Making a meal of problem birds
A POTTSVILLE artist who championed the export of Tweed's cane toads to Europe's restaurants has now turned his attention to pigeons.
After reading about Bathurst Regional Council's pigeon problem Victor Cusack wrote to the local paper offering a solution - harvesting the pests.
According to the council's website, the pigeons in the regional centre were known to damage buildings, block gutters with nests and faeces, eat crops and compete with native species.
The council was developing a Pest Bird Management Plan to investigate ways of reducing its pigeon problem.
Mr Cusack said the solution was easy as pigeon was selling for about $20 a bird.
"It's a wonderful meat. It is moist and sweet which is very different from chicken," Mr Cusack said.
"It's a beautiful meat and the rest of the world is eating it."
He said the bird could be difficult to find in the Australian food market.
It's not the first time Mr Cusack has suggested harvesting pests for dinner plates after suggesting that Australia exports cane toads to France.
"It's about using the resources we have got to make an industry," Mr Cusack said.
"We've got a pest that can be converted into a profit.
"If they are paying people to eradicate them, then why not get those people to develop the industry."
The Bathurst Regional Council was unavailable for comment Mr Cusack's idea.
