Egremont Town Council has been accused of putting Christmas before wildlife after contractors pruned trees where protected birds were nesting.
Wood pigeons – which are protected by law – were discovered on the town’s Main Street after tree pruning took place for this year’s Christmas lights.
Four pigeons were found the street – one was dead, while the other three, two juveniles and an adult, were handed in to Cumbria Wildlife Rescue.
One of the pigeons died after it was taken in, but the other two have made a full recovery and have now been released into the wild.
Elisabeth Ashleigh, co-founder of Cumbria Wildlife Rescue in collaboration with Tweet Fleet, said: “It’s illegal to cut trees when they find birds nesting – and it was all in the name of Christmas.
“They’re just such beautiful gentle creatures, they don’t hurt anybody or other birds, and we need to protect them. They certainly shouldn’t be harmed by tree surgeons. It’s illegal, what they’ve done the council or whoever cut the branches down, it’s illegal and it’s wrong.”
The three birds were passed by volunteers to Sharon Hornby, who frequently looks after pigeons and runs TLC Small Bird Rescue in Maryport.
Sharon said: “It’s so sad and I’m really disgusted that they seem to have gone ahead without a thought in the world for the poor nesting birds in the trees. Something needs to be done.
“One of the juvenile birds was very wobblily and sadly passed away, but it could have been due to underlying disease and not necessarily the fall. The other two were also wobbly and I treated them for shock, but they’ve now made a full recovery.
“I live on a farm in an area with Crosscanonby Nature Reserve and my orchard behind me, so both were released out where it’s safe, I sometimes take birds back to where they were found but with their nests destroyed, it wouldn’t make sense. I just hope something can be done and put in place before this happens again.”
Cumbria Wildlife Rescue contacted the RSPCA to report the incident.
An RSPCA spokesman said: “We are sad to hear of any birds dying in such circumstances. Care should always be taken when planning activities that will affect nesting birds in spring or summer and it’s important to be aware that pigeons can nest all year round in towns and cities. Birds are most vulnerable when nesting and any disturbance can kill or injure birds and their offspring.
“All nests are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and nests can’t be moved or destroyed while they are still in use, apart from under certain exceptions to allow the control of certain birds for specific reasons under licence.”
Egremont Town Council had declined to comment.
