Twenty-one white doves emerged from white wicker baskets on a recent afternoon in downtown Detroit and launched themselves into the air, drawing applause from people gathered below.
The birds, which are actually selectively bred homing pigeons, initially began heading south. Then their inborn navigational systems kicked in — call it Mother Nature’s GPS — and the birds turned around and flew north, back toward their home 100 miles away in Saginaw.
It wasn’t long after that Phyllis Stevens, co-owner of Saginaw-based Dreamers White Dove Release, got into her car and started the same return journey. But she relied on I-75 and her smartphone’s GPS. By the time Stevens arrived home two hours after the release, 10 of her 21 birds were already there, waiting on the roof of their pigeon loft in her backyard.
“Every time I see it, it always amazes me how they know to get home,” Stevens said.
The white dove release business is reaching new heights of popularity in Michigan.
Bird handlers and business owners are doing multiple releases every week from spring to fall for weddings, funerals, public events and special ceremonies — even high school proms. The latest trend is “gender reveals,” where partygoers look for a blue or a pink-painted dove to find out whether the expected baby is a boy or girl. (Handlers say the special paint is safe and soon washes off.)
The most common bird release in Michigan is for funerals, these owners said, and this service is particularly popular among black families.
“That lasting image of a dove taking off is far nicer I think than a shovel full of dirt,” said Joan Luther, owner of Winged Occasions dove release in Flat Rock.
There are roughly a dozen small and large dove release operations in Michigan. The price for a dove release starts about $150 and varies based on the number of birds, weather conditions and the event’s distance from their home. The further the distance, the higher the risk that not all pigeons will return.
For well-trained birds, the greatest danger isn’t getting lost but being attacked by a hawk. That is why some handlers have already stopped flying their birds over long distances for the remainder of 2018.
“The hawks come out and they are very vicious because they are looking for food. They want to get fat for the winter,” Stevens said.
Come spring, there is a heightened risk that some birds — especially the males — will get sidetracked on their flights by short-term love interests, shacking up for days or weeks with what Stevens calls the “bum pigeons that hang out on the overpasses.”
But even those waylaid birds often return home.
“They’re kind of like children. If you put a roof over their head and you feed them, they usually come back,” said Michael Phillips, owner of West Michigan White Dove Release in Hudsonville.
Pigeon release?
Bird handlers say they can legitimately call their service white dove releases because homing pigeons descended from rock doves.
“We call them doves because would you like to have some ‘pigeons’ released at your wedding?” said Luther of Winged Occasions.
Where there is controversy, it often concerns the dove releases that use real doves. Those birds, known as white ringneck doves, lack the survival and navigational instincts of homing pigeons and therefore won’t fly home and will likely die.
Handlers who raise and train white homing pigeons consider it unethical to release ringneck doves. It is thought that only a handful of outfits in Michigan use these throwaway doves.
“If you use doves, doves don’t come home. Those birds are just going to die,” Phillips said. “And after a funeral, you don’t want that thought in your head, ‘My nephew died, and they threw some birds up in the air, and they all died.’ ”
Still, some activists including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals consider any type of bird release problematic because the events can be stressful and life-threatening, even for homing pigeons that safely make it home.
“Is this their preference? To be caged, released and forced to do this repeatedly? Certainly not,” said Stephanie Bell, a director in PETA’s cruelty investigations unit.
A YouTube video surfaced last year of a white dove release during a funeral near a highway in which one of the birds flew directly into the path of a tractor-trailer, eliciting gasps from the gathered mourners. It is unclear where that incident occurred.
High return rate
Bird handlers interviewed for this article said the return rates for their birds are 90 percent or higher.
All 21 birds released last month in downtown Detroit made it back to Saginaw. There was one straggler, Stevens said, who eventually showed up four days later.
The Oct. 26 release was the finale for the Detroit Police Department’s “Stop Domestic Violence” event marking Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Police Sgt. Kyla Williams said the department had ended the event in previous years with a balloon release and decided to try something different this year.
“Doves symbolize love, hope and peace, and love, hope and peace have meaning for domestic violence survivors,” said Williams, who found the visual spectacle of the release to be deeply moving.
“I thought it was beautiful and just amazing to see one of God’s creatures soar,” she said.
Intensive training
Release birds don’t naturally know to return to their coop; they must be trained.
Stevens said it generally takes 16 weeks to train a bird before it is ready to fly all the way from Detroit. The training regimen involves placing the birds into a travel cage, loading the cage into her car, then driving out every day and releasing the birds from steadily increasingly distances.
A 50-mile maximum radius is common for release businesses. Stevens said that her flock can handle 100-mile radius flights because they inherited genes from her late uncle’s racing pigeons for strong navigational sense. The longest her birds have ever flown was 120 miles, she said.
Because proper training is a major time commitment, handlers and business owners such as Stevens are often in retirement or nearing retirement and just working part-time.
“You have to keep them in shape — they’re like little athletes,” said Stevens, who has 150 birds in her release flock.
How not to hold
Birds can be released by hand as well as by basket. But one must hold them properly.
There was once a bride who held her pigeon way too close to her wedding dress.
“And it pooed on her,” Stevens recalled. “But the wedding planner handled it beautifully — ‘Oh, you’re so blessed. This bird blessed you.’ And the whole crowd clapped, and she let the bird go.”
Peaceful closure
The number of birds per release is generally up to customers. For West Michigan White Dove Release, the standard funeral service has four birds.
“Three for the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. One more for the deceased,” Phillips explained.
Winged Occasions, in business since 1990, has released as many as 100 birds at high school graduations and once let go 50 during a wedding.
The most Stevens ever released was 30 birds. That occasion was a remembrance service in Detroit this year for a 30-year-old man who was the victim of a violent crime. The release took place at the side of a street in desolate part of the city where the man’s body had been discovered.
