A New Take On Pigeons In UK Town Centres

[amyable]

Watching a local Midlands UK television report yesterday, they were covering a story about a pair of Peregrine Falcons that have nested on a local church spire in Worcester town centre.
It has been sponsored by the RSPB, with cameras sited on the nest to watch the successful hatching of their babies. Children were being interviewed at the site and are being encouraged to take an interest in observing the day to day activities of these birds......... Lovely thought until......the reporter then went on to highlight some interesting facts about the Falcons. The main one being that the bird can spot a pigeon at five miles. She then continued to point out quite happily that , 'there certainly is no shortage of pigeons in Worcester centre.'

Having slated Ken Livingstone for introducing the horrific sight of hawks killing pigeons in front of the public in Trafagar Square, we now have the public, including children, looking on in awe as they see the Falcon catching a pigeon and feeding it to the young live, aswell as in front of a camera.

I know that this is nature in the raw but what chance does the poor pigeon have of being looked on with compassion by the younger generation if they are only promoted as a convenient lunch for other birds.

Are we now to find that pigeons are to be encouraged in towns together with nesting sites for birds of prey.



Janet

[philodice]

There could be a good side to this...
Teaching humans to realize that without pigeons the other birds would not survive, so the pigeons need to be there also. It's too graphic for me, of course. Like the time the falconry show falcon got loose and killed the petting zoo rooster at the renaissance festival, right in front of a bunch of people.

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by philodice

There could be a good side to this...
Teaching humans to realize that without pigeons the other birds would not survive, so the pigeons need to be there also.

That doesn't sound like a positive thought to me. Sorry.

I understand what you're trying to convey, however I can see where that could be construed as encouragement to keep the pigeons around so the 'other' birds would have something to feast on.

Cindy

I just reviewed my post & see I forgot to add the following, at the end of my first sentence.
At least in the way it's presented.

I intended to post:
That doesn't sound like a positive thought to me. At least in the way it's presented. Sorry.

Just wanted to clarify.

[Jaye]

I don't see it as particularly positive either...although, honestly...I don't think of it as anything newly negative either.

The thought of raptors hunting is always thrilling..as is a nest of young lil' hawk chicks...but the actual experience of watching one kill is not something which anyone would particularly enjoy...unless you happen to be soon-to-be ex-mayor Ken and his 'contractors'.

Too bad, really...I liked a lot of what he stood for over the years...but his whole obsession with the killing of pigeons was just sadistic. In a close election....who's to say that this didn't make a difference, eh ?

One can always ask the station to actually take their "interest story" to the next, obvious level: broadcast a hawk killing and eating a pigeon. See how popular the story is, then.

[amyable]

I agree, the fact that all birds of prey have to kill to survive goes without saying, but on a wild life programme you can choose to watch if you so desire. I personally find now that I don't actually like to watch when an animal is being killed whether it be a bird, deer, seal etc. It maybe down to getting older! but at least I have the choice to turn the television off.

What I really feel is going wrong now is the killing of birds being encouraged to come into our town centres.

My main gripe with the channel is the way the reporter came across as being so flippant regarding the fate of the pigeons. It could at least have been portrayed more sympathetically on both sides, as opposed to demeaning the pigeon's existance.

[cyro51]

Hi Janet,

Unfortunately the attitude of "predators come first" is becoming endemic in our society. Even on this site we have had one member expressing fears that if city pigeon numbers were reduced by humane control the raptors could go hungry over winter, and photos of hawks killing and eating birds posted for others to "enjoy".

I don't wish the hawks ill, but if I had the opportunity to save a pigeon - or any other bird - from the talons of a hawk, I would.

Cynthia

[Pisciottano]

When happens in nature may be cruel but inevitable, on the other hand for humans to organize the killing of innoffensive birds by predators as a show to amuse people and children is unacceptable and despicable and, from the point of view of education for the young, very harmful. It should be forbidden.