I鈥檝e felt a strong connection to birds since I was a kid. My parents have always kept bird feeders outside their windows and, as a child with ample free time, I would stare at the feeders for hours, imagining what the birds were thinking. Growing up in large cities, I developed a particular fondness for pigeons. But as I grew older, I realized that not everyone shares my affinity for the feral pigeon. Often referred to as rats with wings, pigeons have garnered a as disease-spreaders and general nuisances for city-dwellers. However, these perceptions are not only inaccurate, they overshadow the qualities that make pigeons so special. Pigeons are highly intelligent animals that contribute to urban ecosystems and connect urbanites to nature.
The modern feral pigeons that populate most American cities were transported to the U.S. by and are descendants of domesticated pigeons, which have long been for their meat and navigational abilities. But they are not protected under the , a bird protection law. Though some cities and states have passed providing some protection for pigeons from unjust killings, they are not obligated to do so by federal law. In contrast, in the United Kingdom feral pigeons are protected under the If other countries can treat their pigeons humanely, the unprotected status of pigeons in the United States should not be the norm.
The belief that pigeons pose a particularly high health risk is both and extremely insidious. Pigeons are not any more dangerous than other wild birds 鈥� diseases that are commonly associated with pigeons such as both arise from rare fungi that grow in droppings from of all . , which presents as a form of in humans, is also often attributed to pigeons. However, while psittacosis can be found in pigeons, it is common in domesticated birds, and pet bird owners are at the greatest risk of contracting it. Pigeons provide a convenient scapegoat for the spread of diseases that they are not entirely responsible for.
The widespread perception of pigeons as vermin whose population should be underplays their role in urban ecosystems. Though there isn't much research into the impact of non-native birds in ecosystems, based on what we know, feral pigeons may be . They are also prey for birds such as the peregrine falcon and may left behind by the now-extinct passenger pigeon of North America. Beyond that, feral pigeons can be helpful indicators of
The ethical implications of eliminating urban pigeon populations are especially unsettling due to their high level of intelligence. Pigeons are capable of from random jumbles of numbers, even when the word is novel to them, undermining the anthropocentric idea that only humans possess the neural capacity for reading. In fact, research suggests with humans.聽
This isn鈥檛 to say that pigeon populations shouldn鈥檛 be controlled at all 鈥� I鈥檒l be the first to admit that pigeon feces can be appalling. However, culling pigeon populations is both inhumane and . may offer a much more effective solution by reducing the likelihood that pigeon eggs will successfully hatch.
Humans are responsible for pigeons鈥� domestication and presence in cities, so we should strive to take care of them instead of exterminating them. We should appreciate the benefits they can offer; pigeons offer urbanites needed helping foster passion for the conservation of nature broadly. Pigeons are living beings that deserve to live dignified lives. We shouldn鈥檛 want to live in a world where we prioritize our own biases and convenience over the well-being of animals living peacefully alongside us.
