SCOTS locals have slammed The City of Edinburgh Council after the authority sealed up the underside of a bridge with mesh – trapping a nest of pigeons inside.
Laura Inglis flagged up the issue last Monday after the bridge on Russell Road was thought to have been sealed four days earlier.
The resident claims she heard young pigeons crying out from a nest, trapped under the bridge and unable to receive food from their parents on the outside.
Since issuing an urgent plea for help from fellow residents in the Scottish capital, Laura has since revealed that an anonymous hero attended the scene and cut the wire – although added that at least one pigeon has tragically died as a result.
Left outraged by the incident, Laura initially took to social media last Monday to plead for help.
She wrote in the post: “Emergency council or network rail have wired over underneath railway bridge at Russell Road in Edinburgh.
“Numerous pigeons trapped inside and babies crying starving to death. Mothers desperate to get in. SSPCA have been called but not really bothered.
“Might send someone. This is an emergency, does anyone have long ladders and wire cutters? This is inhumane.
“I am standing here, listening to the babies crying for their mothers. If anyone can help, please come urgently. Thank you.”
The post received dozens of likes, comments and shares as many locals were left heartbroken for the baby birds.
Mary Seavor-Bevan wrote in the comments: “They have a legal obligation to attend to this immediately.
“It’s illegal to interfere with nests – all wild birds and their nests are protected under the Wildlife Act.”
Stevie Jo said: “This is awful, poor birds. How on earth could anyone do this, knowing there are living creatures being trapped. How long a pole do you need?”
Eveline M Lovell commented: “Heartbreaking and disgusting. How could anyone do that?”
Emma Boyd added: “Honestly don’t know how these workers can sleep at night. Total disregard for life.
“Just saw this post just now, so thank you to everyone who has helped them.”
Laura added that the unknown local created gaps into the mesh to allow the parent birds to get into the nest.
However, many now fear that it is too late for the squabs who may be too weak to survive, having gone five days without food and water.
In an update the following day Laura wrote: “Last night, someone (a member of the public) got ladders and has made gaps in the sheet metal mesh (bolted and metal fixings, they really were determined that these birds weren’t getting out).
“So, the adult pigeons can now get in and out. Food and water has also been put in all the gaps so that any birds too weak to fly can have access to it in the hope that they survive.
“Probably too late to save the babies, unfortunately, as they were trapped for at least five days, so even if alive, they will be too poorly to survive.
“The problem is the ladders are too short so we can’t get right up to see if any pigeons are still in there who need help.
“Also, the space where they are nesting goes quite far back, so would need a long pole to get any babies out.
“If anyone can help with this, please contact me. In the meantime, I will be going back every day to make sure the gaps are not resealed.
“If they are I will create merry hell. Sadly, the wee pidge in the photo didn’t make it. Thank you all for your support.”
The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) confirmed that the mesh had been sealed, resulting in the death of one pigeon.
A spokesperson today said: “One of our inspectors went out to check and there were access points for the pigeons to get in and out.
“There was one dead pigeon when he was there but there is no way of knowing the cause of death.”
A spokesperson for Edinburgh City Council today said: “Our structures team have advised that our specialist contractor installed this netting on our behalf, as we often do to protect pedestrian routes below bridges from pigeon guano.
“After becoming aware of the issues council officers visited site and witnessed that the mesh has been cut back.
“They’re going to revisit this location with the contractor to make sure that the mesh is reinstated in a way which either fully prevents any access by pigeons or allows for exit routes for pigeons which do make their way into the enclosed area.”
Pepe’s have been approached for comment.