“A big reason that someone will call is they feel that this gives a peaceful closure at the end of the funeral and brings a sense of comfort to the family,” she said.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
On Saturday, a flock of pigeons gathered inside of the Community Park Center, not just because it was the “coo” thing to do, but because it was part of the Jacksonville Area Pigeon Club’s 45th Annual All-Breed Pigeon Show.
For the uninitiated, a pigeon show is quite the sight. Rows and rows of cages contain beautiful pigeons of all shapes, colors, breeds, all being observed by judges and participants who, for one reason or another, fell in love with these feathered fellows.
Cooper Lorton, 13, posed for a photo with his large green trophy he received for his Voorburg Shield Cropper, a beautiful white bird with a large “globed” neck. Lorton was with his dad, Aaron, both of Williamsville, who got his son into pigeon breeding just as he had done when he was a kid.
“I was into it when I was a little kid, younger than (Cooper) is, and my mom had some birds and I just took a liking to them and then my kids followed in my footsteps,” Aaron Lorton said. “They’re really interesting. They have a lot of different genetic color patterns. They can come out all different colors so it’s a surprise when you get babies out of them. It’s a fun and unique hobby that not a lot of people do.”
The Jacksonville Area Pigeon Club, or JAPC, was founded in 1973 to foster greater interest in the hobby of pigeon breeding and care. Its goal, explained Sarah Brown with the JAPC, is to get more people into the hobby, especially younger kids that might be interested in 4-H activities.
This show, in particular, featured 27 different breeds of birds with over 200 entries into the competition. Not only was there the competition, but there were raffles, auctions, and meals to add to the excitement of a room packed with pigeons.
“I came on as secretary and found out that there were more people into pigeons than I thought,” Brown said. “They just didn’t know we were having the show so we’re kind of branching out.”
The show attracted people from all around the area with interest in pigeons. David Averbeck, a judge at the show that came all the way from St. Louis, said he has gone all the way to California for pigeon shows. There’s quite the interest, he said, but what the hobby needs more than anything is more young people getting interested in what is certainly a unique and interesting hobby.
“It’d be good to see younger people get into the hobby,” Averbeck said. “It’s a hobby that a lot of older people are in but it’d be great to see younger people get involved. Come to junior shows like this. Go to 4-H clubs, have the older people give a presentation out to 4-H clubs. Get the word out there.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
A petition has called on Ipswich’s MP and the Prime Minister to intervene on plans for a pigeon cull on the town’s Waterfront.
The petition was launched after Associated British Ports (ABP) informed nearby residents of a controlled killing planned for Sunday, November 18, between 10am and 1pm.
ABP said the move was intended to prevent the pigeon population from endangering the UK’s food supply chain.
But a petition for MP Sandy Martin and PM Theresa May to step in looks set to reach 2,500 signatures just days after being launched by Brandon Orton at change.org.
The petition states: “The reason for killing pigeons is due to ‘public safety reasons’, so that it does not endanger the UK’s food supply chain.
“However, there have been many local residents and members of the public who have stated that they have never had problems with birds and have not seen many on the waterfront.”
ABP assured residents the culling would be completed quickly and humanely by trained professionals.
A spokesman said: “ABP is part of the UK’s food supply chain, and as such, we adhere to strict regulations regarding the control of pests at the Port of Ipswich.
“Measures are in place to prevent the spread of disease, stop serious damage to food and preserve public health and safety.
“We are committed to safeguarding the integrity of the UK’s food supply.”
The cull will be carried out by shooting – the quickest and most humane method, said ABP – and by trained professionals under licenses issued by appropriate government agencies.
According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), land owners and people given permission by authorities or the Environment Agency are granted a general licence to cull certain wild birds.
The licence can only be used to preserve public health or to ensure public safety – not to simply cull birds that considered to be a nuisance.
ABP bosses said they had explored other avenues for managing the pigeon population.
A spokesman added: “We have examined all the possibilities in managing the pigeon population and we are now fulfilling our legal obligations in the most effective and humane way possible. These actions are necessary to protect the UK public.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
The noisy Diwali celebration not only affected residents but also animals and birds. Many animals were found injured and scared. Some were seen running helter skelter due to the loud cracker noises. As many as eight animals, including strays and pigeons, suffered injuries or were found in a state of shock due to the noise of crackers during four-day festival, said city-based NGOs. Recommended By Colombia While Pet Owners and Animal Lovers (PAL) had received three cases in which dogs and a pigeon were injured. “All the three strays that were rescued by PAL were either found in a state of shock and were shivering or they had suffered injuries because they were running around in fear. One of the dogs fractured his leg after he rammed into a motorcycle. Another one suffered injures on his paw and maggots were on it. If the wound does not heal then we will have to amputate it,” said Dr. Hemant Thange, a city-based veterinarian. Even Plants and Animals Welfare Society (PAWS) rescued four pigeons who were found in a state of shock. The helpline numbers of animal NGOs were ringing off the hook as many feeders and pet owners were asking for advice. “We came across four pigeons who were found in a state of shock as they are vulnerable to loud noises. We kept them in a cage that was covered with a cloth. They were kept in isolation so that they could calm down. Once they were stable, we shifted them to a shelter home,” said Nilesh Bhanage, founder of PAWS.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
PARIS — They were messengers, spies and sentinels. They led cavalry charges, carried supplies to the front, comforted wounded soldiers and died by the millions during World War I.
Horses, mules, dogs, pigeons and even a baboon all were a vital — and for decades overlooked — part of the Allied war machine.
Researchers have been hard-pressed to find official accounts of the services rendered by animals during the Great War. But if their labors once were taken for granted, four-legged and winged warriors have been acknowledged more recently as unsung heroes.
France recently decided to recognize their wartime role. And in 2004, Britain installed a huge memorial on the edge of London’s Hyde Park to “all the animals that served, suffered and died alongside the British, Commonwealth and Allied forces in the wars and conflicts of the 20th century.”
Here’s a look at how they contributed.
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WHAT THEY DID
An estimated 10 million horses and mules, 100,000 dogs and 200,000 pigeons were enrolled in the war effort, according to Eric Baratay, a French historian specializing in the response of animals to the chaos, fear and smells of death in the mission that man thrust upon them.
