CASHMERE CAFÉ PIGEON REFUSES TIPS, ACCEPTS ONLY CRUMBS
Regulars say the bird has been there longer than two of the baristas.
A pigeon at a Cashmere café has knocked back every coin offered to it over the past three weeks, accepting only crumbs and what one customer called "a respectful nod".
The bird, known to regulars as Kelvin, arrived in early October and now sits in the same outdoor chair from open to close. Staff have stopped trying to move him. One barista said she'd given up wiping the chair and just wipes around him.
Owner Marianne Wexler said Kelvin had become "part of the furniture, except he poos". A customer last week tried to leave him a two-dollar coin on the saucer. "He looked at it. Then he looked at me. Then he walked off. I felt judged in my own café."
Regular Penelope Goff, 71, said Kelvin had once accepted half a ginger crunch from her grandson but refused the same offering from her son-in-law. "He knows," she said. "Bloody bird knows things."
Christchurch City Council, asked whether a resident pigeon was a public health matter, said it was "monitoring the situation" but that Kelvin had not applied for a permit. A spokesperson added the chair was on private property and therefore "a matter between the café and the bird".
Kelvin was still on the chair at time of filing. The tip jar, untouched by him, contained $14.20 and a button.
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Reader Letters
Trev_Hornby
Kelvin is smarter than some people.
wayne1987
Mate, pigeons don't even use coins.
ropeable_dave
Hey @Trev_Hornby, smarter than you maybe. I've seen you tip a busker with buttons before.
Garry (Halswell)
I remember back in the day when pigeons would swarm Cathedral Square. They weren't fussy about coins or crumbs, just happy to nab whatever you had on offer. Now they're getting all picky, sitting in cafes acting like they own the joint. I even recall a seagull making off with a whole sandwich once. Times have changed, haven’t they?
MumOf3_Riccarton
@Garry, you could say birds have become more cultured since your day.
Louise_Kaiapoi
Classic pigeon behaviour! Wouldn't be surprised if Kelvin thinks he's a café critic now.
Nate_P
Does the Council actually think this bird needs a permit? Talk about red tape gone wild.
couchgremlin
Lol.
tired_in_riccarton
Why doesn't someone just take the chair away? Problem solved. Or is there a secret pigeon union I'm unaware of?