Toronto’s ambitious plan to manage its pigeon problem with “birth control bird food” isn’t exactly taking off.

Back in 2022, the city launched a pilot program using feeders that dispense pigeon chow laced with OvoControl, a contraceptive meant to cut the bird population in half without resorting to harsher measures. At first, things looked good — fewer pigeons were flapping around, and by late 2024, the city even expanded the program to hotspots like Nathan Phillips Square.

But now, the data tells a different story: pigeon numbers are back up. Toronto’s chief vet, Dr. Esther Attard, admitted, “It didn’t go as well as we had hoped.” The main issue? Pigeons don’t always eat their medicated meals. With people regularly tossing breadcrumbs and birdseed — despite a city bylaw against feeding them — many birds are simply skipping the “contraceptive buffet.”

Experts also point to pigeon fanciers releasing domestic birds into the wild, which then mix into city flocks and keep the population growing.

Toronto hasn’t given up yet. The program will continue at three sites in 2025, with some tweaks based on lessons learned. Whether the solution ends up being better birth control or a totally new strategy, one thing’s clear: when it comes to pigeons, the city’s fight is as much with people as it is with the birds.