Birds trapped in abandoned building across from Cape Breton City Hall

A large number of pigeons are stuck in an abandoned building near Cape Breton City Hall.

An abandoned building across from City Hall in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality has become a hangout for pigeons – both outside and inside the vacant home.

“They seem to be trapped in there, and kind of distressed not being able to get out again,” said Sarah Burke, who works in the area and passes by the building most days on her commute.

The building has been boarded up and the birds appear to have no way out.

“It’s a little disturbing, and it’s sad,” Burke said. “They’re clearly wanting to meet back up with their buddies and they’re not able to.”

CBRM mayor Cecil Clarke said new hires will be made soon by the municipality to address the broader issue.

“Council is taking action to hire two new positions that will be filled this month and, as a result of that, we will deal with hundreds of unsightly and dangerous premises,” Clarke said.

Clarke said the two new jobs will be specifically dedicated to dealing with derelict properties all over the municipality, which in recent years have typically numbered around 400.

“We have some properties that are massive, that will take $1 million-plus to take down,” the mayor said. “We only have $120,000 in our budget every year for any teardowns. So, this is all part of what we’ll have with our audit with the province to show capacity issues.”

In recent months, city staff - along with the mayor and council - have been working on an updated list of buildings they say ought to be dealt with for reasons that range from cosmetics to crime.

“They affect the market, they hurt our community,” Clarke said. “And it’s not just the pigeons that are staying in these buildings, there is other illegal activity and unwanted activity.”

Burke said she has contacted Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources - along with Hope For Wildlife - about the birds.

“Get a little attention for them and hopefully get them released a little sooner than later,” she said.

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