Andorra Installs Pigeon Sterilising Feeders Amid Wildlife Concerns

Authorities in Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany have installed six feeders dispensing sterilising feed to manage the urban pigeon population, prompting discussion on potential side effects.

Carles Iriarte, president of the animal, plant, and environmental protection association APAPMA, described the initiative as a method to control a highly urbanised wild species. He stressed, however, that the devices must be designed specifically for pigeons to avoid harming other birds, particularly sparrows, which are declining across Europe.

When the project was first announced, APAPMA sought detailed information on the feeders' operation. "We asked whether this type of feeder or feed dispenser is truly targeted at pigeons and does not affect other bird species," Iriarte said. He called for assurances that only pigeons can access the feed.

Iriarte acknowledged uncertainty over whether Andorra faces a pigeon overpopulation or related issues, such as building maintenance costs or resident complaints. "I don't know exactly if there is an overpopulation of pigeons in Andorra or to what extent it is causing any damage," he noted, urging decisions based on objective data.

Despite these concerns, he endorsed sterilisation as a preferable alternative to culling. "It's better to sterilise them or prevent them from reproducing than to hunt and kill them," Iriarte stated, calling it a more ethical approach to population management.

His main worry remains the risk to non-target species. "What concerns us is how it might affect other birds like sparrows in our parishes," he concluded, demanding guarantees of the treatment's safety beyond its goal of reducing pigeons in urban areas.