I am curious as to how people feel about feral pigeons. Just speaking for myself I know when I am in downtown Los Angeles I take a lot of delight from watching the large flocks soar between the skyscrapers. I enjoy watching some semplance of something natural interupting the cold hard surfaces of the city. I also enjoy getting the rare glimpse of the rare peregrine falcon who hunts these birds. I find myself scanning the landscape hoping I get a glimpse of one. I am curious as to how others feel. I know some control measures are needed with them but I would never hope to wipe them out.
I am considering dressing up like a homeless person and walking around downtown selling small bags of pigeon food to get a better idea of how people really feel about them. I know some will cuss me out, some will buy a bag, most will just ignore me. It will just be a matter of time before the police notice me and either ticket me or send me on my way. Anyway curious as to how others feel on this trivial subject.
Um…nope, can’t guess. Do you have a history with pigeons?
As it was a poll with multiple votes possible, I said to use natural methods to limit their numbers…and that I kind of like seeing them. I don’t feed them…although I do feed the ducks. Speciesism, I guess.
The only problem I have with pigeons is their poop. Several BART stations, for example, are infested and many surfaces caked with dried pigeon poop, to the extent that you have to be careful grasping a handrail or brushing up against a wall (yes, it’s splashed over some of the walls). There appears to be no budget at all for either cleaning this stuff up or preventing it happening in the first place.
So I am in favor of not feeding them (which keeps the number of birds down) or of putting birth control in their feed (which keeps the number of birds even further down).
We have a section in Downtown Torrance Ca that used to have a moderate amount of pigeons hanging out near outdoor eating areas, bakeries, coffee shops etc. I think the city poisoned all of them as they are gone as well as the squirrels which used to be fun to feed out of the hand. I would imagine they eat a considerable amount of food that would otherwise be gobbled up by rats.
Be glad inflation hasn’t hit bird food, or they’d be seven kinds of confused over thruppence.
I’m for controlling them with just about any means short of shooting them. As **Roderick Femm ** said, the flying rats have made several BART stations look like wildlife preserves caked in muck. Unfortunately, their droppings do not preserve the surfaces they land on.
I heard that the pigeons one sees flying around and bugging you for popcorn and such are just the babies and the full grown adults have 12 foot wing spans and carry off Puerto Rican infants.
Just a small tidbit to add. About 20ish years ago in Columbus, OH they let a couple of pairs of peregrine falcons loose. Pigeons being in pest proportions at the time. According to a friend who has lived there for almost 40 years pigeons are rather rare now.
They watch me through my patio door and as they see me approaching the birdfeeder they hit the porch like the luftwaff. No other bird dares approach (fortunately the others have their own feeders.) I always give a smile to the local cooper’s hawk when he checks out the luftwaff.
