I just heard a Hollywood city planner talking about this program to distribute birth control to their pigeons. Apparently, the program is a roaring success--the pigeon population appears to have plummeted to less than 10% of its previous level. Does this mean that we'll soon see cityscapes denuded of pigeons? I can't say that I'd miss them terribly--I remember too well how my best friend and I would run as fast as we could under the el tracks on the way to school, for fear that one of the approximately one squillion pigeons that nested there would nail us with its droppings. But do pigeons perform any sort of valuable service in the urban ecosystem?
Update: JP Freire has some thoughts. "Every pigeon a wanted pigeon" . . . what a beautiful thought.
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Whoah, that actually worked? I remembered how it was roundly mocked when it first was proposed. Funny.
Anybody have a link for the story?
I'm no ecologist but wouldn't the rat and roach population expand because of the all the food that is now not being eaten by pigeons?
That doesn't strike me as a good idea.
Probably Steve, but roaches and earthbound rats have the decency not to leave highly acidic poop that eats away at cars, statutes, and pretty much anything it touches.
Couldn't we just install more eyries under the eaves of skyscrapers? I thought I read that the best replacement for endangered raptors' receding natural habitats was the urban cityscape, with tall buildings to nest in and all you can eat pigeon buffets.
I don't remember where the article is, but I believe there was some talk of this in Minneapolis a while back as well.
Pigeons are actually a primary food source for the various species of raptor that live in urban areas. Some of these species, like Peregrine falcons, are threatened, but there are probably sufficient numbers of pigeons and small enough numbers of raptors that even a drop this drastic may not have a negative ecological impact.
London actually has a professional falconer fly his Harris hawk in Trafalgar Square daily in an attempt to discourge pigeon infestation.
If this program is ever discontinued, then the pigeon population will rebound back to their "natural" (whatever that means) level.
"If this program is ever discontinued, then the pigeon population will rebound back to their "natural" (whatever that means) level."
Not if their old niche is filled by a new competitor. You might never see a rebound in that case.
"Probably Steve, but roaches and earthbound rats have the decency not to leave highly acidic poop that eats away at cars, statutes, and pretty much anything it touches."
I don't know, I think I prefer acidic pigeon droppings to masses of rats. Non degustabus and all that.
The natural level of the Rock Pigeon population in the New World is zero.
More humane pigeon control: http://www.picasuk.com/index.html
birdman:
Just a small moral quibble: How is feeding birth control to pigeons inhumane? I mean beyond some dignity and agency issues, I really doubt pigeons are actually pained or harmed by their infertility.
I know a lot of people in the poorer Mexican communities that deliberately feed pigeons to fatten them up so they can eat them. I suppose "food source" is a valuable service.
Please. Every pigeon a wanted rock dove.
Fancy people do it too, Protestant Bastard. They just call it "squab" so they can charge $30.
I actually like pigeons.
I am not on a crusade to save the pigeons, and I definitely am not worried about giving birth control to pigeons being inhumane.
I just like pigeons because they have attitude. They're city birds - that's badass. They're postmodern mofos with wings.
Pigeons are rat food
I think Tom Lehrer already covered this in his song "Poisining Pigeons in the Park". A true classic.
Years ago, in my capacity as zoo keeper at a major zoo, I watched pigeons consume almost every piece of food I put down for my antelope.Since my city began pigeon "birth control" the result has been: one tenth the pigeons, healthier animals under my care and healthier pigeons. Overpopulation is bad for any species. Once again, birth control is GOOD.
I wonder if they can implement this for seagull population control?
A while back I remember a town up north in NH that simply fed them all poisoned bread. Population control through contraception would have been a more humane option.
Steve Johnson: to nitpick, I think you mean "De gustibus non est disputandum."
FYI.
And to hell with pigeons. They're flying vermin.
Pigeons and rats are probably the only wild and hence free animals that many city dwellers ever see... what they do in our department of the firm - I do not know. But one thing is for sure interesting - it is us who are replaceable and yet we interfere in all other department, slowing down the indispensable, productive workers we depend on - asking things like: why is he even here, what good does she do, etc?
They'll eventually develop resistance to the drugs.