Pooh Pooh No Falcon Here !

Well the advice I have received concerning the Wagtails in Dudley Street has been interesting to say the least. Let no one say that birds are inconsequential in this great city....for they most certainly are not!

Now I think I have dropped a bit of a brick.

Having been chided by shoppers about the bird pooh in Dudley Street and the droppings from above when these delightful little birds come calling. I have suffered a blast of indignation by my friend and colleague Councillor George Lockett. Who told me in no uncertain terms, that he opposed my solution of dissuading the birds with falcons! Stating that we should welcome the birds, as they were wonderful. Of course he is right on that score as they are indeed very eye catching and have that marvellous swaggering dipping movement.

More advice keeps winging its way in from all corners now. Here is a snippet I received from one such E& S reader a Mr Alan Murphy. He writes "I strongly implore that this attractive seasonal addition to the sights and sounds in Dudley Street are encouraged rather than removed. What a compliment these wonderful creatures are making to the city by choosing this location to roost for the winter months. I cannot understand the attitude that concludes that a few months of inconvenience for some shoppers should lead to their demise."

It just doesn't end there either. The full weight of the RSPB has now come clattering my way! They have written suggesting that they have read the Express and Star article also, and that I have pooped on my own arguments so to speak!

The RSPB have pointed out that the use of a falcon to deter these birds would be breaking the law!

Here is what Andy Waters RSPB Public Affairs Officer, RSPB Central England has written to me stating.... " Within the article you mentioned that the birds could be discouraged from the site by a falconer - in our experience, the use of falcons to deter wild birds is generally ineffective and a waste of public money.

If a falcon kills one of the wagtails, it would be an offence under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 - the maximum penalty under this Act is six months custodial sentence and/or a fine upto £5000.

Pied wagtails, particularly roosting in winter, are beautiful creatures and are surely a natural asset to Wolverhampton - I'm sure that while appreciating that the birds do make some mess, the public would rather enjoy these birds than allow 'fast food' outlets to dominate the local environment."

Now that for me is a very strong set of arguments for not doing what I suggested! What Mayor in his right mind would want to break the law!.

So having heard the evidence from birders and the RSPB I have tried to contact the City Centre Manager and inform her to ignore my original pleas!

I think now that the best way we can try and deal with this issue is by concentrating on a clean up, and perhaps by moving the street furniture temporarily from under the trees where they get the greatest hits!?

Finally I wished that I had thought up this idea....but it is Andy at RSPB who makes a suggestion about setting up a small viewing scheme for the community to enjoy the birds as they come a whirling into the street. Now that makes sense!

So having flown in a circle and completed a total turn around! This is a solution that is worthy of discussion with officers! We do have a tourism policy perhaps it would fit into that category.What we now need to do is ensure that our birds get headline treatment!

Therefore RSPB members ..birders..people with a curiosity...come along and have a look at the evening spectacle here in Wolverhampton,before the birds split up and start pairing off for the spring. 'Wing Your Way To Wolverhampton' see the Pied Wagtails roost! .....

The RSPB is the UK charity working to secure a healthy environment for birds and wildlife, helping to create a better world for us all.