Save the Trafalgar Square Pigeons (also known as STTSP) are an organisation that claim to oppose cruelty to wild birds, especially pigeons, in Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...

, London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 since their creation in 2000.

History

The group was formed in 2000 when Ken Livingstone

Ken Livingstone

Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...

, Mayor of London

Mayor of London

The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...

 tried to reduce the number of pigeons in Trafalgar Square. These reductions were to be made by a number of techniques, including the removal of the Trafalgar Square bird food seller’s licence. Local West End Extra press coverage indicates that while feeding was still legal feeders alleged that they were subjected to a period (late October through to early December 2002) of intimidatory harassment (“Feathers fly at battle of Trafalgar” Nov 22. “Ken: why I am getting tough on city pigeons” p4. and “In a flap over feathered future” p6 Nov 29. “Tarred and feathered” p6. Dec. 6) during the course of which a Harris's Hawk

Harris's Hawk

The Harris's Hawk or Harris Hawk formerly known as the Bay-winged Hawk or Dusky Hawk, is a medium-large bird of prey which breeds from the southwestern United States south to Chile and central Argentina...

 was also introduced.

Argument

STTSP argued that completely removing the bird's food was cruel and would lead to a large number of them dying of starvation. They said that reducing the bird's food source over a longer time scale would result in the reduction of the population as they would have to find an alternative food source. Ken Livingstone claimed that the reduction in bird in the Square was to create a "more pleasant environment." In the run up to the ban Trafalgar Square had undergone a £25 million renovation and £140,000 worth of damage had been caused to Nelson's Column

Nelson's Column

Nelson's Column is a monument in Trafalgar Square in central London built to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The monument was constructed between 1840 and 1843 to a design by William Railton at a cost of £47,000. It is a column of the Corinthian...

 as a result of bird droppings.

Agreement

Following the period of STTSP harassment referred to above STTSP eventually went into an agreement with the Greater London Authority

Greater London Authority

The Greater London Authority is the top-tier administrative body for Greater London, England. It consists of a directly elected executive Mayor of London, currently Boris Johnson, and an elected 25-member London Assembly with scrutiny powers...

in that there would be a reduction in bird numbers so long as this was carried out through non-cruel means, via food reduction instead of starvation.

The group were then allowed to feed the birds at 0730am once a day. This approach saw a reduction in bird numbers in Trafalgar Square from 4000 to around 200.

This restriction was to last until October 2008.

Agreement rescinded

In 2003 Ken Livingstone and the GLA rescinded their agreement with STTSP and made it illegal for anyone to feed the birds in Trafalgar Square, the penalty for doing so was set at £50. To get around this ban STTSP members moved an area of the Square not under GLA jurisdiction, but that of the Westminster City Council, thus not covered by the relevant bye-laws and continued to feed the birds. On 10 September 2007 bye-laws were secured that ensured bird feeding was banned throughout the entire square and surrounding areas, with a higher fine of £500 if this law was broken.