World War I marked the start of industrial warfare, with tanks, trucks, aircraft and machine guns in action. But the growing sophistication of the instruments of death couldn’t match the dog tasked with finding the wounded, the horses and mules hauling munitions and food or the pigeons serving as telecommunications operators or even eyes, carrying “pigeongrams” or tiny cameras to record German positions.
“They were quasi-combatants,” said Serge Barcellini, comptroller general of the Armed Forces and head of Le Souvenir Francais — The French Memory — in a recent speech devoted to the role played by beasts of war.
Indeed, gas masks were fitted to the muzzles of four-legged warriors braving noxious battlefield fumes.
In France, as in Britain and elsewhere, horses and mules were requisitioned.
One typical sign posted in southern Paris ordered citizens to present their steeds and mules to the Requisition Committee by Nov. 14, 1914, or risk “prosecution by the military authority.” It was becoming clear there would be no quick end to the war that ground on for four more years.
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FEATHERED HEROES
Cher Ami, or Dear Friend, the carrier pigeon who wouldn’t quit, lived up to her name, saving the lives of 194 American troops of the “Lost Battalion” of the 77th Infantry Division, isolated behind enemy lines during the 1918 Meuse-Argonne offensive in eastern France.
About 550 men had held their ground against a far larger German force for days before coming under fire from American troops unaware the trapped soldiers weren’t the enemy.
On Oct. 4, Maj. Charles Whittlesey sent Cher Ami into the skies with a final message giving the U.S. battalion’s location, followed by a plea: “For heaven’s sake stop it.”
Cher Ami lost an eye and a leg from German gunfire, but kept flying, around 25 miles (40 kilometers) in about a half-hour, according to the United States World War One Centennial Commission. Survivors of the “Lost Battalion” returned to American lines four days later.
Another carrier pigeon named Vaillant, assigned to the French military, also performed extraordinary feats during the war.
On June 4, 1916, he was released into the sky with the desperate message, “He’s my last pigeon.”
French Commander Sylvain Eugene Raynal, encircled by Germans at the Fort de Vaux near Verdun, was counting on Vaillant to save his men.
The feisty bird flew through toxic gas and smoke, reaching the Verdun pigeon loft choked by fumes. With no help arriving despite Vaillant’s courageous effort, Raynal and his men surrendered three days later.
Both Cher Ami and Vaillant were awarded France’s Croix de Guerre, or War Cross.
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ROUND ‘EM UP
Horses are ancient warriors, but most of those conscripted during World War I weren’t war-ready. They died by the millions, from disease, exhaustion and enemy fire, forcing the French and British armies to turn to America to renew their supply. A veritable industry developed with more than half a million horses and mules shipped by boat to Europe by fall 1917, according to the American Battle Monuments Commission.
So important was the commerce that the Santa Fe Railroad named a station Drage, after British Lt. Col. F.B. Drage, the commander of the British Remount Commission in Lathrop, Missouri, a major stockyard for the future beasts of war.
“So the war business in horses and mules is good,” read an article in the December 1915 issue of The Santa Fe Magazine, for employees of the railway system. Good for the farmer, contractor, supplier and railroads, it said, but “not good for the animals.”
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SERVICE BY EXOTICS
Among the more exotic animals called into service was a baboon named Jackie, who served with the 1st South African Infantry Brigade in then British-occupied Egypt and later in the trenches in France and Belgium. His acute hearing and keen eyesight helped warn soldiers of enemy movement or possible attacks when he would screech and tug on their clothing.
Jackie was wounded in Flanders Fields when the South African brigade came under heavy shelling in April 1918 and his leg had to be amputated.
Lt. Col. R.N. Woodsend, of Britain’s Royal Medical Corps, described that procedure: “He lapped up the chloroform as if it had been whiskey, and was well under in a remarkably short time. It was a simple matter to amputate the leg with scissors.”
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DOGS OF WAR
Man’s best friend helped soldiers survive. Dogs served, firstly, as spotters of the wounded, learning to identify ally from enemy. They also served as sentinels, messengers, transporters and chasers of rats — the bane of the trenches along with lice and fleas. The French military created a service devoted to dogs of war in December 1915.
Less official, but crucial to soldiers’ morale, was the role of dogs and other creatures in the trenches, and as mascots. Stray dogs running from fighting were adopted as companions along with other animals, including a Royal Air Force fox mascot adopted by British pilots.
These dogs and other mascots helped soldiers “think of life … and the life they hoped to find again,” said Baratay, the French historian, in a speech last month in Paris.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
I’ve got bugs in my blood. After 58 years in the pest control industry, it’s something that I can’t easily turn off. This was blatantly evident on our celebratory birthday vacation for my milestone 65th.
Wife Robin, daughter Leah and I enjoyed two weeks in sunny Italy. I was instinctively attuned to the environment around me, especially when it came to my hosts, often possessing six legs or more.
The more we traveled, my perspective of Italian life (read: sanitation) broadened. It really was a land of contrasts.
Our first stop was urban Florence. My eyes were naturally drawn to all of the restaurant kitchen doors being propped open. Each kitchen seemed to be better than the previous: spotless floors, shining equipment.
Flies and other winged pests seemed to be at a minimum here. Outdoor dining, the norm, never seemed to be intruded upon. Our focus could stay uninterrupted on the food, people watching and soaking-up a new and vibrant culture.
It was difficult, if not impossible, to ignore the pigeons. Everyone seemed to regale in strolling among them and tossing food to watch them tussle for their next meal. They seemed to be as much at home as the 16th and 17th-century icons we ritually visited.
As we ventured to rural Florence, pest activity was turned up a notch. We drove, for what seemed an eternity, through countless miles of grape vineyards and olive orchards. We stayed in a renovated early 19th century stone villa in the rolling hills of Tuscany.
