Some lunatic started kicking the pigeons I was feeding...

[TitanicWreck]

I was feeding a large feral flock and some deranged nut advanced on the birds and started kicking at them-Luckily they all flew away and none were harmed- Then this 40ish man lectured me on how irresponsible he thinks I am for feeding pigeons- Of course his act of attempted animal abuse seemed perfectly okay with him...Im now at the point I have to feed the birds when few people are around...Little children often liike to run into a group of pigeons, terrorizing the birds- and of course they are encouarged by their parents...Then there are solo losers like the pigeon kicker, who seem to get his thrills out of hurting defenseless creatures..
Ever deal with people trying the harass the pigeons while you try to feed them?

I am happy though that there are pigeon supporters in my neighborhood- Every night like clockwork there is a large quantity seed and bread spread out under the nearby bridge, so the pigeons that roost there never go hungry...

[Feefo]

Ever deal with people trying the harass the pigeons while you try to feed them?

Too often. This is why so many of us "go underground" and feed when there aren't many people around. I have also noticed that many of the daytine pigeon feeders through down some food and then make a run for it before anyone can challenge them.

Isn't it ridiculous that we are made to feel like criminals?

Cynthia

[Charis]

I had a similar experience last time I was in Boston. MIddle school students that looked to be on a field trip, in Quincy Square, were throwing food for the pigeons them kicking them when they tried to eat it.
I got right in their face and told them to knock it off. I told their teachers that they needed to supervise more closely. I was polite but very firm. Neither students nor teachers responded but acted stunned that they had been confonted.

[Ramiro]

My point of view on feeding pigeons stems from being a pigeon "outsider" (someone who doesn't raise domestic pigeons and knows next to nothing about them) and a newfound pigeon insider (someone who keeps pigeons).I'm very new to the pigeon hobby and I really like pigeons but am against feeding feral pigeons. I just feel that there are way too many, if people stopped feeding them we would still have some around to look at, but not nearly as many. They are tough, adaptable creatures and would find other ways to get food. Then again, some people love all pigeons and want to feed them all. I guess I see both sides of the issue.

I am in no way defending the guy who kicked at the birds and people who confront others simply for feeding the pigeons.

[TitanicWreck]

Originally Posted by cyro51

Too often. This is why so many of us "go underground" and feed when there aren't many people around. I have also noticed that many of the daytine pigeon feeders through down some food and then make a run for it before anyone can challenge them.

Isn't it ridiculous that we are made to feel like criminals?

Cynthia

I know what you mean...sometimes I discretley leave a trail of seed behind me as I walk-so i won't be harassed by the pigeon haters, but the pidgies will still get their food..

[TitanicWreck]

Originally Posted by Ramiro

I just feel that there are way too many, if people stopped feeding them we would still have some around to look at, but not nearly as many. \.

Pigeons are more tha just things to look at. They are living beings that feel and think, and have the right to exist. I have to disagree with you-we have the means to feed the pigeons-There is no reason they should be left to starve...
I think thats what the mayor in London is trying to do to the Trafalgar Square pigeons-starve them to death.....

[Matt D.]

I also dont support feeding pigeons, for there own saftey. If we dont feed them they will go back to the woods and to be safe again. If they are not in the cities then they are out of harms way and away from the loons in the cities. I personally trap wild birds and transplant them in the wild. I am also not trying to defend this person in any way just looking for a way to eliminate this sort of run-in from happening.

[TitanicWreck]

Originally Posted by Matt D.

I also dont support feeding pigeons, for there own saftey. If we dont feed them they will go back to the woods and to be safe again. If they are not in the cities then they are out of harms way and away from the loons in the cities. I personally trap wild birds and transplant them in the wild. I am also not trying to defend this person in any way just looking for a way to eliminate this sort of run-in from happening.

The problem is pigeons are not native to North America-so sending them back to the woods would be as artificial as keeping them in the cities. They are here to stay. We can either help them survive, or turn our backs on them and let them starve....
I prefer to feed them...

[LokotaLoft]

I for one have never seen a single pigeon in the woods and let me tell you I've been in the woods for over 30 years now...So your woods theory is kinda not with the reality of today ,the fact is that citys are the native habitat for the pigeons of today , the closest thing to woods for pigeons is open farm land and they only come for the grub before returning to their places under bridges and in nitches among buildings ..if feeding wild birds is ok why not pigeons too...just my two cents

[TitanicWreck]

Originally Posted by LokotaLoft

I for one have never seen a single pigeon in the woods and let me tell you I've been in the woods for over 30 years now

You're right...I noticed this whenever I visit my mother's place, in a heavily wooded area in western MA- there are plenty of mouring doves-but no pigeons...

