by johnnymarin | Jun 15, 2018 | Pigeons in the News
Registered carer Damien Appleton had been driving a Renault Kangoo in Calshot Road, Havant, when he spotted the birds and ‘misjudged the angle,’ flipped the van on to its side and ran off. Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court heard the 18-year-old, of Woolston Road, Havant, had been moving the van from his mother’s address. When police traced him via the registration plate, it revealed he had no insurance, MOT and no licence. Appleton admitted each of the three charges and a charge of failing to stop in the crash on March 15 at 12.10pm. Emma Smith, mitigating, said: ‘There was a group of pigeons in the road, he swerved to miss them and misjudged the angle and flipped the vehicle. ‘He’s panicked and that’s why he’s left the scene. When police come to his address he makes admissions to them.’ Appleton, who owned the van, was banned for two years. Ms Smith said Appleton is a carer for his brother, in his 20s, who is paralysed from the neck down after diving into shallow water. No-one else had been involved in the crash. Sentencing, district judge Anthony Callaway said: ‘What a good thing no-one was killed.’
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Jun 14, 2018 | Pigeon Patrol's Services
Bengaluru: The Nipah virus outbreak that has sparked panic in Kerela has raised serious concerns in the city. Harsha, a bird rescuer has pointed out that feeding of pigeons could also lead to the outbreak of the flu in the future.
“Today we are talking about bats and tomorrow we will be talking about pigeons. This force feeding at Cubbon Park and Lalbagh must stop or else we will wait for another outbreak caused from bats and that will be difficult to control,” Harsha said.
“Nipah virus is transmitted from bats to human by consumption of food contaminated by body fluids from infected fruit bats. Pigs are intermediate host. Humans can contract infection from a pig with active disease by coming in close frequent contact, handling raw meat from infected animal or consuming poorly cooked meat,” said Dr Vidya Jagadeesan, consultant- infectious diseases, Columbia Asia Hospital, Whitefield.
She also added that the human to human transmission has also been known to occur, mostly in family and caregiver of the infected patients.
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Jun 13, 2018 | Bird Deterrent Products
They’ve been called “flying rats” and are often the unwelcome guests to a beautiful stroll in the city. Needless to say, pigeons are one bird with a bad rep.
But for photographer Andrew Garn, pigeons are creatures of dazzling beauty who conquer tremendous odds each day by surviving in often hostile urban environments. His new book,The New York Pigeon: Behind the Feathers, offers a fascinating look at the history, anatomy, and unexpected beauty of these ubiquitous birdies.
Here, Garn shares with BuzzFeed News a selection of pictures and words from his new book as well as his thoughts on why people have misconceptions of pigeons.
I’ve always been drawn to underappreciated subject matters. For me, there’s a challenge in revealing the beauty in things that people often overlook. It’s easy to photograph flowers or models, but it’s much harder to photograph things that people don’t consider glamorous.
I didn’t want this to just be a book of beautiful portraits of pigeons — I want people to learn more about them so they can appreciate how amazing these birds truly are.
The New York Pigeon is really a public relations vehicle for the birds: I want this to open people’s eyes to pigeons and be able to show them how beautiful they are.
I think one misconception that people hold about pigeons is that they spread disease. I mean, if someone were to lick their poop, then yes, you would probably get sick. But then again, if you licked to poop of any animal, you’d probably get sick too.
Some people also think that they’re dirty, but that’s also not true. These are birds that are constantly cleaning themselves. In the wintertime, when it’s really hard to get fresh water, they’ll even sit out in the snow to clean their wings and feathers.
The major problem in urban areas is that people think they’re helping pigeons by feeding them bread, but in reality they are really hurting them. Pigeons are so adaptable — they’ve lived alongside humans for over 5,000 years — and with that adaptability they’ve become accustomed to eating any type of food. I’ve even seen them eating chicken wings, which is kind of creepy.
But the problem with bread is that it has no nutritional value and it weakens their immune system. A lot of the times when you see a sickly looking pigeon, it’s because it’s eating bread all the time!
I was born in Manhattan and never really had any feelings toward pigeons. To tell you truth, I was sort of ambivalent. My guess is that 10% of people really hate these birds, 80% of people really don’t care at all, and the other 10% truly love them. These are the people who feed them, care for them, and keep them as pets.
Really, I think that’s a thing about growing up in NYC — I really don’t think I ever even noticed nature, much less the birds of the city. I didn’t see the cycles of nature or notice it that much. The epiphany for me was really focusing in on this project. It just kind of hit me.
Since beginning this project, I became a licensed bird rehabber and have really become caught up in the entire world of pigeons and pigeon people. I actually raised a baby pigeon from an egg, which is no easy feat! For a mother to do it is a tough — much less a human. Since that first day that I spent with them, I was totally hooked.
If you’ve ever touched or held a bird you’ll notice that they seem so fragile. That’s because they’ve evolved to be incredibly lightweight; there’s nothing extraneous on a bird — I mean, most birds evolved to even not have penises since that would just be extra weight!
The really crazy thing about pigeons is their breast muscle. To control their wings, these use the huge muscles that are one-third their body weight, so if a human were to have a similar breast muscle, it would be somewhere around 6 feet deep in relation to our bodies!
And when they fly, pigeons have maneuverability almost unlike any other birds. Sure, falcons can fly faster and hummingbirds can hover, but pigeons have the ability to move almost like a helicopter. That skill comes from their native habitat, cliffsides, where they have almost no protection from predators, so they have to be able to get out of the way pretty quickly. It’s an evolutionary thing.
Pigeons are also very compliant and smart, which makes them the perfect subjects for studying. They weigh roughly 1 pound; they’re docile and they’re not really the nervous type. In fact, the Journal of Experimental Biology has over 1,100 published studies about pigeons — everything from navigation to motion.
And of course, psychologist B.F. Skinner’s behavior modification series came from working with pigeons. He taught them to guide missiles with a better accuracy than humans and to even find people at sea with better accuracy than humans working with binoculars. Lately, pigeons have even been taught to read X-rays and can spot cancer in patients with a 99% accuracy rate, which is higher than most radiologists.
