British Bird-Control Firm Ousts Pigeons from Norwood Town Hall Ledges-September 10, 1991

The hundreds of pigeons that long perched atop Norwood Town Hall’s architectural ledges and defiled the sidewalks below have apparently flown the coop for good, thanks to a specialized British pest-control firm.

Persistent Pigeon Infestation and Failed Remedies

Custodians and municipal workers at the 63-year-old Gothic-style building had endured a relentless nuisance. According to custodian John McDonagh, massive flocks of pigeons hovered overhead, sullying sidewalks, clogging rain gutters, and creating an overwhelming stench that made it impossible for town clerks to open their windows.

“I used to come in one hour early” just to scrape droppings off the sidewalk, McDonagh recalled. Over the years, McDonagh exhausted every home-grown remedy imaginable to scare the birds away, including a starter’s pistol, an ultrasonic beeping machine, and metal spikes. “You couldn’t get rid of them,” he said. “They were just bold, I guess.”

Success with Buckingham Palace Technique

Where local methods failed, Norwood Bird Master—the British firm renowned for chasing pigeons from prestigious London landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey—succeeded.

On Friday, technicians strung high-tension wire along the bell tower’s ledges and affixed stainless steel netting over window ledges and downspouts, effectively eliminating roosting spots. Arriving at work, McDonagh noted the immediate transformation: “We came in today and there was nothing to clean up,” he said, pointing to the empty ledge above the main entrance that previously would have been packed with birds at that hour.

The town paid $1,750 for the front-facade installation, which carries a five-year guarantee to keep Town Hall pigeon-free. If the pigeons fail to return, McDonagh indicated that the town may retain Bird Master to pigeon-proof the Central Street side of the building as well.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger

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