Foot deformities are ubiquitous in urban pigeons – why? As you’ll know if you’ve spent any time watching the pigeons of towns and cities, something like one in every ten (or more) has missing or partial toes, or swollen toes, or other pedal deformities of some sort. And then there are really extreme individuals – the ones that are missing feet altogether.
Poor footless urban pigeon, encountered close to Kew train station. The right foot is completely absent; the left one had at least one toe, curled round such that the bird was walking on the toe’s lateral side. Photo by Darren Naish.
I’m talking here about the domestic form of Columba livia, the so-called Rock pigeon or Rock dove. And, while I’ve only noticed deformed pigeons here in the UK, it certainly isn’t a UK-only thing, as continental European and North American [UPDATE: and South American] people will confirm.
The bird in the photos here was able to fly around and feed itself, and it might be broadly described as ‘healthy’. However, note that it’s in pretty poor condition. The feathers on its head and neck looked terrible and its rectrices (the big tail feathers) were frayed and shabby. I reckon this is partly due to an inability to groom and scratch itself: obviously, birds use their feet to reach parts that they can’t get to with the bill.
The impact of this is more than cosmetic, since birds with a poorly maintained or unrepaired plumage are disadvantaged in flight relative to tidier individuals, and less able to keep themselves warm and waterproofed. And a bird that isn’t able to groom parts of its plumage is also at risk of being unable to keep on top of parasites like ticks and feather mites (see the ‘pigeon’s eye view’ Tet Zoo article linked to below). And, as has been demonstrated through various experiments, birds with shabby-looking plumage are less attractive as mates (Clayton 1990), so a bad-looking pigeon is likely to be a non-breeding pigeon. It’s also worth noting that (like many animals), pigeons preferentially use one foot more than the other as goes the way they land and perch and sit and so on (Fisher 1957), so individuals that lose or damage their preferred foot might end up being doubly disadvantaged (imagine being right-handed, and then having to rely only on your left hand for evermore). I don’t know how concerned people are about the emotional well-being of animals like urban pigeons (or how far they’re prepared to go in admitting that non-human animals have feelings and states of mind), but I think we can be fairly confident that the most severely deformed of these birds are – at least at times – miserable, unhappy and frustrated.
Several ideas have been put forward to explain the many foot problems seen in urban pigeons. Some probably lose toes after getting them tangled in litter or anti-pigeon netting, or after they’ve injuries received from anti-pigeon spikes installed on signs and ledges. Fine wire, string, cotton thread and even human hair can all cause problems for birds when caught on or around digits, and some people say that interaction with fine thread and string and so on is the primary cause of pigeon foot damage. It’s also sometimes suggested that the deformities result from infections received after standing on excrement, and also that the birds become damaged through interaction with chemicals used on roofs and building stone. But the ‘chemical injury’ idea is unlikely to be correct, since (A) exactly what sort of chemicals are we talking about here, and why have they been used on buildings in the first place?, and (B) a chemical would basically have to be a powerful acid or alkaline agent (hydrochloric acid, or a very strong bleach) before it might damage a bird’s feet. For completeness, note that hereditary deformities like those reported for some captive populations of other pigeon species (Flach & Cooper 1991) might also explain some of the abnormalities observed in urban pigeons.
Other hazards that might affect an urban pigeon. At left: voracious park-dwelling pelicans! (photo: PA). At right: deceased Wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) following encounter with motor vehicle; note ‘terror-moulted’ lack of rectrices. Photo by Darren Naish.
Pigeons are not, of course, the only birds that end up with damaged feet. You might recall the foot-lacking Rock pipit Anthus petrosus I featured here recently…
I’ve been photographing pigeons a lot lately, but pigeons of a different species from C. livia. More about that another time. For previous Tet Zoo articles relevant to some of the subjects covered here, see…
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.
ANDERSON, S.C. — The Anderson City Council plans to consider Monday how to deal with a pigeon problem in the pavilion at Carolina Wren Park.