When I started work on the book, I began photographing on the street using a portable studio box, but that entails grabbing a pigeon and actually placing it in the box — which is not very practical. People on the streets would come up and start yelling at me, saying, “What are you doing?!”
When I finally got very close to the pigeons, I was immediately captivated by their iridescence and feather patterns, not to mention their unique personalities!
Up until that day, I had been looking at them as objects; I had actually forgotten that they are birds! And beautiful birds at that!
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Jun 12, 2018 | Pigeon Patrol's Services
Katara – the Cultural Village Foundation has announced that it is offering specially made wooden boxes to the public free of cost, for providing drinking water to pigeons and other birds during summer. Describing it as “rare”, Katara said in a statement that the initiative coincides with the holy month of Ramadan, the “month of kindness and mercy shown not only to human beings but also to animals and birds”.
Many Qatari households use traditional methods to give water to birds, especially pigeons, which are an essential part of the Qatari environment. “Now, for the first time in the country, an organisation such as Katara has come out to popularise this tradition and encourage people to take proper care of the living beings around them,” the statement explains.
Katara has prepared more than 1,000 wooden boxes for this purpose. The boxes, which can be installed in open areas and terraces of buildings, come attached with a glass plate to fill water and a plastic hose to collect water from a nearby tap. The hose has an automatic system to stop pumping when the glass plate is full with water. The wooden box is open from all sides, allowing birds to enter and sit on a piece of wood and quench their thirst.
“Through this initiative, Katara aims to revive a Prophetic tradition that encourages believers to show mercy to all creatures. We also want to inculcate the love for nature and the environment in all members of the society, especially the younger generation,” said Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, general manager of Katara.
The specially designed wooden boxes are available at Katara Building 15 for the public free of cost. “There is a growing demand for the boxes. More than 300 pieces have already been distributed,” said a source at Katara. Qatar, with its parks, gardens and growing green areas, is home to a rich variety of birds and also attracts a number of migratory birds every year.
“Katara, while designing its buildings and structures, has given utmost importance to environment and green areas. A large number of pigeons and other birds have been spotted in its surroundings. The Pigeon Tower in Katara is one of its most photographed tourist attractions,” the statement adds.
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Jun 11, 2018 | Pigeons in the News
New Zealands “forgotten army” has been remembered at Massey University’s School of Veterinary Science in Palmerston North.
On Thursday, a plaque dedicated to the officers and soldiers of the New Zealand Veterinary Corps was unveiled.
A purple poppy is the recognised tribute to the “forgotten army” of animals that gave their loyalty and lives during war.
The plaque, donated by the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation, was presented at this year’s unveiling of the New Zealand War Animal Memorial at Waiouru’s National Army Museum on Purple Poppy Day, February 24.
As New Zealand’s only veterinary school, it was decided Massey would be the best place to house the plaque on behalf of the country’s veterinary professionals.
Featuring the horses, mules, camels, dogs and pigeons that served, the plaque carried an inscription to members of the NZ Vet Corps who “gave comfort and care to the animals of war”, and was unveiled by the university’s vice chancellor Professor Jan Thomas and Emeritus Professor Neil Bruère.
Glyn Harper, professor of war studies at Massey University, and an author of children’s books set during World War I, has two stories featuring animals, Roly, The Anzac Donkey, and, released earlier this year, Bobby, The Littlest War Hero, the story of the New Zealand tunnelling company’s early warning canary.
Harper said animals played a huge role in New Zealand wars from the conflicts of the 19th century onward, and especially during WWI, with bullocks, horses, mules and donkeys used for logistical purposes.
“New Zealand sent 8000 horses to the South African War, and 10,000 horses to WWI, before that was stopped in 1916.”
New Zealand was running out of horses and needed the remaining animals for farm work. Many of the horses sent to the front had passed through a camp just outside Palmerston North used as a base for receiving gifted and bought horses.
“On the Western Front, the New Zealand Division used 6000 horses each day,” Harper said.
The New Zealand Veterinary Corps was formed in 1907, and during WWI comprised a small number of qualified veterinarians as commissioned officers, along with blacksmiths and farriers, groomers, teamsters and wagoners, and were essential for military operations.
Harper said despite being overwhelmed by the numbers of animals they had to treat, including dogs and carrier pigeons, the vets provided exemplary service, with only 2 per cent of the animals succumbing to illness or disease.
Wreaths were placed at the base of the plaque, the Ode to Remembrance was read and The Last Post sounded during the hour-long ceremony, which was also attended by Yardley, a golden labrador explosives detection dog and Afghanistan veteran, and alsatian infantry support dog Ida, from Linton Military Camp.
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Jun 10, 2018 | Pigeon Spikes
A pigeon infestation has left an elderly couple afraid to use their own garden and has prompted health concerns.
The pigeons have nested in solar panels on Lydia and Frederick Fox’s roof in Blenheim Road, Pinkneys Green, leaving the patio, fence, bins and garden umbrella covered in droppings.
Eggs and chicks that have fallen from the nests also lie on the ground, but the couple have struggled to find anyone who will deal with the problem.
The pair have lived in the road for 49 years and kept their home ‘immaculate’ but say they cannot go into their garden for fear of being covered in droppings.
Lydia, 81, said: “We can’t sit in our garden. The only time I go out is if my husband takes me out in the car – and that’s unacceptable if you have your own garden.”
Lydia, who is disabled, walks with a stick and has dressings on her leg ulcers changed once a week, is at her wits’ end.
“I shall go stir crazy if I have to wait in this house,” she said.
The solar panels that the birds are nesting in were installed about six years ago by housing association Housing Solutions to reduce heating costs.
Lydia said her neighbours Leslie Bird and Denise French also have the panels and are equally affected.
She believes the pigeons were displaced after a local pigeon fancier had his loft sealed.
The pigeons moved in at the start of the year. Since then Lydia has sought the aid of various organisations.
She said the Royal Borough has not taken any steps to help and added: “They said they were a protected species but what about us?”
