Ixelles stops feeding contraceptives to pigeons

A programme aimed at reducing the pigeon population in Ixelles by feeding the birds contraceptives has ended after operating for three years, with the municipality saying it has noticed the positive effects but cannot afford to keep it going.

Non-profit organisation Les Plumes d'Ixelles distributed pigeon feed mixed with contraceptives as part of a public project to reduce the nuisance caused by pigeons, La Dernière Heure reports.

“This proved successful, as we were able to keep the pigeon population in Ixelles under control until the end of 2024,” said the organisation’s Stéphanie De Jonghe.

“But we stopped giving contraceptives in April and we’re already noticing the difference. There are more and more pigeons, more than we can handle. And that is causing more nuisance again.”

Animal welfare councillor Nathalie Gilson (MR) said the project has not been discontinued, but that the agreement between Les Plumes d'Ixelles and the municipality expired and there was no budget for renewing it at the time when it was up for consideration in December of last year.

That budget has been in place since the beginning of this month and includes €70,000 to launch a new public tender if necessary, although the town council has not yet taken a decision on this.

“We asked Brussels Environment for their advice on contraception for pigeons and the answer was that its effects on health and the environment are unclear and that the method is not recommended in the long term,” said Gilson.

De Jonghe strongly disagrees with the advice: “There are studies on the toxicity of this product that refute this. Moreover, the product has been used in Flanders since 2016 and in Brussels-City since 2019. There are no other viable solutions. But by discontinuing this method, three years of work will be lost.”

Brussels Environment emphasised that municipalities have the autonomy to decide for themselves how to tackle pigeon nuisance, but Gilson said she was not ready to make a decision and has asked outgoing environment minister Alain Maron (Ecolo) for a position.

“If the minister and Brussels Environment can reassure us, we may launch a new public tender, but as a municipality, we have to be cautious,” Gilson said.

De Jonghe wants to meet with the alderwoman again in September and in the meantime, will continue to feed the pigeons, without contraception, at the same regular spots in Ixelles.

“If I stopped doing this, it would be animal cruelty,” De Jonghe said.

“These are domesticated birds. We can't just let them starve to death, can we?”