls and many locations that have never had pigeons before are now seeing larger populations due to one feeding site."
See related: This new by-law is literally for the birds
By-law officers will now have the power to attend feeding sites and stop the practice. "Typically, a resident will be warned to stop feeding and to remove the feed site. This single attendance will solve most complaints. If the resident chooses not to stop, a fine will be issued," Ron Melnyk, the City's by-law enforcement coordinator advises. If the initial interaction does not cease the bird feeding, an order will be issued and the result can be a fine and/or the removal of the feed site by a contractor, of which the costs will be invoiced to the property owner, according to the report.
Fines range from $100 for feeding pigeons or depositing food likely to attract pigeons. Obstructing or failing to comply with an order carries a $200 penalty.
"A number of us did receive emails with concerns about individuals feeding pigeons and causing damage to abutting properties," Deputy Mayor Maggie Horsfield said. "It was asked that this be looked into. There are many municipalities that already have this by-law in place for a number of years."
In response, a report was prepared by Melnyk, seeking the council's authorization of the Pigeon Feeding By-Law. Horsfield, as chair of council's general government committee, tabled the motion and Coun. Sara Inch, the committee's vice-chair seconded.
"In recent years, there have been an increasing number of complaints relating to issues caused by the feeding of pigeons," Melnyk reports. "The complaints are primarily due to property damages and health concerns resulting from increased pigeon populations. These increased populations are a direct result of feeding. Many locations that have never had pigeons now have increasing populations due to a single feeding site."
Coun. Chris Mayne cast the lone dissenting vote. "I'm concerned about the broadness of it. It simply says no one can feed the pigeons but there are a number of people who enjoy feeding the pigeons in their backyards. Whether chickadees or red cardinals or blue jays or crows or whatever it is, whatever food is put out, often the pigeons come in.
"I don't think anyone has a problem with two or three pigeons coming to have breakfast or lunch or whatever it is. I can see where 40 or 60 pigeons would be an issue. My concern is this by-law doesn't differentiate between people who are casually feeding birds and people who are creating problems in the neighbourhood."
Mallah agreed with Mayne, saying it was "a reasonable comment," and directed her colleague to section 2.5 of the by-law allowing for residents to keep a bird feeder meant for songbirds as long as the apparatus meets certain conditions:
a) seed is placed in a bird feeding device that is sufficiently above grade so as to not allow pigeons to feed from the feeder, and
b) the bird feeding device is constructed in such a way as to prevent pigeons from roosting and feeding from the device, and
c) the bird-feeding device does not attract pigeons to the device, and
d) any spillage of seed upon the ground is completely removed so that the spilled seeds do not attract pigeons.
According to Melnyk's report, in 1978 there was a by-Law in place that dealt with liability for damages done by raised pigeons that have escaped. It stated any damages would be a civil matter. "In 2014, that by-law was repealed as it was deemed not necessary as any damages done by raised pigeons to another property would be a civil matter without a by-law in place."
Coun. Tanya Vrebosch noted the pigeon-feeding complaints date back years and she even sees examples in her own neighbourhood as dozens of pigeons perch on the roof of a nearby house waiting for a resident from up the block to feed them.
"It's damaging that other person's roof," she said. "We're not going after the lady down the street who wants to feed hummingbirds. Our by-laws are meant to support people experiencing undue hardship and neighbour disputes."