She said she was told by an environmental health employee that ‘I don’t really know what to do about pigeons’ and a pest control company said it could not do anything because the panels belonged to the council.
Lydia said Housing Solutions suggested netting but she has seen no action.
She added the noise the birds create is also ‘unbelievable’ and their presence is affecting their health.
Scared that the pigeon droppings are contaminating the water tank in their roof, they are only using mouthwash to brush their teeth.
Lydia and Denise also have persistent chest infections and Frederick has an eye infection.
She also believes the situation has triggered one of Denise’s daughters to use an inhaler.
Lydia said: “Everybody can smell it; it’s just in the air. We’re breathing it in all the time.”
She added: “If we were to move out tomorrow, Housing Solutions would get rid of them for new residents.”
Housing Solutions and the Royal Borough were unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Jun 9, 2018 | Bird Deterrent Products
Q. Pigeons are everywhere, but has anyone ever seen a baby pigeon?
A. No. They are mythical creatures born in adult form, like the Greek goddess Athena when she sprang from the head of Zeus.
Just kidding, of course: Pigeons are secretive birds, and as such like to build their nests in hidden locations. What’s more, it takes only a month for a chick — properly called a squab, informally known as a squeaker — to become fully developed and leave the nest, limiting the time you have to come across one.
The feral pigeons that inhabit the city today are the descendants of wild rock pigeons, also known as rock doves, which are native to Europe, northern Africa and southwestern Asia.
Wild pigeons build their nests in places unlikely to be disturbed by other animals, such as on cliff faces. Window ledges, rooftops and scaffolding serve as stand-ins for their cosmopolitan relatives.
When a male pigeon looks for a mate, he finds a good nesting spot before launching into his mating call. If he is successful, the female remains at the site while the male brings twigs and other materials to build the nest.
Both parents take turns incubating the eggs, which typically come in pairs and take 16 to 19 days to hatch. The chicks are born helpless, covered with yellowish-brown fuzz; nourishment comes from a white substance called “pigeon milk,” which their parents regurgitate into their mouths.
One New Yorker who has seen her share of squabs is Rita McMahon, co-founder and director of the Wild Bird Fund, a nonprofit that rehabilitates wildlife of all kinds.
On a recent afternoon, several large birds roamed freely around the organization’s Upper West Side headquarters, including a juvenile swan named Warrior who had found himself frozen in ice in Prospect Park. (“They’re just young and stupid,” Ms. McMahon said. “They don’t know winter yet.”)
There were no baby pigeons, however. Ms. McMahon estimated that squabs account for one-sixth of the 6,000 birds her team treats each year. The flow is fairly consistent, as pigeons, which have an expected life span of two to three years, mate year-round.
Many patients arrive with broken legs. That’s because squabs nearing maturity go through an angst-filled teenage phase, which can result in a desire to leave the nest prematurely.
“If they come out too early and they don’t have the wings, all the flapping in the world isn’t going to keep them from hitting hard,” Ms. McMahon said.
This risky period requires the parents to navigate between protecting the squabs from harming themselves and letting them go free. If their young become overly dependent, for example, they could have a difficult time making it on their own.
Human guardians can be faced with the same challenge, as one Metro reporter for The New York Times discovered last year when he raised a pair of baby pigeons in his bathroom.
“You get very attached to them,” Ms. McMahon said. “They are charming.”
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Jun 8, 2018 | Pigeons in the News
The big-hearted rescuers then used a tube to administer air from a ventilator until the wild creatures coughed back into life.
Passer-by Sim Wright, 49, snapped the bonkers scene as he passed the depot in Colchester, Essex.
The marine biologist said: “We heard what sounded like explosions coming from the depot so we thought it was best to get out.
“When I went round the back, I could see they were looking for people in the building and when they were sure no-one was trapped, they turned their attention to the birds.
“They were carrying the birds out by hand. They had passed out from smoke inhalation.
“They got them on to the ground and they started feeding them water out of a cap to revive them.
“Then I was really surprised because they used a tube to feed them oxygen which really seem to do the trick.
“When I saw it, being a marine biologist, I was really taken with the care they were displaying to the animals.
“Obviously, their first priority is for humans but once they had ascertained there was no-one in there, it was really great to see how quickly they turned their attention to the birds. Soon after I took this they were walking around the place and looked okay.”
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said the firefighters were called to the blaze on Friday, May 18.
A spokesman added: “This is a great example of the compassion our firefighters show on a daily basis across our county.”
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Jun 7, 2018 | Pigeons in the News
A BIRD found itself before the beak after sneaking into a courtroom and leaving deposits everywhere.
Although there are no windows in the room at Swindon Crown Court, the pigeon somehow managed to get in and make itself at home.
And it was still there this morning when legal business was due to start, resulting in one case being moved to another courtroom while another matter was delayed.
Efforts are being made to remove the bird from the building.
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Jun 6, 2018 | Pigeon Patrol's Services
When a group of students discarded an old mop on their dormitory balcony before the holidays they didn’t give it a moment’s thought.
But when they returned after the break they found a family of birds had made a nest on top of the mop head.
Now their balcony is home to a group of baby pigeons.
A picture of the scene was posted online by one of the students who uses the Reddit handle Aelegius.
“I live in a dormitory in Estonia and one of my roommates threw one of our old mops out on our third-floor balcony,” Aelegius told the Press Association.
“We often see pigeons around our building, but would never have thought they’d decide to nest here.
“We had a few weeks’ break from school for exam preparation and discovered those baby birds when we returned. I couldn’t describe my surprise upon seeing them.”
The birds had fashioned a regular nest of twigs on top of the mop head, with a wall giving them am extra buffer from the wind.
“I had never before seen baby pigeons before. I adore watching our pigeon family outside our kitchen window.”
Aelegius, who is due to graduate this year and then go to university, added: “The balcony had turned into quite a mess though, so we’ll definitely remember to not leave any mops out in the future.”
