When I came back to India after a long time and started living in Mumbai, I developed mild wheezing; I dismissed it as my reaction to pollution. Then one day I went up to the terrace of my building and was shocked to see two enormous trays filled with grains mixed with sev (fried stuff made from basan and spices). Birds, especially the friendly neighborhood pigeons and crows feasted on it and the entire floor of the terrace was covered with their droppings. It is at that point I realised that why so many pigeons come to rest near my windows, especially on the base of window grills that project out to give a feeling of space in tiny metropolitan flats.
Naturally, after their fiesta on the terrace, they hover around the building to find some place for their siesta. Some of them even nest and lay eggs, attracting crows who want to eat those.
The fact is that I love birds, and had a cockatiel as a pet for twelve long years, a clean, energetic and dignified fellow (it turned out to be a female at the end) with a tuft on its head. We, the bird and I had become friends, for it thought I am a bird and I thought it has all the human traits. Since I could not bring it to India (ban on exotic birds) and had to put it up for adoption, I missed it terribly and hated to shoo off the pigeons from my window grills. The wheezing continued.
Finally I came to know that my lungs were reacting to the friendly pigeons, but I was lucky that I did not develop a full blown BFD (Bird Fanciers Disease) with symptoms like breathlessness, chills, fever, dry cough and chest discomfort.
The reason behind BFD is that some of us are sensitive to a variety of environmental agents, we repeatedly breathe in making our immune system go for a toss and react violently. In this case, it is the proteins in the bird droppings that float in the air once the droppings dry and become powdery. BFD is not restricted to only pigeons but all the birds and in rare cases keeping a single pet bird can affect the lungs. The symptoms mimic asthma and there is a danger of misdiagnosis. BFD can be diagnosed only with CT scans and X-rays where ‘granulomas’ can be seen (in simple words it can be called localized inflammation). It is usually treated with steroid inhalers.
If not diagnosed or treated properly it can turn complicated with loss of appetite, weight loss and extreme tiredness. It can lead to a very serious condition called ‘fibrosis’ where fibrous tissue (scarring) replaces fine and delicate parts of our lungs (alveoli) where fresh air with oxygen enters our being. More scarring means less fresh air entering our body, and this can be fatal, deadly. Very small children, senior citizens, immune compromised patients are more prone to BFD, and they must wear masks if they live in the midst of pigeons or keep the birds away by not feeding them.
In India we feed birds for two reasons, we love them and also gather religious sentiments with hidden desire to collect ‘good karma’, but are we doing the right thing?
There is one more reason why we must not feed birds on terraces, for their droppings are acidic and over the years can erode the buildings (including the steel), making the structure weak.
The author is a microbiologist and has worked for food and pharmaceutical companies in marketing as well as business development in countries like Germany, India and the United Arab Emirates. She has written articles on ‘health & medicine’ in a leading Marathi newspaper and was also a freelance health columnist for a leading English newspaper in the Gulf for several years. From a young age she was also into writing poetry in Marathi and English, and some of her poems have been published. Now back in India she is a full time writer and pursues farming as a hobby. The first part of her Historical Novel trilogy called ‘Frontiers of Karma – the Counterstroke’ is published (August 2014) by Alchemy Publishers. It is a first novel published on Shivaji Aurangzeb conflict in English where the lives of these mighty men run parallel.
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.
Thane: The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) is embroiled in a battle between a housing society and animal activists over a poster regarding the non-feeding of animals near Hiranandani Meadows. A poster was put up outside Niharika society stating that animals in the area cannot be fed and anyone found flouting rules would be fined. This notice was, however, removed on Thursday night and no one has any clue about who has taken it out.
Residents of the society said that they were facing a lot of problems because of the continuous feeding of birds in the area. They then put forth the matter before the TMC on March 7, who then put up the poster, which also had a TMC logo at the bottom.
