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Bird-lover threatened with £5k fine for feeding pigeons

A bird-loving father from Birmingham has been threatened with a £5,000 fine and court action for feeding pigeons.

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Council: Leaving bird seed is 'risk to public health'

Birmingham City Council has accused a bird-lover of posing a risk to public health and encouraging littering by leaving seed to feed local pigeons.

Father-of-two Adnan Mir, from Yardley, started feeding the birds after an elderly neighbour, who had fed them for 35 years, died.

A spokesman for the council said scattering the food attracted rats as well as the pigeons, and was a risk to public health.

We have taken a proportionate response to this matter and have given Mr Mir several warnings on the back of numerous residents’ complaints.

The bird seed being thrown in the street is attracting rats and pigeons to the area, which risks public health and damage to properties.

In addition, its presence leaves the area looking unsightly and encourages further littering and fly tipping.

We have tried to work with Mr Mir but unfortunately our warnings have been ignored.

We would hate to get to the stage where a prosecution was an option, but the continuation of dumping bird seeds in the street means this may be a consideration.

– Birmingham City Council spokesman

Bird-lover threatened with £5k fine for feeding pigeons

A bird-loving father from Birmingham has been threatened with a £5,000 fine and court action for feeding pigeons.

Father-of-two Adnan Mir, aged 37, began feeding the birds in Church Road and Croft Road, Yardley, two years ago after an elderly neighbour who had fed them for 35 years died.

Father-of-two Adnan Mir, aged 37, is facing a £5,000 fine for feeding pigeons Credit: BPM Media (Midlands)

He said he felt sorry for the pigeons, who kept showing up expecting her to feed them - but the council took a rather dim view of his actions.

He was fined £50 for scattering seeds in November 2012, and was given a council caution last year, with the council claiming the seed attracts vermin.

And now the council is threatening further action, accusing him of "ignoring" the warnings.

Mr Mir says he now only feeds pigeons in the park, and says he is not committing a crime.

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