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Jun 5, 2018 | Pigeons in the News
A disease in pigeons and doves gained infamy in 2006 after it decimated the UK’s greenfinch bird population by half a million within that year. In 2012, the bird’s population had plummeted to 2.8 million from an estimated 4.3 million. A new study has now found a protozoan parasite that was implicated in the disease in common mynas in Faisalabad, Pakistan.
The disease, avian trichomonosis, is an emerging infection more colloquially called frounce or canker. It wreaks havoc on both endangered and common wildlife populations. The parasite responsible for causing it, Trichomonas gallinae, is known to normally affect pigeons, doves and the birds of prey that eat them.
But in 2005, it jumped species and devastated the UK’s garden songbird populations of greenfinches and chaffinches. Some earlier studies have pointed out that they probably had a major role to play in driving the passenger pigeon to extinction, and that they are causingpopulations of the endangered Mauritian pink pigeon to fall. (Interesting aside: a T. gallinae-like protozoan had commonly infected the dinosaurs as well.)
Trichomonosis affects the upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tract of birds. Affected birds develop lesions in the mouth and/or oesophagus and show signs of lethargy and laboured breathing. Some of them drool saliva and have wet plumage around the bill. T. gallinae can’t survive outside the host and is vulnerable to dehydration. The parasite is transmitted when infected birds share their food and water with others.
Common mynas roost with the blue rock pigeon, the latter a species that hosts T. gallinae in their bodies without harm to themselves. Since mynas are also known to eat pigeon and dove fledglings, researchers already suspected that the disease had jumped species.
Mynas are highly adaptable and live and breed in a wide range of climates. They are also known to evict other resident birds from their nests, earning them the sobriquet ‘kalahapriya’, Sanskrit for ‘quarrel-lover’. Though native to Asia, the myna has thrived in new environments to which it has been introduced.
In fact, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it’s one of the three bird species on the ‘world’s 100 worst invasive species’ list. Given its runaway success in occupying new territory, the myna’s ability to spread diseases to other susceptible domestic and wild avian species in other parts of the world is a matter of grave concern.
The global distribution of the common myna. Blue indicates its native range, red the regions in which it was introduced. Credit: Biatch/Wikimedia Commons
The researchers, from the University of Agriculture in Faisalabad, the King Saud University in Riyadh and the University of East Anglia, Norwich, captured 167 mynas across eight sites in Faisalabad to screen for T. gallinae. They used a binomial sequence-based genotyping system, where genetic variation is measured in predetermined DNA sequences, and found that about 20% of the birds were infected with the disease.
The infection rates were lowest in places where the contact between mynas and blue rock pigeons was limited. At the same time, the infection itself was widespread: there were infected mynahs in all the surveyed sites.
The study’s authors have inferred that the disease in mynahs was endemic, i.e. restricted to a particular region. Farah Ishtiaq, a disease ecologist at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, who was not involved in the study, thinks this is a bold claim to make because it has not been explored elsewhere and because there has been no evidence thus far for this claim.
According to Kevin Tyler, a cellular microbiologist at the University of East Anglia and one of the authors of the study, the genetic subtype, or strain, affecting the mynas was different from the one affecting European finches.
He also said in response to Ishtiaq’s comment that the subtype had been found at all sites at a similar level at different times. Together with the fact that T. gallinae did not appear to be causing severe disease, “our interpretation … is that this is consistent with the disease being endemic in this region rather than a recent outbreak.”
Spencer Greenwood, a professor at the University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, who was not part of the study, also found the endemism claim reasonable given they had only found one genetic subtype and that most birds had not shown evident signs of the disease.
Then again, only 11 out of the 33 infected mynas had exhibited signs of poor health, suggesting they were able to carry the infection without fatal consequences to themselves while potentially being able to spread the disease to other species. However, more studies will have to be conducted before we’re sure whether mynahs are a reservoir or a dead-end host. This is because the mynas have the potential to be a reservoir for this disease. Though the authors have found infection, the study does not address transmission to and from mynas as hosts.
The infection incidence was higher among male mynas than female ones. Nicholas Clark, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, who has studied avian malaria in mynas, said, “Perhaps the males are more likely to come into close contact with pigeons and doves.” He added that researchers would have to study the behavioural ecology of males and females in the nest to know more. He was not involved in the study.
However, Ishtiaq said that mynas have no sexual dimorphism – so sexes can’t be told apart without surgical or molecular testing. So it would be easy to over- or under-estimate the number of birds of either sex.
But Tyler is confident about being to use subtle differences in morphometric measurements to their advantage. In this study, the researchers were familiar with the captured mynas and could confidently ascribe sex. Nonetheless, he and his colleagues remain unsure as to why mostly male mynas were infected with trichomonosis.
Greenwood said other aspects, such as a myna’s roosting behaviour, weather conditions, availability of food, closeness to breeding season, etc. need to be considered to figure out why more males seem to be infected.
He also thinks that sampling the pigeons that share habitat with the mynas and determining what type of strains they carry would be important. “It would be interesting to see if they have the same subtype and if they do, at what prevalence do they occur compared to other subtypes.”
Protozoan parasites cause some of the world’s worst diseases. Because a lot of them are restricted to the developing world, studies such as this demonstrate the importance of studying emerging infectious diseases and their social and economic repercussions. “Mynas have already been implicated in the spread of bird flu through contact with poultry,” Tyler said, “so this could be of concern to poultry farmers.”
His team plans to work with groups in India and other places where mynas thrive.
Ishtiaq thinks that they have made a good start in understanding the host and geographical range of trichomonosis, and feels it would be good to test the common rosefinch for T. gallinae. This is the only finch species that migrates to South Asia and comes in contact with other resident birds. “I have seen many shared avian malaria parasites between resident finches and common rosefinch,” 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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Jun 4, 2018 | Pigeon Patrol's Services
I read the article on pigeon control with great interest as in the UK several large cities have had similar problems. Their approach has been different but has had a high success rate.
Their approach was quite unusual. They first built nesting sites or dovecotes for the pigeons and these proved very attractive to the birds.