However, this didn’t go down well with animal activists. The NGO, Plants and Animals Welfare, then sent a three-page letter to the TMC chief stating that they were being unjust to the animals. In fact, the founder of the NGO Nilesh Bhanage claimed that the poster was put up by the residents and not the TMC. He also claimed that that the TMC officials had taken down the poster on Thursday.
”After a correspondence with the TMC chief we learnt that no authority was given to put up such a poster outside the society. When the TMC officials realized that such a poster was put up they took it down,” Bhanage said
”While we don’t have a problem with the residents requesting people not to feed the pigeons in the area, we are only against the banning of feeding of all animals in the area,” Bhanage said.
Meanwhile, residents refuted all allegations and said that they were not involved in putting up the poster. They claimed that it was the TMC itself who had put it up. ”All we did was approach the civic officials with our grievances. They were very supportive and the next day the board was put up. A few officials even patrolled the area and stopped people from feeding the pigeons,” a resident said.
The civic chief was not available for comment. However, the PRO has assured that the matter would be looked into and necessary steps would be taken.
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.
We were driving up to Fayetteville on Scenic 71 last weekend for the St. Patrick’s Festival on the Square when we had to pull over at Winslow. The sky was black with pigeons.
We were stuck at Mikey’s One Stop for a full half hour while they passed. The clerk said this happens every spring and sometimes 10,000 pigeons roost in the trees along the river behind the store.
I know the old proverb, “One swallow does not make a spring,” but how about 100,000 pigeons?
— Ian Zephyr,
Haskell
Dear Ian,
It was wholly a pleasure to hear from you. And congratulations! You and your family witnessed the annual spring migration of the famous pigeons of Mission San Zahurda de la Jorogado.
The pigeons begin arriving at the old mission in Gravette each spring in the days before what the locals jokingly call the “venal equinox.” That’s when the sun crosses the celestial equator on its way north along the ecliptic.
This year, spring arrived in Arkansas at 6:45 p.m. Friday. Today, therefore, is the first full day of spring and all the pigeons should have arrived from their wintering grounds by now.
There are about 2,300 folks in Gravette and by some estimates, there are about a hundred pigeons for every man, woman and child in town.
The historic mission, on Spavinaw Creek on Arkansas 59 just south of the city limits, was founded in 1542 by Father Cabeza de Gato after he split off from the Hernando de Soto expedition to minister to the Wah-Zha-Zhi Indians.
The priest’s simple mud and wattle structure was expanded and modernized over the years to today’s impressive brick and sandstone Greco-Roman style structure (an architectural anomaly for early Northwest Arkansas), which dates from 1842.
The mission is the most northern and eastern of the famous string of Spanish outposts that begins in south Texas with Mission San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo) and stretches beyond the Red River to Arkansas.
San Zahurda’s picturesque complex of 18 buildings is on the National Register of Histrionic Places and is famous for its tart muscadine wine, muscarine sauce and, of course, its pigeons.
Each year on the first day of spring, visitors from as far away as Tulsa, Neosho, and Harrison come to San Zahurda to witness thousands of pigeons end their migration from their winter home at Mango Deck bar on Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
The birds have been performing this annual ritual since long before the mission was founded, but their numbers have greatly multiplied since the early 1900s.
Curator of the San Zahurda museum and unofficial “pigeon daddy” is Lamar Ferreira, who has held the post for the past 17 years.
“Most of our returning birds are feral pigeons,” Ferreira says, “but we have a number of fancy pigeons who’ve joined the migration over the years and it’s always a delight to welcome them back.”
“We had more than 20,000 visitors last year,” Ferreira says of the annual PigeonFest going on today at Pop Allum Park. “We hope to top that figure this year if the weather holds out.”
Although the festival is a boon to the Benton County economy, there are those who do not welcome the influx of birds or tourists for the annual gathering.
“I guess it’d be OK if the birds stayed over on the mission,” says Luther Higgins, who lives on Arkansas 72 on the way to Hiwassee. “But those rats with wings spread out all over the county and leave their droppings on every rock and tree for miles around. If you ask me, they’re a dang nuisance.”
