People who feed pigeons in Chicago could end up as jailbirds. The city council is considering a ban on feeding pigeons on public property.

Chicago Alderman Danny Solis says the issue has been on his mind for some time now.

SOLIS: Well, for many years I was perplexed on how to deal with it. I had talked to many of the business owners-especially in Pilsen.

The pressing issue Solis is talking about…  pigeon droppings.

SOLIS: As I did some investigation on it, I found A, number one, that it’s causing damage to some of the concrete and some of the ornaments there but I also found out that the feces is also a health hazard.

So Solis is by biting the hand that feeds. He proposed an ordinance with Alderman Helen Shiller that prohibits feeding pigeons on public property. People who violate the ban could be fined up to a thousand dollars or receive six months in jail. The city council could take it up as early as February. For Chicago Public Radio, I’m Hunter Clauss.