The next move was the radical one. Every day, an employee would visit each site and remove any eggs. No eggs, no new pigeons. In a surprisingly short time, the numbers dropped dramatically and are well under control.
A few enquiries would provide the names of the cities involved and could be very helpful with the problem in Malta.
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Jun 3, 2018 | Pigeon Patrol's Services
BRIDGETON, Mo. – SSM Health DePaul Hospital has been trying to keep the disease-carrying pigeons away from its property, but they refuse to fly away. So the hospital hired Presto-X to remove them in the most humane way.
“Since they aren’t a native species, indigenous to Missouri, there is no regulation,” conservationist Dan Zarlenga said.
That means there isn’t a wrong way to get rid of them. However, hospital employees contacted Fox 2/KPLR 11 after witnessing a pest control employee drown the pigeons in water.
“We definitely recommend that whatever method is used to deal with them, that people do it in a humane manner for ethical reasons,” Zarlenga said.
Since there are no standard procedures for handling pigeons, Fox 2 reached out to another company to learn industry practices. Up until recently, many pest control companies used buckets of water when hired to catch and kill them. However, many are now starting to use more humane practices.
“It’s unfortunate to have any lethal method to control animals, so if that’s necessity by the situation, certainly doing it in the most humane way possible is what we would endorse,” Zarlenga said.
The hospital released the following statement on the matter:
“We received a complaint from an employee, the company denies the allegation. I think the key is that our express instructions were and are to capture and release the birds and to do them no harm. We do not want them ‘disposed of.’ We want them unharmed and released. BTW, while we have no evidence that he did this, we have asked that the technician accused of harming a bird not return to our campus.”
Meanwhile, Presto-X released a statement denying the action:
“Presto-X is a leader in its conscious approach to bird management. Because of the numerous diseases spread by birds, their droppings, and shed feathers; pest prevention and bird management are critical components of a comprehensive public health and safety strategy. Pigeons, in particular, can transmit over 60 diseases with some having devastating, life-long effects on humans. In this instance, pigeons were captured humanely and transported offsite for release in accordance with local and state regulations.”
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Jun 2, 2018 | Pigeons in the News
These include some 148 infant birds, 619 adult birds and 27 others.“This is the season for babies of birds such as Parakeets, Kites and Pigeons being born. Of late, there has been a significant spike in the number of cases of birds falling prey to dehydration and heatstroke. The infant birds are often ready for their first flight around this time of the year, but they get dehydrated and fall. AHMEDABAD: At a time when many of us fall prey to dizziness and dehydration merely after spending a couple of hours in the scorching sun, the plight of stray animals and birds is much worse. The situation has worsened so much that birds tend to fall and suffer head injuries, as they get dehydrated while flying.Nearly 800 cases of birds falling prey to heat-related illnesses were reported at Jivdaya Charitable Trust (JCT) in Ahmedabad in the first fortnight of this month.
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Jun 1, 2018 | Pigeon Patrol's Services
SOMETIMES I think someone is filming “Wild Kingdom” in our neighborhood, especially this time of year.
Last week, I had the annual spring ritual of a bird falling down the chimney into the fireplace, which annoyed me to no end, but got the cat so excited he tried to jump through the glass doors.
I have a fish net to deal with such occurrences, one that surrounds the front of the fireplace and catches the bird when I open the door and he flies out.
This one I could not catch and he didn’t die in the fireplace. Somehow that little booger got out, doing a Houdini up the chimney.
That same day my daughter, who does not live in the neighborhood, was dealing with birds in her attic. I have occasionally told her she had bats in her belfry, but I never suspected birds in the attic.
My son, meanwhile, had pigeons in the attic of his downtown apartment. Crazy!
But back to my neighborhood. While I was dealing with the bird in the chimney, I got a text message from a neighbor warning me that something was tearing down the bird feeders in her yard.
What else but a bear? Yep, this is about the time of year when the mamas (around Mother’s Day) kick out their 18-month-old cubs and send them into the world on their own. And no, they do not allow them to return home and live in the basement.
There is nothing crazier than a teenage bear looking for its own territory. Those critters will travel for 100 miles or more trying to find themselves (without a psychiatrist) and search for food in everything from trashcans to bird feeders.
Some neighbors were not certain that it really was a bear until the mail lady saw him early one afternoon while making her rounds. That convinced everyone, because once a representative of the U.S. government makes a declaration, well, you know it is the gospel truth.
Almost all the neighbors were anxious to see the bear move on, primarily because of his perceived political persuasion. Those on the left side of the road were sure he was a Republican because of his aggressive behavior. After all, it seemed that this guy had declared war on bird feeders.
But those on the right side of the road were just as sure that this adolescent bruin was a Democrat because he was eating food that others had worked for and labored to make available for the birds.
During this heated debate, my cat disappeared and some suggested the bear had gotten him. I, on the other hand, thought he had become a meal for a litter of baby coyotes.
At about the same time, there appeared a red fox that was raising pups down behind another neighbor’s house, and then came the groundhog that was sneaking out from under the barn and eyeing my bean patch.
Whew! There was a lot going on and it all revolved around animals. We seemed to be becoming the Hundred Acre Wood.
Everything has finally calmed down. No one has seen the bear in a week or so and no more birds have done their Santa Claus impression and come down the chimney.
My daughter got some guy to come and get the birds out of her chimney, while the landlord has promised to do something about my son’s pigeons.
My cat wandered back after a couple of days, kinda beat up, but with a smile on his face, so he must have had a wild time somewhere.
As for the bear, we never did decide whether he was a Republican or a Democrat. Maybe, since he was all alone, he was an independent.
Still, I know what he is going to be if he gets in my garden—a rug in front of the fireplace!
That will give the cat a soft place to lie in wait for the next bird that comes down the chimney.
Fur and feathers. That’s what country life is all about.
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | May 31, 2018 | Pigeon Patrol's Services
It was Maharaja Mansingh I who brought a falcon after the conquest of Bengal to Amber. It was said to belong to the Turkish Sultana of Akbar’s Court, who presented it to him for his valour in the 16th century. Maharaja Jai Singh II was gifted a falcon by his friend, Emperor Mohd Shah Rangila when he was building the Jantar Mantar at Delhi in the 18th century.
