Conservationist David Wingate has called for new laws to help curb the burgeoning pigeon problem which poses a health risk to people.

He said rooftop pigeon droppings could lead to salmonella entering household water supplies.

Dr. Wingate wants fines for people who release domestic animals into the wild after saying pigeons were a very serious problem.

?For people they are a threat because we collect water on roofs where pigeons like to perch.

?They are fairly large and produce a lot of excrement which can be a source of water pollution and salmonella.?

He said the recent Christmas bird count by the Audubon Society had come up with record numbers of pigeons. ?It?s more than 1,200. It exceeds all previous counts by far.?

As an urban bird pigeons were increasing alongside Bermuda?s own urbanisation, said Dr. Wingate.

They also threaten the Longtails by taking over their nests which had suffered massive damage during Hurricane Fabian.

?Hurricane Fabian destroyed 90 percent of the Longtail nests along the South Shore. Longtails can?t build their own nests, they occupy spaces cause by natural erosion.?

But the hurricane destroyed these crevices which will take a long time to return said Dr. Wingate and had already been reduced before Fabian hit.

?We have had three hurricanes in four year intervals which have seriously destroyed nests.?

Conversation Services Director Jack Ward said: ?There?s a huge problem with pigeons, particularly after the hurricane.?

He said they took over nesting sites from longtails when they were off the island. ?They are a dirty bird, they foul the nest and it is no longer attractive to the longtails.

?The longtails could certainly beat them in a scrap, there is no problem there. The longtail will fight very ferociously for nests.?

But he said an excrement fouled nest wasn?t worth fighting for.

?We have to establish emergency housing for them.?

He said hundreds of artificial burrows were needed on Castle Harbour island before the birds returned in the summer.

Mr. Ward agreed the pigeons, which are not endemic, had probably been introduced by pigeon fanciers.

He said the birds often gathered in large numbers on a particular roof.

?They create quite a bit of hassle for a number of residents have had substantial problems with fouling of roofs. It?s probably cosmetic but I have heard they can actually erode structures.

Mr. Ward hopes a net cannon due to be ready in the new year will help catch the pests.

Shooting was another option but poisoning sometimes had the effect of accidentally killing other creatures, said Mr. Ward.

Dr. Wingate said: ?I feel strongly Government has to show resolve and deal with people by making it illegal to release domestic animals into the wild.

?I would include domestic birds such as pigeons and chickens.? Feeding released domestic animals in the wild should also be made illegal.

He said when he worked for Government fed-up farmers would call wanting chickens culled but when he got there with a shotgun he would find a family feeding them.

?When feral chickens destroy a crop that?s a major income loss. They also destroy flower gardens and cause noise pollution.

?It needs a budget to deal with the problem.? Chickens and pigeons needed to be rounded up an shot, said Dr. Wingate.