Even before getting our bags inside, we were greeted by a stream of solitary wasps. Nesting under the terracotta tiled roof, they seemed to appear as if to say “Ciao, welcome to your vacation home.”
The next day, my outdoor relaxation was brought to a screeching halt. I was rudely given a reality check by a stink bug landing on my forehead and another on my leg. They somehow knew my bug arsenal was left behind on the other side of the world.
Flying Vacuum Cleaners
Our days were filled exploring small towns and villages throughout the Chianti region. Lunch and dinner were shared with the locals, including the resident pigeons.
It became evident that these winged creatures play a useful role in the restaurant trade: flying vacuums.
While stateside restaurateurs readily employ a hand-powered push vac, many eateries we patronized engaged the services of their no-cost winged buddies. Pigeons made themselves at home, strolling under tables, doing a very efficient job of cleaning. They were readily welcomed. I never saw any of them being shooed away. Roosting on a tabletop was commonplace, especially when the previous diner inadvertently left some food crumbs.
It seemed unusual that a culture would welcome parasite-infested creatures into their dining areas, while at the same time they appeared to be operating with superb sanitation procedures.
I often state how fortunate we are to have food laws and regulators to enforce them. It is something that we take for granted until we experience how others live.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
London’s busiest train station has recruited a hawk to scare off pigeons following a spate of complaints from angry passengers.
Aria, a five-year-old Harris hawk, has begun patrolling Waterloo station in a bid to stop people having to “fight” off pigeons while eating.
There are 27 food and drink retailers at the Network Rail-managed station, and many customers have complained about pigeons pecking at food and leaving a mess.
The birds have been pictured sitting brazenly on tables and chairs, while some people have reported being defecated on from above while waiting for their train.
Recent TripAdvisor reviews of the station’s venues include a warning about “loads of pigeons flapping around whilst you are trying to eat” and a description of someone having to “fight pigeons for my food.”
Another visitor even suggested passengers should “bring a fly swat for the pigeons.”
Jason Murphy, Waterloo area manager for Network Rail, said: “Pigeons can be a real nuisance for people using the station. They also cause a lot of mess which needs cleaning up at some expense.”
“Aria’s work is really important in making the station a better place for our passengers while saving us money on our cleaning bills.”
“She’s a very hard worker and we’re delighted to have her as part of the station team here at Waterloo.”
Aria will be on duty at the station twice a week for two-hour shifts.
She was raised in St Albans and has previously been deployed by London King’s Cross station and the Treasury to keep pigeons away.
Aria’s handler, Max Bell, said: “Aria really enjoys the environment at Waterloo and is delighted to be here.”
“She does a great job and often likes to reward herself with a relaxing bath in the puddles that gather on the rain shelters over the platforms.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
AN art student has gone viral after footage emerged of her feeding pigeons – dressed as a pigeon.
The Dundee University student Niamh Fenton, says the act is part of her art project as a video of her feeding the creatures wearing a long beak emerged on social media.
Niamh was filmed outside St Mary’s Church next to the Overgate shopping complex in the city centre of Dundee perched on a low stone wall above a group of hungry birds.
The 18-year-old “pigeon girl” says she is “overwhelmed” by the response to her video and has released several other pictures of herself that were part of her project.
Niamh, from Dunblane, is seen wearing a grey hoodie and a type of skirt made from grey feathers, takes bread from an orange bag.
The video was posted by her friend onto the ‘snap map’ tool on Snapchat and then uploaded to Twitter on Tuesday.
The clip was then posted by @euanlean and has since gone viral.
Niamh dressed up as a pigeon for an art project
He captioned the post: “What the f*** is going on in Dundee?”
The video now has more than 150,000 views and multiple comments from confused Twitter users.
Emily Ryan said: “Ahahaha holy s***.”
@SmithNatalie260 commented: “Hahahaha wow.”
The video of her feeding pigeons as a pigeon went viral
@itsthatzoe said: “I honestly feel like I see weird videos near the city centre all the time hahaha.”
@officialfergus commented: “Wit? Just feedin the birds?
Since the video was posted, Niamh has also released several pictures of herself in different locations around Dundee dressed as a pigeon.
She has posted on image of herself on Instagram on a ledge with the caption: “I’m the pigeon girl.”
Niamh goes to Dundee University
Her post also attracted a few comments.
Instagram user aieshaholly said: “You’re insane.”
Another user said: “Amazing. I am in awe.”
Another Instagram user said: “Iconic.”
Speaking today, pigeon woman Niamh revealed that her avian impersonation was part of an “art project”.
Her project focuses on the problems we associate pigeons within our society
Studying at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, part of Dundee University, she explained: “My project was on pigeons and the problems associated with them, people’s views and opinions.
“I realised that they can be related to the homeless community as they used to be celebrated war birds but are now bearly surviving in a city format.”
Niamh, from Dunblane, also explained her inspiration for the act.
Niamh said she was inspired by artist Edwina Ashton, a London-based artist known for her videos which feature animals.
Niamh was inspired by London based artist Edwina Ashton
She said: “I went into town as a pigeon to see the public’s reaction to a humanoid pigeon. I am frankly overwhelmed how this got out and how it exploded.”
This is not the first time pigeons have gone viral in Dundee.
Earlier this year, bizarre footage of lads spurring on randy pigeons to have sex surfaced on social media.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Associated British Ports (ABP), who own the port at Ipswich, have informed people living nearby that they are due to carry out a controlled killing of pigeons on Sunday, November 18, between 10am and 1pm.
They will be carrying out the cull to curb the pigeon population and ensure it doesn’t endanger the UK’s food supply chain.
ABP have reiterated their reasoning for carrying out the cull and reassured residents the culling will be completed quickly and humanely using trained professionals.
“ABP is part of the UK’s food supply chain and as such, we adhere to strict regulations regarding the control of pests at the Port of Ipswich,” a spokesman said.
“Measures are in place to prevent the spread of disease, stop serious damage to food and preserve public health and safety.
“We are committed to safeguarding the integrity of the UK’s food supply.
