Good Article About NYC Pigeons & Other Urban Wildlife

[TAWhatley]

http://satyamag.com/aug05/clearfield.html

Terry

[TerriB]

Very interesting article. The concept of privatizing public space was especially troubling. It can be really difficult to stay current on what's happening.

[Reti]

Great article.
Thanks for sharing.

Reti

[Rockie]

Thank you for the article Terry. It has always filled me with sadness that the fate of wildlife tends to fall more often on the hands of selfish, greedy humans. Over the years I have been thrilled to come across organizations that help w/a variety injured birds, but unfortunately, not pigeons. Lately, as I am dealing w/long term rescues, I have been pulling out all the stops on Long Island to find pigeon help...extremely minimal luck. Now I hear that my main songbird helper, "Sweetbriar Nature Conervancy", soon may not even help house sparrows...just as starlings and pigeons not being native to our country.

It disturbs me so...we as people can migrate and multiply as we wish (in most countries I believe), but for some reason we don't allow the same freedoms to animals. When humans deem there to be an overpopulation, then it's ok to increase hunting seasons, etc, to thin them out...

You know I could go on and on, I apologize. I do appreciate you calling this article to my attention. I am so thankful to be in contact w/the very caring large group of humans on this site, and, thrilled to know of the Johanna Clearfields (author of article I think, & rescuer) of the world exist.

[Victor]

WOW...Very impacting information. Quite an eyeopener.It is truly sad to know that this is happening.

[Teresa]

Fascinating article.
I was especially interested in the quote that even the DOH didn't have any evidence that pigeons are harmful to human health, as this is a bone of contention with a neighbour of mine.
It was shocking to read that in NY vets charge much more for treating a pigeon than they do for a companion pet. I lived in the UK for many years and any vet will treat any creature there without discriminating. They are also very compassionate. I remember taking in a pigeon that had been run over; the vet told me that it could not be saved, but that made him so sad that he didn't charge me a penny for the euthanasia - and this was a private vet, not a rescue centre. The RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) will accept, treat and rehouse any creature, wild, feral or domestic and investigate any case of cruelty or neglect, and the PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals) will treat the pets whose owners can't afford a vet's fee, for free or for a very small sum.
It's good to see that New Yorkers like Joanne are prepared to campaign for the rights of those of that cannot speak for themselves, and long to see the day when our countries will become better places for humans and non-humans to live in.

[Teresa]

And, of course, there is the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.