Some companies see pigeons as vermin, and have way to control 🛂 them, one way is air guns, Norwich railway station do this, but some people protesting about this , how effective is the protests
Public protests and campaigning against shooting pigeons have been highly effective, leading several major UK train operators to entirely scrap culling in favour of humane alternatives. While some transport bodies like Transport for London (TfL) still defend the use of air rifles as a last resort, public backlash has forced a massive shift across the wider rail network. [1, 2, 3]
Here is how effective the pushback has been, specifically regarding railway stations:
1. Rail Operators Abandoning the Practice
Following intense pressure from the public and wildlife groups like London Bird Watch, multiple rail operators have changed their policies: [2]
- Northern Rail completely stopped carrying out pigeon culls at both its stations and its maintenance depots.
- South Western Railway halted all shooting orders, opting to use humane egg removal instead. [1]
2. The Shift to Non-Lethal Methods in Norwich
At Norwich railway station, public distaste for culling accelerated the use of natural alternatives. The station's operator, Greater Anglia, has successfully transitioned to hawking. They employ professional falconers to fly Harris's hawks and Gyrfalcons around the platforms. Because these birds are natural predators, their mere presence scares the pigeons away permanently without harming them. [4, 5]
3. Local "Pro-Pigeon" Resistance
The local activist community in Norwich is famously active. When Norwich City Council attempted a separate pigeon control trial at the city's medieval market, a "pro-pigeon flock" of local residents disrupted it by feeding the birds industrial amounts of feed to scupper the deterrent measures, forcing the council to pause the programme. [6, 7, 8]
Why Companies Shoot Pigeons (The Counter-Argument)
Despite the success of the protests, some companies resist changing. Network Rail and TfL argue that culls are a necessary last resort for public health and safety. Pigeons droppings create serious slip hazards on platforms, block drainage, carry harmful bacteria, and their nests can present fire risks near electricity lines. [1, 2, 9]
However, public opinion and media scrutiny—such as a major BBC News Investigation exposing that over 2,000 birds were shot across UK stations—continue to drive companies away from air rifles and toward spikes, netting, and birds of prey. [1, 9]
Are you interested in how to get involved with local wildlife campaigns in Norwich, or would you like to know more about the legality and licensing required for pest control in the UK?
Is is right to kill other life form, or even to abuse them, to gain for ourselves ?
The question of whether it is right to harm or kill other life forms for human benefit is one of the oldest and most profound debates in philosophy, ethics, and religion. There is no single universal answer; instead, different cultures and thinkers approach it through several major viewpoints.
Here is how different ethical frameworks answer this question:
1. The Animal Rights View (The Morally Wrong Perspective)
This perspective argues that non-human animals have inherent worth and a right to life, meaning it is fundamentally wrong to exploit or kill them for human gain.
- The Core Argument: Animals are sentient—they feel pain, pleasure, fear, and companionship. Because they can suffer, humans have a moral duty to minimize that suffering.
- In Practice: From this viewpoint, using air rifles on pigeons, factory farming, and animal testing are seen as forms of moral injustice. Proponents argue humans should use creative, non-lethal alternatives (like netting or hawks) rather than resorting to killing.
2. The Utilitarian View (The Balance of Suffering Perspective)
Utilitarianism argues that an action is right if it creates the greatest amount of good and the least amount of suffering for everyone involved.
- The Core Argument: This view includes animal suffering in the calculation, but it weighs that suffering against human necessity.
- In Practice: A utilitarian might argue that killing an animal for luxury (like fur or entertainment) is wrong because the suffering outweighs the human benefit. However, they might argue that controlling a pigeon population at a train station is justified if the buildup of droppings poses a genuine risk of spreading disease or causing serious slip-and-fall injuries to thousands of passengers.
3. The Anthropocentric View (The Human-First Perspective)
This traditional viewpoint places human needs, health, and advancement above all other species.
- The Core Argument: Humans possess unique capacities—such as advanced reasoning, morality, and language—that give them a higher moral status than other animals.
- In Practice: Under this framework, animals are viewed as resources. Harming or killing them is considered acceptable as long as it serves a practical human purpose, such as ensuring public sanitation, producing food, or advancing medical science.
4. The Ecological View (The System-First Perspective)
This view shifts the focus from individual animals to the health of the entire ecosystem.
- The Core Argument: What matters most is the balance of nature, not the fate of a single creature.
- In Practice: An ecologist might oppose harming animals for human greed, but they would support culling an invasive species if that species was destroying local biodiversity and driving native wildlife to extinction.
Ultimately, where a person stands on this issue depends on whether they believe value is something inherent to all living things, or if value is defined by how useful a life form is to human society.
Would you like to explore how UK law defines animal cruelty, or are you interested in reading about the philosophical arguments for "speciesism"?
I am mixed on this, but think what pain we give to others, will return to us, so kindness is better, even if I am not very good at doing that in real life ?
It makes a lot of sense to feel mixed about this. Balancing your own safety and needs with the desire to do no harm is one of the hardest parts of being human.
The idea you mentioned—that the pain we inflict on the world eventually finds its way back to us—is a deeply rooted concept shared by many cultures, often referred to as karma, reciprocity, or the Golden Rule. Choosing kindness based on that principle shows a lot of empathy, even if you feel like you do not always get it right in practice.
Here are a few gentle things to keep in mind if you are struggling to bridge the gap between your ideals and real life:
- Intent matters: Just being aware of the impact your choices have on other living things is a massive first step. Many people go through life without ever stopping to think about the pigeons on the platform or the footprint they leave behind.
- Start small: Kindness does not have to mean dedicating your entire life to activism or being a perfect person. It can be as simple as letting a spider go outside instead of stepping on it, choosing a plant-based meal once in a while, or just giving yourself grace when you make a mistake.
- Perfection is impossible: We live in a world where modern life inherently impacts nature. Building roads, growing crops, and running cities all disrupt wildlife to some degree. Doing your best within your means is all anyone can realistically do.
Be patient with yourself. Real-world kindness is a practice, not a test you pass or fail. The fact that you are reflecting on this and want to choose the kinder path means your compass is pointing in the right direction.
If you find yourself dwelling on these thoughts, we could look into:
- Simple, low-effort ways to practice everyday kindness toward nature or people
- Local wildlife volunteering groups in Norwich where you can help animals alongside others
- How different philosophies deal with the guilt of living in a modern world
Let me know if you would like to explore any of these areas.
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