They added: “The cull will be carried out by shooting, the quickest and most humane method, by trained professionals under licenses issued by the appropriate government agencies.”
According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), land owners and people given permission by authorities or the Environment Agency are granted a general licence to cull certain wild birds.
The licence can only be used to preserve public health or to ensure public safety.
It cannot be used to simply cull birds that considered to be a nuisance.
Strict laws also state the birds must be killed and/or taken quickly and humanely.
This can be done using either a semi-automatic weapon, a cage trap or even a net.
If all these rules are adhered to, then a number of birds, including pigeons, magpies and Canada geese, can be killed or taken.
Bosses at ABP also said they had explored other avenues in managing the pigeon population.
The spokesman said: “We have examined all the possibilities in managing the pigeon population and we are now fulfilling our legal obligations in the most effective and humane way possible.
“These actions are necessary to protect the UK public.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Non-fare-paying pigeons have been causing a nuisance at London Waterloo station, leading Network Rail to hire a Harris hawk to scare them off.
The 5-year-old hawk, named Aria, has possibly the best and easiest job in London: she does a two-hour shift twice a week, which mostly involves flying about like a badass and scaring the bejeezus out of the poo-happy pigeons.
She also gets a nice bath out of it – her handler Max Bell comments:
“Aria really enjoys the environment at Waterloo and is delighted to be here. She does a great job and often likes to reward herself with a relaxing bath in the puddles that gather on the rain shelters over the platforms.”
This isn’t Aria’s first rodeo, though: previous gigs include King’s Cross station and the Treasury, where she unfortunately failed to scare off Theresa May.
Waterloo area manager Jason Murphy explains the need for a hawk:
“Pigeons can be a real nuisance for people using the station. They also cause a lot of mess which needs cleaning up at some expense.
So Aria’s work is really important in making the station a better place for our passengers, while saving us money on our cleaning bills.
She’s a very hard worker and we’re delighted to have her as part of the station team here at Waterloo.”
Keep an eye out for Aria next time you’re at Waterloo, because she’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for you.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
An animal lover has been banned from feeding the birds after scraps of raw meat she left out to attract wildlife triggered a series of rat infestations.
Jennifer Bagram, 65, placed meat, bird food and nuts in open spaces, alleyways and under trees near her home and in the back gardens of her neighbours.
Despairing locals in Wanstead were forced to install anti-bird spikes to protect their properties from damage by flocks of pigeons, while families of foxes dug up their gardens.
Bagram was served with a community protection notice by Redbridge council in 2016 following complaints about her behaviour and claims that she verbally abused people who challenged her.
She was taken to court last month after being caught on CCTV repeatedly flouting the order. A neighbour said: “We’ve had pigeons, seagulls, rats, foxes, everything … it’s been incessant.
“She has been plaguing the neighbourhood for years.” Another local, who moved in last week, said: “The bloke who I exchanged with said she was very nice but would be out in the street at 3am feeding birds when he came home from clubbing.”
Bagram, of Grosvenor Road, pleaded guilty at Barkingside magistrates’ court last week to breaching a total of six community protection notices issued by the council.
She was fined £600 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs and a victim surcharge of £170.An indefinite criminal behaviour order now bans her from putting out food anywhere in the borough or abusing anyone who has reported her anti-social behaviour.
A breach of the new order could lead to an increased fine or prison.
Bagram, who has lived alone in her ground-floor flat for 30 years following the death of her mother, claimed the neighbours’ complaints were a “witch hunt”.
She said today: “My mum used to take me as a little girl to feed pigeons in the park and she always told me to ‘do one nice thing every day’.
“Feeding birds makes me feel closer to her, it’s in my DNA. I understand about the birds causing problems for people but there has been so much character-bashing of me. I’ve never been aggressive to anyone, I just stand up for myself.
“I wish my neighbours had just come to speak to me. I’ve never hurt anyone and now I’ve been treated like a criminal.”
Councillor John Howard said: “It’s not fair for people to be suffering because of her persistent anti-social behaviour and she left us with no option but to take court action.”
But one neighbour was more sympathetic and said: “Everyone’s different … she’s definitely an eccentric and she just loves animals.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
This week’s insane SUPERSTAR jackpot got us thinking about life and luck. Black cats and broken mirrors might be internationally-recognised omens of bad luck but Malta has its fair share of spooky and downright silly superstitions.
Here are seven of Malta’s strangest superstitions that many islanders still believe in.
1. Spilling wine is actually a good omen
OK, so you’re at a lunch, wearing your favourite (and obviously white or light blue) outfit, sitting across the table from your kunjata, and in between the excited banter and the constant commotion, you end up spilling wine.
Some of it goes all over the tablecloth, and of course some of it ruins your perfectly fine (and probably expensive) outfit… not to mention your kunjata’s new blouse. Well, your gut reaction might be rage (and infinite shame), but don’t worry; if this one superstition is to believed, what you’ve done is actually invoked a good omen. Go figure.
2. Killing a black moth will give you bad luck
Look, we know moths are basically edgy nocturnal butterflies, but there are a lot of people out there who just don’t like the furry fliers. Add a menacing black coating to the mix, and you’re looking at a lot of people who will gladly kill the fluttering moths.
If you’re one for superstitions, though, we’d recommend rethinking that swatting; turns out killing a black moth will actually give you bad luck. Although to be very honest, this sounds like a rumour started by the moth themselves.
3. Having a pigeon sh*t on you is a good thing
Yes, really. At least, if you’re superstitious.
There’s a certain unholy coincidence and irritating irony to when this happens. Normally, it’s while you’re walking into Valletta wearing a full suit, probably already feeling hot and sweaty.
This sticky icing on the cake is enough to push even the calmest islander over the edge, but fret not; it turns out the sh*tty episode is actually a sign of good things to come. Good luck convincing people who come face-to-face with you and that new statement piece sitting on your shoulder though.
4. A woman on her period cannot work in a bakery or vineyard
As in, she can. But she’ll end up ruining the taste of the finished produced. Just by literally being present. Cool.
