A new project aimed at humanely controlling pigeon populations without having to resort to archaic and cruel means could see a drastic drop in the birds commonly seen as pests, activists have said. Amy Smith, of animal rights NGO Time for Change said a project being carried out with the Local Councils Association as well as pest control expert Arnold Sciberras will see a targeted feeding programme of contraceptive-laced feed given to pigeons in the coming weeks. “This is a project we’ve been working on for two years,” Smith said. “Feeding silos will be set up around Malta and Gozo and will contain feed that has a contraceptive element to it. The pigeons will be fed at these stations on a regular basis and in a routine, so that the pigeons get used to going to the same feeding station at the same time, all the time.” “Based on the results we’ve seen from other cities, within the first two years of eating this food constantly, the population will drop by up to 80 per cent.” Pigeon culling has been a controversial topic for many Maltese villages, with local councils sometimes resorting to unconventional and cruel means. While pigeons are generally considered to be pests, the...