The item about the woman feeding pigeons in Kapiolani Park leads one to believe that the pigeon population declines when they are not fed. This is not true. The pigeon population declines periodically because the Department of Agriculture puts poison out to kill them. The department says it's humane poison. But any rational person who sees them suffering and dying knows this is not true. The humane way to control pigeons is to feed them specially treated food to sterilize them, as is done in cities on the mainland. Pigeons are controlled,
not poisoned, in the parkThe Department of Agriculture does not poison any pigeons, said Deputy Director Tish Uyehara. But the department, as regulator, does keep track of how many wildlife control permits are issued to government agencies or private businesses to do so, she said. Issuance is done by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Most permit applicants are Waikiki hotels with outdoor eating areas, said Dean Yoshizu, a pesticide specialist for the Agriculture Department. Forty-nine permits were issued in 1996, with 10 still in effect this year -- all in Waikiki.
David Smith, Department of Land and Natural Resources' Oahu district wildlife manager, who issues the permits, said the sterilizing chemical you refer to was discontinued years ago because required federal permits left it without a market. But even before that, tests found it ineffective in controlling pigeons, Smith said.
The only chemical that he allows is Avitrol, which is labeled a "dispersal agent," not a "lethal toxicant," he said. It's supposed to be used in low dosages to disperse the pigeons, doves, etc., although a certain number, up to 10 percent, may die, he said.
Observers may think all birds ingesting Avitrol are dying because it "short-circuits their system," causing them to go into convulsions and flop around. "That distressing display chases off other birds," but most birds recover and fly off, Smith said.
It's also considered a "pretty humane" treatment, he said.
Although Smith does issue permits for Avitrol, he encourages other methods first, primarily trapping. He also requires businesses with outside eating areas to have a program including posting "do not feed birds" signs and cleaning up buffet areas immediately.
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