Turns out there’s one thing that’s even more frustrating than implying a woman is having a bad day because she’s on her period… and it’s telling her to get out because she’s going to spoil the next batch of vino.
6. Putting a colourful eye on your boat will protect you from evil
One of Malta’s most beautiful traditions is also quite strange when you really think about it.
Believed to be a contemporary nod at Osiris (or Horus) – the Phoenician god of protection from evil – the eyes can be seen on the front of countless colourful luzzus all over the island.
From the southern fishing village of Marsaxlokk to the northern coastal area of St. Paul’s Bay, many a bright fishing boat has its own set of decorated eyes, making the traditional luzzu look like a hilarious – and very colourful – sea unicorn.
7. Having a set of ‘magic numbers’ increases your chances of winning the lottery
Sure, it’s random and there’s a very long list of possible combinations, but no: we’ll stick to our own favourite set of digits, thank you very much.
This superstition is very popular in Malta, with people choosing combinations based on their birthday, number of children, or even house number. Throw numbers like 3, 7 and 13 in the mix, and you’re looking at a constant juggle between lucky and unlucky ‘magic numbers’.
It’s all taken one step further on that one special (read: sad) day when you don’t play your numbers and some of them actually are drawn! See, maybe they were magic after all.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Pigeon fanciers are being asked to come forward to rehome a flock of unclaimed domestic birds.
The RSPCA wildlife centre in Nantwich is on the lookout for bird-lovers to re-home a total of 20 domestic pigeons which have found their way into the care of staff there.
Stapeley Grange regularly receives a number of domestic birds throughout the year, but particularly during the quieter winter months when there is less wildlife in the hospital but it can be difficult to find new homes for them.
Many of the pigeons are ex-racers but there are also fancy pigeons who are looking for new homes.
Lee Stewart, manager at Stapeley Grange, which is based in London Road, said: “All animals deserve a second chance and we are always keen to find new homes for every domestic pigeon which comes through our doors, if we are unable to reunite them with their owner.
“It can be hard finding new homes for them as not many people have the facilities to house pigeons. We are keen for anyone who would like to rehome our pigeons to get in touch with us.”
One of the pigeons which is currently looking for a new home was found grounded in Sandbach on September 7.
After two weeks care and recovery, he is now on the lookout for a new home as his original owner can’t be traced.
Lee added: “Before deciding to rehome any birds it’s important to consider if you have the knowledge, time, facilities, money and commitment needed to care for them.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
A unanimous vote has officially made it illegal to feed the pigeons in public in the City of Las Vegas.
Ward 1 councilwoman Lois Tarkanian sponsored the bill. She said the city received numerous complaints about pigeon problems, and it came down to a health issue. Their droppings, she says, can be toxic and can even carry diseases.
News 3 spoke with a pest control expert who explained that when people feed pigeons, more pigeons will show up and expect food at that location. they flock there, reproduce, and thus create more waste.
Meanwhile, the expert says, that food source disappears, but the pigeons don’t necessarily leave. As a result, the street feeders have created a problem for the pigeons.
This may sound like a silly crime — but there are similar laws in place in Henderson and in Clark County.
It does bring up the question — how does the city plan on enforcing it?
Well, if you’re caught feeding them on the streets, there is a chance you’d be reported to the city.
Violators of the new pigeon law could face fines up to $1,000 and even up to six months behind bars.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Two sisters in Hong Kong have taken it on their shoulders to rescue and nurse wounded pigeons in their area.
The sisters, named Inez and Gian, run their group “Hong Kong Pigeon and Dove Rescue” on Facebook where they promote awareness on the welfare of the magnificently plumed birds.
Their initiative was founded four years ago, after Gian rescued a pigeon and took it to the veterinarian for check up. According the South China Morning Post on Oct. 13, Gian had to go to many veterinarians until one was willing enough to look at the injured pigeon. The pigeon was eventually put down.
“Looking back, I think I could’ve nursed it back to health and kept it,” Gian was quoted as saying. “Even if it never flew again, at least it would’ve lived.”
This moment was what compelled Gian and Inez, both in their 30s, to finally push through with their pigeon rescue group. Many friends supported the sisters in their initiative and, in just a year, had over a thousand members in the Facebook community.
“There aren’t many locally available pigeon care resources and providers, unlike those for cats and dogs,” Gian added. “So we created a platform where people can exchange pigeon care tips and learn how to care for sick and injured pigeons without professional intervention.”
Despite their vast efforts, however, there are still people who think lowly of pigeons and scorn at the sisters’ undertaking. Some are also misinformed when it comes to the birds, and automatically connect pigeons with diseases. For Inez and Gian, however, pigeons are just victims of prejudice.
“Many people automatically associate pigeons with avian flu, partly because of public health campaigns,” Gian said in the report. “I see where they’re coming from, but I hope they would delve deeper into this issue instead of simply believing everything they hear.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Representative image AHMEDABAD: A man and his son were beaten by three persons over an alleged theft of pigeons in the Madhavpura area of the city late on Monday night. The complainant, Gulzar Qureshi (51), and his son Arman (16) were sleeping at the terrace of their house in Rustam Mill’s Chawl in Madhavpura when three unknown persons rushed there and started asking why Qureshi’s son had stolen four of their pigeons. “The three persons abused and assaulted me while asking about their pigeons. On seeing me being beaten by them, my son Arman intervened but they then started beating him as well. During the fight, my son fell from the terrace and suffered a fracture in his leg,” said Qureshi. Qureshi then began shouting for help and as people from his neighbourhood gathered, the three men fled. Qureshi and his son were taken to Civil Hospital in Asarwa, where Arman was hospitalized. Madhavpura police lodged a complaint of assault, using abusive language, and abetment, against three unknown persons.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
The Yarmouk district in Damascus has switched hands many times in Syria’s war: from rebels, to Daesh (so-called IS) militants, and back to government forces. But Abu Nimr did not budge.
