Aurora to regulate housing of pigeons

One man's way to pass the time, Aurora officials have learned, may be another man's purple-dropping nuisance.

And when it becomes a nuisance to more than one neighbor, it has to go.

In the years since he's moved into his Second Street home on the city's east side, Armando Munoz says he's raised as many as 45 carrier and racing pigeons "as a way to pass the time."

During that same time, neighbors, who say Munoz is a great guy, have complained to the city about the noise, stench and droppings caused by the birds housed in and around Munoz's garage.

Seventh Ward Alderman Scheketa Hart-Burns was limited in what she could do to assist the unhappy neighbors. Until she helped get a state law changed, municipalities were unable to regulate pigeons.

A recent amendment now allows the city to regulate but not prohibit the orderly keeping of the birds.

"The bird man's neighbors were upset because they couldn't sit outside without being hit with the gross smell or bird droppings," Hart-Burns said Thursday. "People around the corner were upset because they wouldn't be able to sell their house. Who wants to move next to pigeons like that? The smell is just gross. That's the best way to explain it."

Once aldermen formally approve a new city ordinance March 9, regulations will go into effect regarding the housing of such birds.

"What we've done is provide some basic requirements for the location of these birds, which is called a pigeon loft, that they will be kept in compliance with the building code, property maintenance code and that they be kept in a clean and orderly condition at all times," city attorney Alayne Weingartz said. "To our knowledge there are not a lot (of captive pigeons in the city). But as you might be able to imagine, if you have a number of them next to your residence, they can become a nuisance."

Munoz said he is unaware of the new ordinance but said it no longer will apply to him. He said he has trimmed his flock from more than 40 pigeons to three, and those soon will be sent to Mexico as a gift.

Neighbor Lewis Glave said the noise has decreased but he's not sure how many pigeons are actually around.

"I couldn't tell you if he's got three or 13 right now but the noise has gone down," he said. "I'll wait until the summer, when it gets hot out and smells even worse, before I know for sure."

If not, Munoz or any other pigeon-keeper will face a $250 fine for the first violation and $500 for the second violation within 30 days.