Sawai Ram Singh II was presented a falcon on behalf of the Curator of the Cairo Museum in the 19th century, who later sent the mummy of an Egyptian princess, preserved in the Albert Hall Museum now, to his successor. The falcon used to fly over the river Nile and catch fish too.
Sawai Madho Singh II was presented a falcon by Major James Alexander, which he had brought from Kabul after the Third Afghan War of 1919 following the assassination of Amir Habibullah.
Sawai Man Singh II, the last recognised ruler of Jaipur, was presented a falcon when he was India’s Ambassador to Spain, and his successor, Brig Bhawani Singh, brought one captured in Sindh during the Indo-Pak (Bangladesh) war of.1971.
The shikra (falcon) of Saeed Ahmed, an Indo-Turk, is now part of one’s memory. The falcon would sit on his wrist and, at a pull of its string, would shoot up and catch a small bird, usually a sparrow or a shyama. It was fed red meat and feared by children, who were wary of its sudden snap at their fingers.
Saeed used to wear a leather band on his wrist to protect it from the impulsive bird of prey. Those were the days when some of the rajas and nawabs flaunted falcons like people do mobile phones these days. Nagaland is famous for falcons migrating from colder climes in winter. Thousands of them were killed by the Nagas over the years but now conservation has begun.
Falconry is thousands of years old. It was known in India as early as the Mahabharata days. The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, as also the Chinese and Japanese, were fond of falconry. A falcon of Duryodhan snatched an ornament of Draupadi and was shot and injured by one of the Pandavas ~ something that the Kaurava leader resented very much until calmed down by his machiavellian uncle Shakuni.
The falcon of Bhishma Pitama is a favourite part of local lore but does not form part of the Mahabharata epic. The falcons of the pharaohs went into battle with them. Troy’s Prince Paris sent love notes to Helen through his falcon while resisting the siege by the Greeks. The latter also had their falcons.
Agamemnon sent his falcon with a message to comfort his wife Andromache. Aeneas’ departure was conveyed to the heart-broken Queen Dido by his falcon, which flew back to the hero’s ship and landed in Italy with its master.
No wonder the succeeding Romans enjoyed falconry while they were fighting their wars in Europe and in Africa. The Vikings and Mongols were also fond of it.
Nearer home, Babar and Humayun’s love for falcons was passed on to Akbar, who had them in his private quarters in the Agra Fort: But when the emperor’s prized pigeons were killed by them one night he had them caged so that his birds were kept out of harm’s way.
Jahangir sported a shikra in his youth at Fatehpur Sikri and Shah Jahan as Khurram had one presented to him by a Rajput prince with whom he and Mumtaz Mahal had taken shelter during his revolt against his father. A falcon was Guru Govind Singh’s favourite bird.
In our own times Saeed Ahmed’s shikra led to a craze for Falcons in the Walled City of Delhi. The nawabs of Basai Darapur and Jhajjar were known falconers, so also Nawab Shamsuddin Khan of Ferozepur, who was hanged for the assassination of the British Resident William Fraser.
The latter’s friend, Col James Skinner, saw a shikra aiding the Mahrattas during a battle. It belonged to Luckwa Dada, a crafty general of the Scindias. The colonel, a great hunter, acquired one for himself and in later years he would travel with it from his estate in Hansi to his mansion in Kashmere Gate.
However, Colonel Ochterlony, who defended Delhi against Jaswant Rao Holkar in 1804, is said to have had a dislike for falcons. Some said a falcon of Holkar’s had plucked out an eye of one of his soldiers guarding the city wall between the Delhi and Ajmeri gates.
During the Revolt of 1857, Maj-Gen John Nicholson too had his falcon when he laid siege to Delhi. What happened to it following the general’s death, after being fatally shot at Lahori Gate, is not known.
One heard these stories from Mian Sahib, a wizened old man, who used to come for his evening meals to Hafiz Hotel in Ballimaran. He would talk thirteen to the dozen while eating dinner and after he left, the hotel owner would shake his head and say, “God knows how much of what he says is true and how much is just gossip picked up on the roadside.”
However, it is a fact that Mian Sahib shared meals with Dr Zakir Husain at this restaurant during the would-be President of India’s salad days. Also true was his friendship with Hasrat Mohani, whose ghazal, “Chupke, Chupke” has been made famous by the singer Ghulam Ali.
The falcon was also a bird of omen. On seeing it Indira Gandhi was fatally shot by her guards in 1984. Saeed Ahmed’s shikra just flew away one day and was never seen again. However, Mian Sahib’s tale of the Mir Sahib, who had a lock of hair of his purdahnashin beloved plucked by a pet falcon, is to be taken with a pinch of salt.
Like falconry, pigeon-fancying is also an old sport. The New Year brings with it a host of activities and pastimes, one of which is pigeon-fancying. Even now, in the Walled City, there are several mohallas, where the kabootarbaz, as they are called, make morning and evening ring to cries of “Aah” to call back the air-borne pigeons.
However, there was a time when, like the patangbaz, or kite-fliers, they too went to open spaces near the Yamuna to engage in kulkulain, or competitions, after feeding coarse grain to their flocks. Now, because of encroachments and consequent lack of space, the pigeon-fanciers compete only from their rooftops.
Hafiz Mian was a great kabootarbaz in the last century and his main rival was Deen Badshah. Each of them had hundreds of pigeons, both of Indian and foreign breed. There were Russian, Turkish and Afghan pigeons as well as Burmese and some other South Asian breeds, and of course, those from all over India.
Their cost even then was great, with the acrobatic Lotan kabootar occupying pride of place in the kabootar-khana, or specially built wood and wire mesh cages, with pigeon-holes for the birds to roost. The greybaz was also a highly-prized bird like the Kabuli.