He has remained in his family home with his dog through bombs, siege, and fierce battles for more than seven years, raising pigeons on his roof even as people fled in droves.
Since the army clawed back the enclave around five months ago, he has helped clear heaps of rubble from the streets and repair abandoned houses.
“My siblings and I lived in this building. They’re all married. They left so their kids could go to school,” Abu Nimr told Reuters in the Yarmouk Palestinian camp in the Syrian capital.
“I thought I’d stay here alone, keep an eye on the family property, and hoped things would be resolved within days. But seven years passed, God kept me patient.”
Abu Nimr, who is originally Palestinian, owned a shop selling sweets like baklawa before the conflict.
At the onset, he stored food from the empty houses of his relatives. As supplies dwindled, he often slept hungry. “I took a decision seven years ago that weapons are not my thing. Bloodshed is not easy,” he said.
Abu Nimr, 36, did odd jobs over the years and spent time with his dog Balo. “He was my friend through the siege, and I relied on him to guard the house when I went out.”
When the fighting got too close, he would hide in the furthest room with a hammer in case he had to dig himself out.
The violence has turned his neighborhood into a ghost town, with twisted metal and collapsed walls still blocking some streets. Others are closed off with signs warning of landmines.
By the time the last battle came this year, after scores of residents had escaped or died, only 16 people were left in his neighborhood.
But he refused to leave. “The people fled? The warplanes dropped bombs? The militants entered? It doesn’t matter.”
Now, Abu Nimr wants to bring life back to Yarmouk and hopes people will be able to return soon.
Former neighbors and residents call him from other parts of Syria or abroad, asking him to check on their homes. They send him some money to clean up and repair damages.
State employees and volunteers have opened all of the main roads, he said. “We help with what we can.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
He turns to sisters Gian and Inez and snaps at them: “The reason they’re here defecating and spreading germs all over the place is because people like you feed them!”
The man, who declined to give his name, then takes a fresh mouthful of water before launching another attack on the birds.
Inez says this outburst is relatively mild, adding that she has seen people pour boiling water over pigeons.
She and Gian run “Hong Kong Pigeon and Dove Rescue”, a Facebook group dedicated to promoting awareness for the well-being of pigeons, and which teaches members how to nurse sick birds back to health.
When Gian rescued her first pigeon four years ago, she took the injured bird to several vets before one was willing to take a look at it. The pigeon had a broken wing and it was likely it would never fly again. On the vet’s advice, Gian reluctantly had the bird put down. “Looking back, I think I could’ve nursed it back to health and kept it,” she says. “Even if it never flew again, at least it would’ve lived.”
It was this loss that inspired Gian and Inez, both in their 30s and who prefer to be mentioned only by their first names, to start the Facebook group. With the help of a few like-minded friends, in one year, the group has developed into a community of more than 1,100 members.
“There aren’t many locally available pigeon care resources and providers, unlike those for cats and dogs,” says Gian, a self-taught pigeon rescuer.
“So we created a platform where people can exchange pigeon care tips and learn how to care for sick and injured pigeons without professional intervention.”
For many Hongkongers, like those in the park, what they are doing is unthinkable.
“Pigeons are filthy!” Leung Iok-lam, 70, says.
A pair of Form Six students from a nearby secondary school seem to agree. “I wouldn’t touch a sick pigeon if I saw one,” Melody Ni Tak-yan says. “I’d worry about contracting some sort of disease.”
“Or making a sick pigeon sicker,” Lim Chi-ling adds.
Gian and Inez however, believe pigeons are the victims of misconceptions.
“Many people automatically associate pigeons with avian flu, partly because of public health campaigns,” says Gian, referring to government regulations that forbid feeding feral pigeons to prevent the spread of so-called “bird diseases”.
“I see where they’re coming from, but I hope they would delve deeper into this issue instead of simply believing everything they hear.”
The regulations were introduced in 2003 as part of the government’s efforts to slow the growth of feral bird populations, which authorities claimed were a public nuisance and the cause of hygiene problems. Offenders face fines of HK$1,500 (US$191).
However, according to findings by the World Health Organisation (WHO) from 2002, comparative studies involving pigeons and other bird species showed pigeons were resistant or minimally susceptible to coming down with bird flu.
Subsequent studies on pigeons sampled in China, Japan, Turkey, Romania and Ukraine suggest that pigeons have played a minimal role in the spread of the H5N1 avian flu virus, which emerged in 2004.
Still, the WHO cautioned against unnecessary close contact with pigeons, citing other studies that demonstrate an increased susceptibility of pigeons to the H5N1 strain.
Gian and Inez, who have cared for more than 100 sick or injured pigeons over the past four years, say they have never contracted diseases from the birds, despite not using gloves, surgical masks and other protective gear when handling them. The sisters believe the government’s persistent warnings have created an unwarranted fear of pigeons among many Hongkongers, including even animal health care workers.
“One time, I took a pigeon to the vet to get an X-ray – and it was returned to me with a broken leg,” says Inez. She suspects the medical staff, whom she says were reluctant to handle the bird , broke the leg during the scan.
Meanwhile, Gian recalls being turned down by multiple vets: “Many vets are concerned about taking in pigeons because they do not want to risk getting in trouble with the law, or worry about bird flu affecting business.”
“Many vets are concerned about taking in pigeons because they do not want to risk getting in trouble with the law, or worry about bird flu affecting business”
In Hong Kong, premises where more than 20 pigeons are bred, housed, or cared for require a licence.
Gian has had to rent a second flat to accommodate her work. Her retail career, which requires shift work, means dedicating time to the pigeons can sometimes be difficult. “When you really believe in something, you’ll do whatever it takes to do it right,” she says.
Looking ahead, the Facebook group hopes to involve more experts and professionals from relevant fields to conduct research on the impact of pigeons on public health and the environment, and potentially propose changes to legislation and education – for example, designating feeding zones and implementing measures to control the pigeon population.