Ferreira is amused by the rat reference. He hears it frequently.
“All pigeons are descended from the noble rock dove, mentioned numerous times in the Bible,” he says. “They have been a benefit to mankind for centuries.”
“Yeah, tell that to my cousin, Wilmar,” Higgins responds. “He come down with the histoplasmosis from them birds.”
“That’s poppycock,” Ferreira insists, pronouncing it in the original Dutch as “pappekak.”
“The Association of Pigeon Veterinarians National Avian Disease Task Force affirms that the raising, keeping and exercising of pigeons and doves represents no more of a health hazard than the keeping of other communal or domestic pets.”
“I’m just glad that pigs don’t fly,” Higgins retorts. “If they did, them yahoos over at the mission would have us knee-deep in porker poppycock. I don’t know what it is they feed them birds, but I bet they have ’em hooked on that muscarine sauce.”
Until next time, Kalaka reminds you to take your cameras and that muscarine sauce goes just swell with squab.
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 charity has now put out an appeal to homeowners to be careful with netting they put on their roofs to deter gulls this summer.
RSPCA inspector Liz Wheeler said: “We see this kind of thing happening all the time during the summer months.
“People put netting on their rooftops to deter birds from nesting but it’s often not put up properly, causing birds to become trapped and to suffer.”
Safely in the arms of the firefighter
Firefighters had to cut the bird out of the strong nylon netting and wire on the roof in Princess Avenue, Worthing, It was found to have some wing damage, so the bird was taken to a local vet, who kept it in overnight so it could regain some energy after its ordeal.
Ms Wheeler added: “It is an offence to intentionally trap wild birds like gulls, so we are asking people to be mindful of their actions and make sure that if they do use netting, they install it correctly and regularly check and maintain it.
“We spend all summer getting trapped gulls out of roof netting and it’s easily avoidable.”
Gulls and their nests are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is illegal to intentionally kill, take or injure wild birds – action can be taken against them only under licence. Anyone who traps a bird may then be responsible for its care under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
We spend all summer getting trapped gulls out of roof netting and it’s easily avoidable
RSPCA inspector Liz Wheeler
It is also illegal to take or damage a nest or egg of a wild bird. Herring gulls in particular are a species of conservation concern in the UK and research has shown that overall herring gull populations are actually in decline.
Each year, around 2,000 reports are made to the RSPCA about wild birds trapped in or behind netting. A major cause is bird-deterrent netting. This can be a humane and effective way of keeping birds off structures without resorting to lethal measures, but it must be fit for purpose, correctly installed and regularly checked and maintained.
Problems arise when netting is put up incorrectly or becomes damaged, leaving gaps where birds can enter and become trapped. These birds can suffer a long and painful death from injury or starvation. Bird-deterrent netting is often fixed in high or hard-to-reach areas, making the rescue of trapped animals difficult and dangerous.
People who see dead birds in netting, or are aware of a regular issue of birds becoming trapped in netting, are asked to tell the RSPCA the address, property owner (if known) and date of the incident by emailing wildlife@rspca.org.uk. The charity will then write to the owner with advice and guidance.
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.
Pigeons have been ruffling the feathers of more and more people in recent years.
Last year, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) received 2,490 complaints about them – mostly about hygiene, environmental issues resulting from their droppings, and concerns over diseases and people feeding them.
The increase has largely been attributed to AVA’s First Responder Protocol implemented in 2012, which includes a 24-hour hotline for reports of animal-related issues.
The Straits Times Forum has also received letters about pigeons pecking on food scraps at coffee shops and hawker centres.
Junior college student Ng J-Cyn said Ghim Moh market is a particular hot spot. Pigeons fly within “inches of diners to peck at crumbs or food waste on the floor”, said the 16-year-old, who is concerned about them spreading diseases. She added: “They also contribute to a very negative dining experience.”
Fellow Forum contributor, Ms Lee Kay Yan, 41, believes the pigeon population will explode unless people stop feeding them.