Dennis Bhai’s old father, Elias Sahib, used to say his son could recognise the breed of a passing-by pigeon by just examining its droppings. Dennis Bhai had greenish eyes, just like some of his pigeons, and when he married he found a Muslim girl with the same kind of eyes, making a friend remark, “Wah Dennis, dulhan bhi khoob chunni hai.
Aankh se aankh mila di. (Bravo, you have found a bride with matching eyes).”Dennis Bhai is dead but his dulhan, Kesar, still survives as a tall, fair, slim pretty lady aging with grace, whose eyes glow with excitement whenever she sees a flock of pigeons darting across the sky to the frenzied whistling of rival kabootarbaz.
Pigeon-fancying was known in Egypt about 3,000 years ago and found great patronage in India during the Mughal era, when pigeon-fanciers from Baghdad, Turkey, Iran and Egypt flocked to the court. Prince Salim, who ascended the throne as Jahangir, spent several hours in their company, learning the tricks of pigeon-flying.
It is said that one day he asked a young palace girl, Mehr-un-Nissa, to hold two of his pigeons while he went to answer an urgent summons from his father, the Emperor Akbar. On his return he found the girl had only one pigeon in her hand. When he asked her what had happened to the other, she replie, “This,” and released the other pigeon also.
Her witty answer pleased the prince and he fell in love with her. Later, he married the girl, who became famous as Nur Jahan. Akbar himself was very fond of pigeon-flying and had some 20,000 pigeons of his own. He called the pastime “lshqbazi” or love-play.
Fr Monserrate, who saw them, writes in his commentary that the pigeons are cared for by eunuchs and servant-maids. Their evolutions are controlled at will, when they are flying, by means of certain signals, just as those of well-trained soldiery are controlled by a competent general by means of bugles and drums.
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | May 30, 2018 | Pigeon Patrol's Services
CCTV footage of an explosive attack at the local police headquarters in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, on Monday.
Three church bombings in Surabaya during Sunday services, killing at least 18 people and wounding more than 40, and the bombing of a police station in the same city yesterday killing 10 are merely the latest manifestations of an increase in terrorist activity in Indonesia.
Attacks on two other churches were planned for Sunday, but those bombs failed to detonate. The church attacks apparently were carried out by members of one family. Yesterday’s attack involved members of another family.
Churches are targeted by Indonesian extremists who oppose the practising of other religions there. But this is the first attack on places of worship since 2011. The worst attack on churches in the past 20 years was on Christmas Eve 2000, when co-ordinated bombings of churches in Jakarta, Pekanbaru, Medan, Bandung, Batam Island, Mojokerto, Mataram and Sukabumi killed many worshippers.
Another serious incident this month was a riot and siege hostage situation on May 8 at the Depok, West Java, detention centre. Six died, including five members of Detachment 88, Indonesia’s elite police counter-terrorism unit.
The detention centre is a heavily guarded compound of the local headquarters of the Mobile Brigade Corps, a paramilitary unit of the National Police, protected by officers from Detachment 88.
The Detachment 88 officers apparently were tortured before having their throats cut by prisoners influenced by Islamic State.
Wawan Purwanto, communications director at Indonesia’s intelligence agency, says the prison incident, like the church bombings, involved suspected members of Jamaah Ansharut Daulah.
Jamaah Ansharut Daulah is a terrorist organisation with close links to Islamic State. It was proscribed by the US State Department as a terrorist organisation in January last year; it was not proscribed by Australia until this week when Peter Dutton moved swiftly to do so.
Jamaah Ansharut Daulah was organised in 2015 by Islamic State fighter Bahrun Naim from Syria. It has several hundred members and is active in eight Indonesian provinces. It is a coalition of about two dozen extremist groups that pledged allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
The group’s spiritual leader is Indonesia’s leading Islamic State proponent, cleric Aman Abdurrahman, who with Naim is said to have ordered the January 2016 attack in central Jakarta that killed four people and wounded 25. The attack was financed from Syria. Aman is on trial for several bombings, including the 2016 murders, and is being held in isolation at a jail in Depok. Bahrun Naim is believed to have been killed at Raqqa in Syria last December.
The various Jamaah Ansharut Daulah groups are likely to contain many Indonesian foreign fighters from the hundreds who have returned in the past two years. Last year, Turkey arrested almost 500 Indonesians, including family members, who had entered Turkey from Syria. They were later released to return home.
Many of the returnees claim to have been involved in humanitarian work in Syria and say they had nothing to do with Islamic State. In any case, terrorist attacks by Indonesians must occur within Indonesia for the perpetrators to be punishable under Indonesian law. Many returnees were never arrested; and many others were arrested and then released.
Indonesia also has an ongoing problem with radicalisation in jails, from which prisoners often are released more radicalised than when they went in. When indoctrinated prisoners are released, there is inadequate monitoring of their activities and movements.
Indonesia’s security authorities may have become complacent with the decline of terrorist groups Jemaah Islamiah and Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid, and the 2011 incarceration of firebrand cleric and ideologue Abu Bakar Bashir for 15 years.
Bashir was the co-founder and leader of Jemaah Islamiah, responsible for the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians. Its stated motive was retaliation for the US’s conduct of the so-called war on terror and Australia’s role in the liberation of East Timor. It has been operationally inactive since 2010. Bashir was also the founder and leader of Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid.
From 2008, Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid sought to establish an Islamic caliphate in Indonesia and carried out attacks in an attempt to achieve that goal. In December 2012, local members in central Sulawesi killed four police officers and wounded two others. Since then it has been relatively inactive.
But Indonesia now faces new security challenges for which it looks to be largely unprepared.
While it seems likely that recent terrorist attacks in Indonesia are inspired by Islamic State rather than directed by it, the rise in Islamic State’s influence has potential implications for the security of Australians in Indonesia.
After 2011, terrorist attacks in Indonesia seemed to shift from targeting foreign Western interests and residents to attacking Indonesian police officers. However, during the past year, Islamic State has encouraged revenge against Australians for our participation in the US-led coalition against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, which led to the loss of its physical caliphate, and our support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines in last year’s five-month battle to regain control of Marawi from Islamic State-linked militants. The Marawi battle left almost 1000 militants dead.