The council is expected to vote on whether to hire an animal control company to install a net inside the pavilion, which is downtown.
According to the agenda for Monday’s evening, a “recurring nuisance with pigeons nesting in the rafters” has developed at the pavilion.
“There have been some attempts to cease their interest in the pavilion through cleaning and installing an ultrasonic bird repellent with a strobe light,” according to the agenda. “But those efforts have been unsuccessful.”
City staff said the pigeons and their waste can cause property damage and pose a health risk, and cleaning up after them can be costly.
The city sought bids from pest control companies, to see how much it would cost to install a net inside the ceiling of the pavilion.
Orkin Pest Control bid $28,000, Trehel Corp. bid $16,899 and the low bidder was Animal Control Experts at $11,385.
If the council approves the expenditure, the money to pay for it would come from hospitality tax revenue the city collects.
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.
People who enjoy gambling have something in common with pigeons.
That is according to research, which suggests human gamblers and pigeons are 35% more likely to take greater risks when there is a chance of a big win.
Is it worth the gamble? Credit: Nel Pavletic/PIXSELL
Birds are distantly related to humans, yet we still share the same basic psychology that drives risk-taking. This may be due to a shared common ancestry or similar evolutionary pressures.
When people gamble, they often rely on past experiences with risk and rewards to make decisions. What we found in this study is that pigeons used these past experiences in very similar ways to guide their future gambling decisions. Any big wins we’ve had in the past are memorable and stand-out when we are making our decision to gamble again.
– DR ELLIOT LUDVIG, FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK’S DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
The pigeons and human volunteers were testing with four options – two that led to high-value rewards and two that led to low-value rewards. Humans were rewarded with points and the birds were rewarded with food.
The study, published in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters, was conducted in collaboration with the University of Alberta, Canada, and part-funded by the Alberta Gambling Research InstituteCredit: John Walton/EMPICS Sport
For each high or low reward level, one safe option resulted in a guaranteed fixed reward, and one risky option yielded a 50/50 chance of a better or worse outcome.
Both birds and humans were found to be 35% more likely to take a gamble on the high-value rewards.
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.
Glasgow 2014 was undeniably the biggest Commonwealth games so far, with over 1 million tickets to 250 medal events being sold, and many millions more watching worldwide. And when events that large attract crowds of those numbers, unfortunately, you will usually find pests and birds looking to scavenge on what’s left behind.
NBC Bird and Pest Control Solution’s Scotland division stepped up to the challenge ahead of them; providing complete pest control services for the entire two week duration of the games. This included servicing fly units in Hampden Park’s catering and restaurant areas, as well as ensuring that over 250 pigeons were ethically moved from the stadium ahead of the athletics.
As the UK’s leading bird control specialists, NBC’s years of experience in ethical bird control was called upon, and using a combination of their techniques, they kept Glasgow’s local birds at bay throughout the games, and the spectators safe to watch the spectacular sporting events uninterrupted.
Having worked at Hampden Park for over 6 years, the teams existing knowledge of the stadium came in handy. When the football pitch was replaced with a running track, the disruption caused to the existing deterrents allowed the pigeons a window of opportunity. They quickly re-inhabited the stadium, causing problems for staff and customers, as well as creating a mess on the seating and athletics areas.
Without disturbing the construction project, the team worked quickly and efficiently to ensure that the problem was dealt with; with all eyes on Hampden Park, it was imperative that the stadium was kept clean and bird activity to the bare minimum.
Starting early at 4 a.m. so as not to disturb staff and customers, the expert team would begin. The most effective way to eradicate growing pigeon activity is using falconry, and NBC’s expertise in this area paid off; with several hundred pigeons finding somewhere else to go for the duration of the games.
NBC’s ethical bird control services are the UK’s leading, with years of collective experience making them fully equipped to tackle any bird problem.
Whether a site is industrial, retail or even an airport, NBC’s 18 years’ worth of experience working with birds means there is not a lot that they haven’t seen or dealt with. With free and comprehensive site surveys and advice on legislation, NBC’s bird deterrent services cover from all angles, with a 5-year guarantee on all bird proofing installations, leaving a site with complete peace of mind.
