A Winnipeg family may have to give up its flock of pigeons after a city council committee overturned a variance allowing the birds to be kept at a home near the airport.

The city’s appeal committee voted 3-1 to revoke a variance and conditional use permit that had allowed the family to keep racing pigeons in a backyard aviary on Strathcona Street in the Sargent Park neighbourhood.

The variance had been approved last month by city staff, who found the small backyard structure and its use would not negatively affect the surrounding area. Neighbours challenged the decision, raising concerns about impacts to the area and aviation safety.

The appellants included Russell and Caroline Elliott, who told the committee the pigeons could damage property and affect their ability to enjoy their yard.

“Pigeons can cause significant damage to plants … and their highly acidic droppings are capable of damaging or killing plants and also contaminating the soil,” Caroline Elliott said.

Her husband, Russell Elliott, read a letter from another neighbour raising concerns about rodents, noise and airborne particles from dried droppings.

“It’s not fair that the community has to deal with this,” the letter said.

The Winnipeg Airports Authority also supported the appeal, warning the birds pose a risk to aircraft operating in the area.

“Pigeons are formally recognized by Transport Canada as a level three bird strike hazard to aviation safety and pose significant risk to the safe operations of airports,” spokesperson Kerilee Falloon said in a statement.

The authority said allowing an aviary near the airport would increase the risk of bird strikes, which can lead to engine damage, cracked windscreens, emergency landings or aborted takeoffs.

Several councillors cited those risks as a key reason for siding with the appeal.

“We have to focus on safety … there’s as many as eight strikes a year of birds on planes … we shouldn’t be having racing birds near the airport,” Coun. Sherri Rollins said.

A search of the Canadian Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System, which tracks bird strikes at airports across the country, showed at least four incidents of pigeons impacting planes at the Winnipeg airport. 

Coun. Brian Mayes also voted to overturn the variance, pointing to concerns raised by the airport authority.

“When you have a letter from the airport authority saying this is in the primary strike zone … it’s a danger to crews, passengers, neighbours… I don’t think you can overlook that,” he said.

Appeal committee chair Coun. Ross Eadie was the only member of the committee to vote against the appeal.

Pigeons are pet therapy: family

The family argued the pigeons are not a nuisance and are an important part of their home, particularly for their 10-year-old son with autism.

“The reason I keep the pigeons is they are my stress reliever, and also to my 10-year-old son, who is non-verbal,” homeowner Ronald Lobo told the committee.

He said the birds are vaccinated, well cared for and only released in limited numbers at a time.

His daughter, Hannah Lobo, became emotional as she described the role the pigeons play in her brother’s life.

“When he is around them … his behaviour becomes more calm and positive,” she said.

“The pigeons act as a form of pet therapy for him.”

She told councillors removing the birds would have a serious impact on her brother’s well-being.

Some neighbours questioned whether keeping a dozen pigeons was necessary.

“If you need a support animal, why do you need 12?” Russell Elliott said.

Caroline Elliott added that while she sympathizes with the family, broader impacts must be considered.

“We also have to think about what is good for the whole neighbourhood,” she said.

The family declined CBC’s request for comment after the decision. They will now have to remove the pigeons or relocate.