Passionate as she may be, Gian is careful where she draws the line between her career, personal life and volunteering. “Many people take it for granted that we would drop everything and help out whenever there is a pigeon in need,” she says. “But I have my own life to lead. If we’re going to push for change, it’s got to be a team effort.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
A group of thirteen pigeons currently living in a research facility in Australia are making history as the first ever pigeons to contain the Cas9 gene in their reproductive systems.
Ben Novak, a scientist committed to “de-extinction” and bringing back the passenger pigeon, has high hopes for the offspring of the pigeons.
Because the birds contain the Cas9 genes, their squabs (fledgling pigeons) will have the Cas9 gene in every single cell and researchers will be able to edit their DNA using CRISPR, a revolutionary gene-editing tool.
If successful, the pigeons will be the first live animals ever edited with extinct DNA.
The ultimate goal is to edit the DNA of the pigeons and incorporate crucial traits of the long-since exciting passenger pigeon to create wholly new hybrids that look and act like passenger pigeons.
This process is similar to plans for bringing back the woolly mammoth by using Asian elephants, the woolly mammoth’s closest living relative.
Sequencing the genome of an extinct species presents many challenges for researchers because the fossil fragments left behind and on display in museums or labs contain only a partial picture.
According to the Wall Street Journal, after an animal dies, it’s DNA begins to degrade and so extinct animals have only fragments of a complete genome.
From this, researchers need to get creative to fill in the blanks and so the obvious solution is to look to the closest living relative of the extinct species in question.
Beth Shapiro, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, led a project that compared the sequenced genome of the band-tailed pigeon and extinct passenger pigeons.
This allowed the research team to identify the genes that set the two species apart. The newly sequenced fragments of the passenger pigeon also revealed new insight into why the birds went extinct.
Once, passenger pigeons were the most abundant land bird in the United States. Passenger pigeons suffered speedy declines because their meat was prized and they were hunted to the brink of extinction. The last known passenger pigeon died in 1914.
Shapiro’s research shows that the birds were genetically geared to thrive in large flocks and it was their sharp dip in numbers that made them more vulnerable and less able to cope.
“Passenger pigeons were fantastically well adapted to living in their large population sizes,” Shapiro told the Daily Mail. “It was the very sudden shift to a small population size that was problematic.”
The researchers also found that the birds were not as genetically diverse as other abundant species.
Building on Shapiro’s research, Novak hopes to breed his new Cas9 pigeons until he has 22 living pairs of feelings that will eventually be bred as well. Once the birds are introduced to passenger pigeon DNA, Novak’s team will edit band-tailed pigeons with as many traits from the passenger pigeon as possible.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Katie Hemme hasn’t hunted since she was in college, and even then, the only things she tried to shoot were raccoons or coyotes who threatened her family’s sheep farm.
The one time she actually dropped a bird was when she took aim at the pigeons in the haymow, angry after their droppings got all over the hay she was supposed to toss down for the livestock.
When a pigeon fell to the floor, Hemme said her up-close view revealed such a pretty bird, she couldn’t bring herself to shoot another one.
“I liked the idea of trying to hit one, but I didn’t want to see one dead,” she said.
Now a retired physical education teacher, Hemme is one of 11 women registered to participate in Saturday’s Women’s Mentored Hunt during the Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener in Luverne. This is the second consecutive year the governor’s opener has offered a special hunt for women who are first-time or novice hunters.
While Hemme said she went pheasant hunting a couple of times, she doesn’t recall ever getting a bird.
She doesn’t care much if she gets one this Saturday, either, but the fact that the governor’s hunt is in her hometown of Luverne makes it an opportunity she just can’t pass up.
“I thought it sounded like it would be kind of fun,” said the 77-year-old Hemme. “I’m old and thought that would be a good example to see an old lady out there.”
Hemme owned guns up until she moved into town last year.
“I figured in town I wouldn’t be shooting at coyotes and racoons, and the squirrels move too fast for me,” she said with a laugh.
So, she will borrow a gun for Saturday’s hunt, and perhaps prove to everyone — including her friends — that you’re only as old as you feel.
“(My friends) all kind of looked at me … like, ‘You are nuts!'” Hemme said.
It’s not all that hard to believe, though. Hemme said she was one of the first girls in Minnesota to take a hunting safety class. In the late 1950s, the course was taught in Le Center, where she attended high school.
“There were four of us (girls) in my high school class that attended,” She said. “There was an active gun club in the community.”
Hemme doesn’t know if Saturday’s hunt will lead to more pheasant hunting experiences in the future, but she’s keeping her options open.
“Most of the people I know are quite serious hunters,” she said. “They might not want to drag an amateur along.”
Hemme said she’s grateful the women’s mentored hunt is offered in conjunction with the governor’s annual opener.
“Sometimes these things are so stereotyped,” she said. “It’s important to show that it’s OK for girls to do this — it’s not just a man’s thing. And, you don’t have to be young.”
Kristi Coughlon, an information officer with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources northwest region, is organizing the Women’s Mentored Hunt for the second consecutive year. A hunter with more than 30 years experience, she’s bringing two hunting dogs and has found five other women — and their trained dogs — to mentor the 11 women registered to hunt.
“All of the mentors, we’re there to provide this so women can explore these opportunities,” Coughlon said. “It’s a supportive environment with other women. Where else can you be part of a great celebration and learn from hunters how to hunt?”
Affiliated with the DNR’s “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” program for several years, Coughlon said she’s coordinating the women’s mentored hunt as a way to pay it forward.
“I had an opportunity to be taught by other folks to hunt elk, pheasant, turkeys,” she said. “I want to be able to expose other women to it — to talk to them about barriers or thoughts they have about why they think they can’t do it.”
The female mentors are coming to Luverne from across the state — Coughlon from Bemidji, another from Roosevelt and one from Two Harbors, in addition to others in southwest Minnesota. The hunters include a handful from Luverne and the immediate area, as well as Detroit Lakes, International Falls, Grand Rapids, Sauk Rapids and Bloomington.
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