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 first time I saw him he had a paint brush in his hand working on the blonde’s kitchen. Saw him again the next day and still didn’t ask his name.
The third time I saw him he was standing in Jack’s parking lot on Quintard. He was in a painter’s white T-shirt and pants, had stopped for breakfast.
But before he fed himself, he had pigeons to feed. He does that most weekday mornings, flinging bread crumbs into the Verizon parking lot next door. Pigeons come by the dozen, fluttering to a “two-point” landing to peck, strut, and all but eat out of his hand.
He was there again the next time I was at Jack’s for breakfast, feeding his pigeons. It was when he headed for his own breakfast that I recognized him.
I walked out to meet him, told him who I was, and he had been on Mike Snider’s painting crew that had painted our kitchen a month or so back.
He told me his name was Felix Padilla, but said he didn’t remember me, wasn’t sure he remembered being in my house.
“We paint a lot of houses.”
That’s when I asked Felix Padilla about the pigeons and did he do this every morning.
“Every morning, every morning.”
Why?
“I’m an Apache and we’re nature’s people. I go through at least three loaves of bread a day, feed the pigeons here, feed the squirrels in the park, doesn’t matter. I love animals. I’m an animal freak. Doesn’t matter, dog or bird or squirrel, whatever.
“I’ve been feeding the wild since I was a little kid. Even the baddest dog will come to me, doesn’t matter. They sense your aura and your soul. Animals can read you just as soon as you step into their world.
“Out west where Apaches lived, cowboys and other people would bring horses for us to break. We’d have them riding in an hour or so.
“Show a little respect, show a little love, give ’em a little space, then they come to you and show you love.”
One thing here is Padilla didn’t come from “out west.” He was born in Sidney, Neb. Lodgepole, a wide place in the road, was his childhood home.
“Hadn’t been for World War II, I’d probably be on the reservation. My grandfather was born on the reservation but, then went off to war. After the war he settled in Nebraska.
“Most of my family lives out in Utah now. My grandmother is out there. Believe it or not, Geronimo was a distant cousin.”
Geronimo spent most of his life fighting the “white man” and Padillo finds it a bit ironic that . ..
“They named the baddest helicopter in the world after us, the Apache.”
A graduate of Saks High School, hanging on to 12-inch blocks (one in each hand) figured into a paint brush in one hand.
“I’ve been painting since I was 20 years old. I was working on a masonry crew, toting 12-inch blocks and mixing mud. A fellow by the name of Randy Poppin was painting a house for Jack Cotton Realty.
“He and Jack were talking and one of his painters hadn’t shown up. Heaviest thing I’d ever seen a painter carry was a gallon of paint so I went up to Poppin and asked if he could use some help.
“He asked me if I could paint. I told him that I could do what he was doing. That’s where it started.”
“But what I really am is one of God’s people. I have faith in God and believe in Jesus.”
Somewhere in our visit, he left the bread crumbs with the pigeons and turned toward Jack’s with:
“I’m hooked on Mountain Dews and Dr. Peppers, which is not good. I’m getting fatter and fatter, uglier and uglier, and older and older.”
As he opened the door to Jack’s, I wondered if he would have a Dr. Pepper with his biscuit.
Thanks for visiting.
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.
Whereas humans are risk averse for monetary gains, other animals can be risk seeking for food rewards, especially when faced with variable delays or under significant deprivation. A key difference between these findings is that humans are often explicitly told about the risky options, whereas non-human animals must learn about them from their own experience. We tested pigeons (Columba livia) and humans in formally identical choice tasks where all outcomes were learned from experience. Both species were more risk seeking for larger rewards than for smaller ones. The data suggest that the largest and smallest rewards experienced are overweighted in risky choice. This observed bias towards extreme outcomes represents a key step towards a consilience of these two disparate literatures, identifying common features that drive risky choice across phyla.
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.
