I read the article by Steven Heywood in the Nov. 20 PNR entitled Sidney bylaw forbids feeding gulls, pigeons and was rather taken aback by the threat of a ticket, or even a fine, for doing so.
Is this the same town which rather politely encourages their citizenry and visitors to pick up after their dogs and even provides free baggies to encourage it? I have never seen a publicized threat of tickets or fines for non-observance of that bylaw.
I do not see the feeding of birds as a major transgression, especially when I see the pleasure that a lot of our citizens, elderly and children included, accrue from it.
To me, feeding the birds does not pose anywhere near the inconvenience and public health hazard created by dog feces and urine in public places, including right downtown (in spite of the bylaw, signage, and provision of baggies referred to above).
What’s next, the banning of backyard bird feeders? Perhaps we should just post signs outlawing the gulls, crows and pigeons from the town?
I am sure that the town has what it deems as good reasons for enacting this bylaw, but it seems to me as over-reacting to a rather innocuous behaviour when there are other far more serious issues that need to be effectively dealt with.
John Bardsley
Sidney