Pigeon Protection Laws (Part II)

In our previous discussions regarding pigeon protection laws we have talked about the introduction of the law and the implementing agencies that enact the clauses of the law. In this article we will be discussing the other clauses of the law as well as its scope and provisions. Hopefully, this will provide enlightenment to all individuals who are to implement pigeon control methods in order to deal with their pigeon problem at homes or at work. To ensure that they will be employing methods those are appropriate and in line with the scope of the law provided for pigeons and all other bird species in the area.

The law actually isn't only limited with the providence of counsels or advices to individuals on how to approach their pigeon control methods. The law actually implements sanctions to individuals who use inappropriate lethal methods in dealing with pigeons. The deterrence of the law will be further felt if the rest of the community is aware of the consequences it will have to face if they have undone pigeons. One has to understand the legal responsibility of ensuring the safety of the lives of pigeons falls on the individual property owners and that any employment of illegal lethal methods to rid of pigeon problems will befall on the owner himself and not on the commercial pigeon control contractors. Nevertheless, if the circumstances would dictate so, the ignorance of any pigeon control contractors will also not be tolerated granted that the legal infringement has taken place within the client's property.

The wildlife and countryside act of 1981 mainly deals with the control of any feral pigeons that infringe human territories and the necessary counselling needed in order to become aware the people of what approaches to use. They specifically provide advice to deal with the use of any lethal methods or the possible destruction or removal of pigeon nests in the area. However, for the matters that concern the deliberate or unintended cruelty of individuals to pigeons in the light of the circumstances of protecting establishments with the use of deterrents, the legislation that should appropriate this kind of situation is the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Usually, the issues that relate to cruelty and unnecessary sufferings often come with culling operations, but they are also often associated with the use of inappropriate pigeon control methods. For example, if a person or contractors have used bird netting mechanisms but then have failed to relocate the ensnared birds immediately causing them to suffer and then eventually starve to death, the owner of the property wherein the bird net is installed will be compelled to face the necessary prosecutions in line with the unintentional animal cruelty that took place. The appropriate legislation to be used for this matter will be the Animal Welfare Act of 2006.

Provisions of the Acts

Part I of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

This provision of the act is entitled "The protection of wild birds, their nests and eggs", has these following confirmations:

• Individuals who will be subjected to the provisions of this act are those:

• Anyone who injured or kills and takes any wild bird;

• Anyone who destroys, damages and or takes the nest of any perceived wild birds while the nest is currently being built or used; or

• Destroys or takes an egg(s) of wild birds, will be subjected to a sanction

• Subject also to the provision of this act if anyone has a possession or control of:

• Of any dead or alive wild bird or a part that came from a particular bird; or

• The possession of any wild bird's egg shall be indubitably guilty of the offence

• A person shall not be guilty in accordance to the provisions of this act if he or she manifests that:

• If the wild bird or egg has not been actually taken or destroyed otherwise if it's in contravention of anything relevant to the provisions; or

• If a bird, egg or any other things in his possession that were apparently sold to him or in any other person, otherwise if there will be any contravention of the provisions of the act. The "relevant provisions" of this act are any of those that fall under the subsection of the act made under it.

• Also, subject to the provisions of this act, if a person will intentionally:

• Disturbs the peaceful living of any bird while it is in the process of building the nest or while it's near its nest or the nest wherein there are eggs and younglings.

• If he or she disturbs the habitation of the younglings or eggs of the wild bird while it is inside the nest area.

• Any infringement of any of the provisions will be subjected to a special penalty or sanction.

These are more or less the provisions and sanctions of the animal welfare act of 2006 and this has been effectively implemented all throughout the time since it's been legislated. It is also made to be the basis of many of the pigeon control methods in the market. They made it a point that all control methods will conform to standards prescribe by the law and anyone who will dare infringe the provisions of the act through the usage of inappropriate methods, whether deliberate or unintentional, will be sanctioned accordingly.

It is important still though to uphold the greater importance of appraising the value of preserving the environmental balance rather than just simply obeying the implemented rules and regulations of the land. One must seek a greater sense of responsibility not out of fear of sanctions but through the genuine sincerity and thoughtfulness of keeping the ecosystem safe from the lethal approaches of mankind. Pigeons may just be birds, but they do serve a greater purpose as well to the entirety of the earth balance and that alone is reason enough for you to care about the approaches you will make in controlling them.