Request ID: FOI-1260-2425 Date published: 11 September 2024
You asked
Dear Transport for London,
I am writing to you with regard to a request under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for information held by TfL as detailed below.
1. Please provide the total number of culls, on TfL’s London Underground, commonly known as ‘the tube’, of Columba livia (feral pigeon) populations from 1st January 2023 until 31st December 2023 by TfL or TfL authorised third-parties.
2. Please provide the policy or policies in place for culls conducted on TfL’s London Underground, commonly known as ‘the tube’, of Columba livia (feral pigeon) populations from 1st January 2023 until 31st December 2023 by TfL or TfL authorised third-parties.
3. Please provide the total number of nest clearances on TfL’s London Underground, commonly known as ‘the tube’, of Columba livia’s (feral pigeon) nests from 1st January 2023 until 31st December 2023 by TfL or TfL authorised third-parties.
4. Please provide the policy or policies in place for Columba livia (feral pigeon) nests on TfL’s London Underground, commonly known as 'the tube', from 1st January 2023 until 31st December 2023 by TfL or TfL authorised third-parties.est
5. Please provide the total number of reports received of trapped birds on TfL’s London Underground, commonly referred to as ‘the tube’, from 1st January 2023 until 31st December 2023 by TfL or TfL authorised third-parties.
6. Please provide the policy or policies in place for trapped bird reports and any response on TfL’s London Underground, commonly referred to as ‘the tube’, from 1st January 2023 until 31st December 2023 by TfL or TfL authorised third-parties.
7. Please provide the total number of actioned responses to resolve reports of trapped birds on TfL’s London Underground, commonly known as ‘the tube’, from 1st January 2023 until 31st December 2023 by TfL or TfL authorised third-parties.
8. Please provide the total number of any work conducted in regards to Columba livia (feral pigeon) on TfL’s London Underground, commonly known as ‘the tube’, from 1st January 2023 until 31st December 2023 by Tfl or TfL authorised third-parties.
Information may be filed under 'pest control' or 'bird control' in the questions above. If requesting Columba livia (feral pigeon) information is too time-consuming or not possible to provide figures for, please provide the same information, but for wild bird species.
With reference to our request for details on the London Underground, commonly known as ‘the tube’, this includes the tube stations and entrances, the track and bridges, train depots and platforms.
If you have any queries please contact me by email and I will be happy to clarify or expand details on the requested information.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to your response.
We answered
Our ref: FOI-1260-2425/GH Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 18 July 2024 asking for information about pigeon control on London Underground. Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. London Underground (LU) has a duty of care to customers, staff, contractors and other third parties to maintain a safe, clean environment for those using or working on its property. This includes the prevention of hazards caused by nesting and roosting of pest birds, most notably feral pigeons. TfL’s approach is one focused on prevention, and the avoidance of animal cruelty is taken very seriously. We work with our suppliers to ensure that the removal of pigeons, or their nests, is undertaken as a last resort and we continue to invest in preventative measures as our primary approach. We have an internal guidance document, G0233 (attached), which is provided to our suppliers. This guidance confirms that when controlling pest birds, LU and our suppliers must comply with the following: 1) The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 states that it is illegal to kill or injure a wild bird or to interfere with a nesting bird, its eggs or nest. The exception to this rule is where the species is listed under a General Licence as a bird that can be taken (killed) and their nest removed by an ‘Authorised Person’. The licence can only be acted upon in the circumstances where this person can be satisfied that all non-lethal methods of control will be likely to fail or are impractical and if legally challenged must be able to prove such is the case. Failure to comply with the Licence requirements will result in LU being liable to prosecution. 2) The Animal Welfare Act 2006. The Act makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to animals (deliberate or unintentional), including culling activities as mentioned above. This is relevant to the use of netting, where birds may become trapped in or behind the nets. 3) The Greater London Local Authorities’ Code of Practice for the control of nuisance birds is used as the vehicle for exercising their powers under Section 9 of the London Local Authorities Act 2004. This enables a London Local Authority to serve a bird proofing notice on a owner/occupier of a building or structure (including bridges) fronting upon, crossing or overhanging the highway where habitual nesting; roosting or alighting of birds is causing a nuisance to pedestrians using the highway. 993 pigeon related work orders were raised, actioned and closed in 2023
19% (191) resulted in the clearance of Columba livia (feral pigeon) nests on the London Underground network.
10% (96) resulted in a last resort cull
3% (29) related to reports of trapped birds on the London Underground network.
The remaining 68% (667) were pigeon related work including; attendance to remove and clear pigeon guano, installation and/or repairs of bird netting and pest stop bird spikes etc. Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal. Yours sincerely Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