[MaryOfExeter]

Remember Matt, there is a reason their ancestors were called Rock Doves! When we brought them over here from Europe, the cities and bridges near the sea that they could find were the closest they could get to the actual rocky cliffs (most of them being near the sea or some type of water) of Europe. Now they have nowhere BUT the cities to go. I agree and disagree with the feeding of pigeons in the cities. I can't make up my mind. It is cruel to let them starve, but more feeding equals more pigeons to feed...so no matter what, there will be a pigeon out there starving anyways, unless the population is lowered to were they can hold up nicely on their own. On the other hand, the large populations of pigeons keeps down the rats. If you ask a city dweller which they'd rather have, they'd probably say pigeons. Or so I hope anyways...not trying to discriminate against rats...but they have been known to spread some ugly diseases and plagues...so obviously they are more dangerous. Another thing is...people should not be so mean to pigeons. They should feed them because...well...it IS our fault they are here in the first place. We took them from their homes, and they escaped into the cities...so...the least we can do is feed them. It isn't their fault! I'm torn here though....they would be much more happier and healthier if they didn't have to compete for food, and could just live in little flocks like the wild ones did. But what would happen to the excess ones? We can't let them starve...
Either way, people should just get over themselves. It doesn't matter how much you shoot, poison, or give birth control to....I doubt we will ever end this "problem" that most people seem to think pigeons are. There will always be pigeons in the city, that's just how it is. So...why not feed them? If you can't beat them, feed them! Haha.

[TitanicWreck]

I just wish I understood why some individuals feel compelled to harass or threaten those who choose to feed the ferals...I've been cursed at, and even threatened with violence-simply because I fed the pigeons- But i respect the choice of those who choose not to feed them.

Take the case of the Trafalgar Square Pigeons-Their numbers were enormous- so the mayor called for measures to ban feeding, thus dwindling their populations. The negative flipside there is pigeons died of starvation...
I applaud those Londoners who defied the mayors wishes, and choose to feed the pigeons.

[MaryOfExeter]

I think the reason people hate them so much is because we have made such a big deal of their existance. Like for example, the pest exterminators figured they could make loads on pigeons because they appear to be messy, and their big numbers made their droppings more noticable. No one liked it when one "relieved itself" on their chair or car....or...shirt...but no one really paid them much attention until ways to get rid of them came along. People making up false things like "Pigeons spread over 49 diseases to us, our pets, and our children! They are like rats with wings and are dangerous to our health". Someone got fed up and used the poison...and people caught on....Now the feral pigeon's whole reputation is based on pretty much nothing but evil lies and myths, and people don't know any better than to believe them anymore...

One day...there may be another war in which our own intelligence fails again...and the pigeons will come to the rescue...and then...and then what will the pigeon haters say? >:[
People consider Starlings a nuisance but people don't go around trying to kick them all the time! And they don't go around saying "KILL THEM. STARVE THEM. AHHHHGGGGGGHHH." D:
It isn't fair....is it?

Personally, I would love to go to London or New York City...just for one day if I could. And why do I want to go there? To feed the pigeons and let them cover me up to my head like I see in all these pictures in the cities. I think it would be pretty fun to go visit the city pigeons

[maryjane]

Never seen a pigeon in the woods. . .they are originally cliff dwellers and we took most of their original homes away from them by building all of our lovely skyscrapers. Technically we are responsible for them because of this, as I see it. If we don't feed them, they starve. This wouldn't necessarily result in less pigeons, as they breed so prolifically, but definitely would result in many more agonizing deaths amongst them. We've made their bed, and as they're forced to lie in it, the least we can do is make it easier. . .JMO.

I believe that people out in the public should simply mind their own business. If they don't like to feed pigeons, for instance, or disagree with someone feeding them, they should walk away and keep their opinions to themselves. I've shared this thought (usually nicely, followed by pigeon education to those who seem open to it) with many, many people over the years. As for children who are kicking at them, the younger ones usually respond to my "nanny" voice, and if not, their parents can be spoken too (and are often just embarrassed about their misbehaving children more than anything else, so make them stop).

[Feefo]

It seems strange to me that we are urged to feed the garden birds over winter to help them survive, but are criticised for feeding the feral pigeons on the grounds that "there are too many of them" and that "there is plenty of natural food around".

In the UK there are about 200,000 breeding pairs of feral pigeons...this compares to 1,200,000 starling territorries (and starlings are on the red list because of the alarming drop of numbers); 4,935,000 pairs of blackbirds; 7,600, 000 wrens and 15,000,000 bluetits wintering in the UK....

As for there being "plenty of natural food around", I have no idea how that conclusion is reached. Feral pigeons are the descendants of rock doves and domestic pigeons. They were brought into the cities to serve as messengers and food in times of seige. For centuries their "natural" diet has been whatever man provides for them. Now that man sees no immediate use for them in the cities they want them destroyed, just as they wanted the passenger pigeon destroyed.

Cynthia