One of the more unusual and creative ideas that came in when we asked for suggestions about activities in Red Lion Square was the suggestion that we create a nest box for peregrine falcons on the steeple of All Saints Church.

The main infrastructure needed to attract peregrines is water nearby, a high and isolated nesting area and an abundant supply of food, i.e. pigeons!

By themselves, peregrine falcons would not make much of a dent in the pigeon population, but these magnificent birds would act as a permanent bird-scarer, because their favourite prey would tend to avoid any
area where they had spotted a predator of this efficiency.

A beneficial side-effect of a peregrine falcon resident in Stamford would be the inclusion of our town on the birdwatcher's itinerary, potentially bringing 'twitchers' into Red Lion Square to observe them.

This is not a crazy idea. Peregrines are nesting on one of the stacks at Castle Cement in Ketton and on the spires of Lincoln and Derby Cathedrals!

I would be more than interested in any feedback on this idea through the pages of the Mercury.

Tim Lee
President,
Stamford Chamber of Trade & Commerce



I was horrified to read in last week's Mercury that there are to be hawks let loose in Stamford to tackle the pigeons. Not only was I horrified but many people I spoke to felt the same.

We have many beautiful birds in this part of the country (robins, blue tits, sparrows, doves, etc.) and the hawks will kill these lovely birds who do no harm whatsoever.

What will happen to all the hawks let loose flying everywhere creating havoc among the bird population, don't they become a nuisance?

Pigeons do no harm to anyone and I have never known anyone to get ill because of pigeons there are more harmful things around then these poor birds.

Barbara Prichard
Losecoat Close,
Stamford



Just because the pigeon is successful, it doesn't mean that we should kill it.

What gives humans, one of the most successful animals on earth, the right to take the lives of these birds?

One of the reasons we have so many pigeons in Stamford is because people leave rubbish around, like fast food wrappers which helps them to flourish.

People who drop litter and leave chewing gum on the pavements are much more of a nuisance.

Since last Friday's article I have spoken to several people I know and everyone has agreed that killing the town's pigeons would be wrong.

STAMFORD RESIDENT AGED 9
(Name and address supplied)



I am very interested in the solution being considered by Wayne Davis of Avian Control Systems, where he will net the pigeons and release them in Gloucestershire.

I happen to live in the beautiful county of Gloucestershire and where I live we suffer serious pollution by lesser black backed gulls. The last thing we need is a flock of your feral pigeons.

You don't seem to have too many qualms about killing them or you would not consider hunting them with birds of prey.

Why don't you save yourselves time and money? Encourage men to shoot them, little boys to use catapults and old ladies to beat them to death with walking sticks.

Anything but netting them and releasing them in Gloucestershire.

I am a keen ornithologist and if I happen to hear a pigeon cooing with a Lincolnshire accent, I shall have no hesitation in sending a van load of our gulls up to Stamford.

Then you really would have something to complain about.

You only have piffling, pooing pigeons, our gulls are serious poo machines. Be warned.

GEOFF ALPE
Gloucester



My wife and I regularly walk across the Meadows to go into Stamford and the pleasure we and others get from the birds, including the pigeons, cannot be overstated. They certainly are not flying rats.

The colour of their plumage is stunning and their antics most entertaining.

If we are talking about the mess I suggest the council look at the beer cans, broken bottles, cigarette stubs, food wrappings which litter the Meadows.

The food waste and vomit is being cleaned up by the pigeons.

Perhaps we should consider culling or transportation to Gloucestershire of the litter louts,ie. put our own house in order before starting on another species.

M Harwin.
Luffenham Road,
Ketton



I would support any moves to reduce the pigeons in Stamford and the surrounding areas.

Christine Goodwin
Somes Close
Uffington