An inquest is looking at what part multiple pigeon droppings played in the demise of a man in Sydney who was crushed to death by a shop awning.

A man died after an awning covered in pigeon droppings collapsed on him

As deaths go, it would certainly rank as one of the more bizarre ones if the bird droppings were found to be culpable.

Craig Taylor was sheltering under said awning on December 7 2007 at Balgowlah, during a storm, when it collapsed.

It was known to contain a large quantity of pigeon droppings, from birds that had made the awning their home.

Some live birds and nests were even found in the wreckage.

The council is examining whether a combination of rain water and the droppings were too much for the awning’s supports to take.