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27 MAY, 2025
Pigeon poisoning By Tom Ingleton A culling operation to deal with an “infestation” of pigeons at Meadow Heights Shopping Centre has exploded into accusations of cruelty, cultural insensitivity and threats of violence. According to centre management, the messy problem has been escalating for two years, exacerbated by people feeding the pigeons which congregate at the front of the busy shopping strip. Meadow Heights centre management spokesperson Fiona Scott said the birds “posed a significant health and safety risk to customers and tenants” and “a genuine public health hazard to the primary school and daycare children adjacent to the centre, due to the bacteria and disease associated with bird waste.” Ms Scott said non-lethal deterrents such as bird spikes, visual and audio repellents, signage, and regular cleaning had all failed to contain the problem. When a professional pest controller applied a treatment, a group of people confronted him on-site and “compromised the procedure,” according to Ms Scott. “The pest controller was forced to cease operations and leave the site due to concerns for his personal safety. He has since received hundreds of abusive messages online, including threats to his life.” Images of distressed birds dying outside the shopping centre have triggered outrage among animal welfare groups and community members. Pigeon Rescue Support Inc volunteer Emily Power said the scene was “disturbing and cruel”. “A good Samaritan had seen the birds displayed like trophies up against the door,” Ms Power said. “She rushed some to the vet, but many couldn’t be saved.” She said poisoning birds was not an approved method of control, rather “they are supposed to be humanely trapped and euthanised”. “There is a large Muslim population in Meadow Heights, and pigeons have religious significance — they’re connected to the Prophet and seen as peaceful, protective animals. Imagine how distressing it was to see them convulsing and dying in front of families.”
Meadow Heights resident Liam Shaw, who spoke to Star Weekly while shopping at the centre last Wednesday, said he had seen dead pigeons and was concerned about the health implications. “It’s a public health issue too, I would imagine. You’ve got dead birds near food outlets, people walking by not knowing what they’re stepping in, it’s pretty disgusting to be honest and I hope something is done about it.” Northern Metropolitan Liberal MP Evan Mulholland, whose electorate office is located at the shopping centre, said he did not support centre management’s decision to poison the pigeons. “As a tenant of the shopping centre, my office, through the Department of Parliamentary Services, have made this very clear in writing to the centre’s owners.” he said.
“I have asked the department to put these objections once again in writing to the owner.” Meadow Heights Shopping Centre has confirmed it would revert to non-lethal deterrence methods in future. “We are committed to being responsible and responsive to our community’s concerns,” Ms Scott said. Pigeon Rescue Support and Emily Power are calling for greater regulation of pest control practices and accountability for those involved. “We want a bigger inquest into holding pest companies accountable and centre management as well, because they’ve hired these pest companies and have clearly taken their word for it that they know what they are doing,” Ms Power said.
Main: Pigeon Rescue Support Inc volunteer, Emily Power, at the field where dying pigeons were seen by the community. (Damjan Janevski) 479336_03 Above: Pigeons have become a messy problem at Meadow Heights. (Supplied)
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