She said: “Three to five pigeons don’t cause a nuisance but a flock of them do.”
The feeding of pigeons has been banned since 1973 and those caught flouting the rules are fined up to $500. Last year, 60 people were caught doing it, up from just 10 in 2011.
One of the diseases pigeons can spread is psittacosis, a bacterial infection of the lungs with pneumonia-like symptoms.
The bacteria become airborne when the bird droppings dry up and can be inhaled by humans.
Dr Christina Low, medical director of SMG Medical, said the health risk to most people is low, although infants, the elderly and individuals who have low immunity “are more vulnerable”.
She advised people to wash their hands thoroughly before meals and reduce pigeon attacks by clearing unfinished food and dirty crockery.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) requires all food shop operators to clean tables promptly and cover rubbish bins. Those who fail to clean tables, for example, can be fined $300 and given four demerit points.
As for Ghim Moh market, the NEA said it has asked the table- cleaning contractor to step up the clearing of tables and crockery.
The agency added that it has so far received only one complaint about pigeons at the market.
Nationwide, it received 35 pigeon-related complaints last year and 36 the year before.
The AVA said it responds to pigeon-related feedback by working with the relevant parties, such as town councils and the NEA.
While poison bait is traditionally used for heavily infested areas that need fast elimination of the birds, a spokesman for pest firm Pest Solute said the use of netting at roof gaps, spikes or a type of sticky gel on window ledges to prevent the birds from nesting is more commonly used.
Food areas are a little trickier and need a combination of these measures, according to Ms Gloria Ngoi, business development manager at bird control firm Mastermark.
These methods, however, are not sustainable if people continue to feed the birds, said Forum writer Ms Lee.
“Preventive measures are better, through good design of buildings to prevent roosting and entry by birds.
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 true sportsman or sportswoman cringes at the thought of blasting away at pigeons released from cages only yards away. Gun enthusiasts and average citizens should join in the rejection of this “sport,” one with no sense of fair chase as should be the case when hunters go into the woodlands and fields of Pennsylvania in search of game.
The arguments against live pigeon shoots are sound. The birds often are only wounded and they must be dispatched.
At the infamous Hegins, Schuylkill County pigeon shoots of the late 20th century, youngsters would race onto the field and wring the necks of wounded birds. That scene helped doom the Hegins shoot, which was the site of anti-pigeon shoot demonstrations for many years.
The use of trapped animals also is an issue. It is the antithesis of animals in the wild, including pheasants rising from the cornstalks.
Now, the state Senate has before it a bill that would ban such shoots. A live pigeon shoot was held only days ago at the Wing Pointe Resort in Berks County. Again, there is outrage that live birds are being shot when clay targets would suffice, the same clay targets tossed before thousands of shooters who agree that it is inhumane to shoot pigeons out of the air.
The Humane Society of the United States endorses the ban. The National Rifle Association supports live pigeon shoots.
It is another example of the NRA, which advocates for Second Amendment rights, going over the top and actually hurting its own cause and harming the very sportsmen and gun owners that it counts as members.
The comments of Humane Society spokesman John Goodwin carry weight. Shooting live pigeons released from cages, he said, “is no more sport that shooting chickens coming out of a henhouse.”
Should the Senate pass the bill, it is expected the state House would concur. The hope is that a bill will pass during the session that runs through October. The Senate Game and Fisheries Committee voted 10-4 for the bill. We urge the full Senate to promptly pass the legislation and send it on to the House.
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.
When I came back to India after a long time and started living in Mumbai, I developed mild wheezing; I dismissed it as my reaction to pollution. Then one day I went up to the terrace of my building and was shocked to see two enormous trays filled with grains mixed with sev (fried stuff made from basan and spices). Birds, especially the friendly neighborhood pigeons and crows feasted on it and the entire floor of the terrace was covered with their droppings. It is at that point I realised that why so many pigeons come to rest near my windows, especially on the base of window grills that project out to give a feeling of space in tiny metropolitan flats.