Indonesia may need more security assistance from Australia to get on top of its Islamic State-linked situation and it would be in our interest to provide it.
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | May 29, 2018 | Pigeons in the News
A woman corporator was recently stalked by a grain seller after she objected to feed being sold for pigeons on Juhu beach.
Renu Hansraj said residents of societies adjacent to the beach had complained of health issues, caused by bird droppings, after large flocks of pigeons started feeding on grain on the beach. When she took this up with the vendor, he responded with: “Everyone would die the way they were destined to.”
Hansraj later recorded her statement with Juhu police.
“A vendor has been selling bird feed for nearly four hours every morning behind Hotel Ramada Plaza Palm Grove. Morning walkers buy grains from him and feed birds. We have requested him repeatedly to move to another stretch of the beach where there are no housing societies, in vain. Pigeon droppings are harmful and have worsened respiratory ailments of residents living adjacent to the current feeding site,” Hansraj said.
On May 4, she went to the beach around 6am to check on the situation.
“I was told the vendor was making as much as Rs 10,000 a day selling bird feed. One of the morning walkers entered into an argument with the vendor over his site of business. I intervened to broker peace as there were many others out for a walk and I did not want anyone to get disturbed. Around 7.15am, while I was headed home on foot, I noticed the vendor following me on his two-wheeler near Hotel JW Marriott. He said he wanted to speak to me. I asked why he hadn’t spoken to me on the beach in the presence of others. He lied that he sold bird feed on the beach for only half an hour. I told him we had no objection to his business, but only to the location he had chosen,” Hansraj said.
The vendor then tried to intimidate her by dropping names of politicians. At this, Hansraj told him to sell bird feed outside those politicians’ homes.
“I told him there was a five-year-old child suffering from bronchitis and a couple of asthma patients living in the building outside which he was doing business,” she said.
People across the city have time and again voiced concern about the unchecked growth in pigeon populations.
Veterinary microbiologists have linked as many as 60 diseases to pathogens released from pigeon droppings. Lung ailments and skin diseases top the list. Siddhesh Surve, who was formerly associated with Bombay Natural History Society, told TOI people should feed sparrows instead of pigeons.
“Pigeons do not clean their nests, unlike other birds, and their nests carry a lot of insects which can harm humans. Instead, people can buy sparrow feeders and put these up on windows.”
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | May 28, 2018 | Pigeon Patrol's Services
As pigeon racing season approaches, pigeon fanciers will be taking their pigeons further away from their lofts for training.
Pretoria pigeon fancier Elaine Russell said this was done firstly to get their old birds fit and secondly for the young birds to build up stamina and to orientate themselves to go back to the loft.
“At this time of the year, there are thousands of pigeons being trained all over Gauteng and, unfortunately, some do get injured or lost,” she said.
Russel said there have been numerous enquiries on social media on how one goes about reporting these pigeons.
She provided useful information for non-pigeon fanciers, should a racing pigeon land at their residence tired or injured.
The first step is to check if the pigeon has a coloured identification ring on its leg, e.g. GPU (Gauteng Pigeon Union) ZA17 (year of issue) 13309 (ring number).
“If the pigeon does not have a ring on its leg, it is more likely a wild or feral pigeon, rather than a racing pigeon,” she said.
“If it is a seasoned racing pigeon, there may be an electronic ring on the pigeon’s another leg, which should have a sticker on it with the telephone number of the ring steward of the union or federation to which the pigeon owner belongs.”
Russel said most lost pigeons are hungry and thirsty.
“Water is necessary before all else – please ensure water is available in a deep dish,” she said.
“If you can provide food, then please give either birdseed, whole mealies or uncooked rice or lentils.”
She urged residents to not feed racing pigeons bread.
“We, as pigeon fanciers, thank you in advance for taking the time and effort to look after and report our pigeons,” 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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | May 27, 2018 | Pigeon Patrol's Services
Why do pigeons roost on roofs or gutters?
Pigeons like comfortable sunny places that are safe from predators and has abundant food and water. The nests are built of twigs but quickly become so covered in droppings that they look like a big pile of waste. When the babies are born, they are a dull brown and are perfectly camouflaged in the nest. Gutters are dish-shaped and provide great nesting sites that securely hold the nests. Pigeons nest and roost on and in houses because it gives them a good view of nearby feeding areas or because they have gained access to the interior of the building. They usually access buildings through broken windows, missing or loose vents or any other small gap or opening. Pigeons also like high places because they are able to keep a close watch on their surroundings and spot predators. Pigeons are social birds and each flock works as a team. Someone always has an eye out for danger.
Where do pigeons normally live?
Pigeons live in every part of the world but the North and South Poles. They started out as pets, but through accidental or intentional release have developed into perhaps the most common feral bird. Originally, they liked places with lots of grain, like farms, especially when they are near areas with good nesting sites in high and inaccessible places, like cliffs or buildings. Once known as ‘rock doves’, pigeons live anywhere there is adequate food and shelter and are common in most urban and suburban areas. Stadiums and fast-food restaurants, parks and bridges, airports and schools – all are common pigeon environments.
What is the difference between parrots and parakeets?
Parakeets are also a group of parrots. However parrots are much larger than parakeets. Parakeets are less than a foot while parrots can go to one metre long and some can weigh around four kg.
Is a flaky beak normal in parrots?
A parrot’s beak serves not only in eating, but also as a ‘hand’ in climbing. Like our nails, birds beaks are made of keratin and keep growing throughout their life time. There is always new beak tissue growth under the existing beak and, after some time, the outer beak is being sloughed off. You may see a parrot hurry the process of outer beak peeling by rubbing its beak against hard surfaces. Sometimes a poor diet will cause problems to birds’ beaks.
This can be remedied by offering a variety of fresh foods and high quality multi-vitamins/minerals supplements. A good tip is to provide a piece of cuttlebone to your pet parrot for its beak grinding. This will increase its intake of calcium and help to prevent the beak from overgrowing.
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
