A volunteer group set up to rescue sick pigeons has had to expand its work after a rise in the number of birds found in distress on the streets in Nottingham.
The Stringfoot Superheroes helps pigeons who have developed the disease stringfoot, caused when litter becomes tangled around their claws, leading to loss of circulation, open wounds prone to infection and loss of limbs.
The group is alerted to pigeons which may be in trouble via Facebook. They then go to the area, lure the birds with corn and, once captured, treat the injuries using small ‘destringing’ kits they carry with them. More serious cases are taken to rehabilitation centres and with updates posted on Facebook.
Volunteer Keeley Key, 43, from Basford, says that once the pigeons lose a foot or many toes, they can’t balance, land or perch effectively any more.
“They struggle to compete for food and can become injured by getting caught in things or become unwell.”
Another volunteer, 18-year-old Emma Spencer from Nottingham, says: “We have noticed more in our local town and a few more babies in the last couple of months, which is expected as we are now in breeding season. We are seeing stringfoot a lot more ourselves and hearing from others in the group [who are seeing] pigeons with a few items tangled around their feet like plastic twine, cotton and synthetic materials that people just throw on the floor.”
What is stringfoot?
Dr Louise Gentle, principal lecturer in conservation at Nottingham Trent University, says that stringfoot is common in urban birds, and can result in death.
“It is where bits of string or other waste gets caught around the feet of the bird, resulting in their blood supply being cut off. This can cause the birds to lose toes and feet, making it very difficult for them to survive.”
The cause is human litter – discarded hair, plastic twine, cotton thread and other synthetic materials – and as summer attracts more people to Nottingham, the problem worsens.
How do you treat a pigeon with stringfoot?
When a volunteer spots a pigeon in distress, they must act fast, Keeley says, adding that “if the string on a pigeon is quite new and not yet embedded, it can be cut away at the scene and the pigeon released right away. For more complex injuries such as broken skin, embedding, serious swelling, or debris build up around the foot, they often go into a rescue.”
Treatment becomes more complicated when the tangle is severe.
Keeley says: “The pigeon may have a foot soak to loosen any debris, an antiseptic spray is often used to loosen dirt, clean the area and help reduce swelling. The pigeon is held while the string is snipped away from the foot, usually with round-tipped scissors to prevent injury. Once all string is removed, the feet are cleaned, an antiseptic balm is applied, and the pigeon rests until ready to be released.”
The work of the group has had an impact beyond the city.
A spokesperson from Brinsley Animal Rescue says they have noticed the difference the volunteers are making to the common problem, adding that “it’s so helpful that people are tending to birds in the city centre to try and help them and it’s certainly meant that we have seen less coming to us.”
Pigeons suffer from a poor image
The Stringfoot Superheroes’ work has expanded into campaigning on issues including calling a ban on netting at venues such as train stations.
The birds are often viewed as pests associated with dirt, disease and overpopulation but are simply following their natural instincts, says Louise.
“They are perceived as ‘flying rats’ – a nuisance, full of disease. In reality, they are just being opportunistic and taking advantage of food waste.”
For Emma, the mission of the group is simple: “Urban birds, especially pigeons, are really overlooked, and people just walk straight past them, not giving them a second thought, as they class them as vermin. People need to pay more attention to them, and if they look like they need help, to actually help them or ask someone who can. People just need educating about them – they are lovely, intelligent birds.”