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Scientists have recruited pigeons to help stop climate change

Pigeon Patrol — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 22:26:00 +0000

Pigeons are helping researchers gather data on climate change. (University of Birmingham/Cover Images)

Jeff Parsons – Monday 25 Mar 2019 2:15 pm

Pigeons have become the latest recruits in helping researchers gather data on climate change.

Scientists at the University of Birmingham have developed a tiny set of sensors resembling a small backpack that can be strapped onto the back of homing pigeons. These little sensors help researchers collect data on urban microclimates, including fluctuations in temperature, humidity, and winds that can have major effects on living in major cities.

The pigeons themselves come from local volunteers that raise them and who agree to work with the scientists. Pigeons are helping researchers gather data on climate change.

Known for their abilities to return to their nest, homing pigeons have been used as far back as Ghengis Khan to carry messages across long distances. Using homing pigeons means that the researchers are sure to get their instruments back and can download the information before sending the birds on their way to collect more data.

The design of the backpack conceived to keep the safety and comfort of the birds in mind. Each weighs less than 3% of the pigeon’s body weight, which is the standard for bird tracking devices. Sensors in the backpacks help researchers collect data on urban microclimates (University of Birmingham/Cover Images)

‘If [the pigeon owners] are not happy with any aspect of putting the sensors on their back, then they don’t have to fly their birds,’ explains Rick Thomas, the research fellow who leads the study. The welfare of the birds is utterly paramount and, they’re not likely to cause the same issues as drones, explained Thomas.

The pigeons all come from local volunteer groups.

Drones are not allowed to fly freely in any area, particularly after the trouble a drone caused at Gatwick airport in December. What’s more, drone technology would not be as cost effective as what’s possible with the pigeons.

Thus far, the group’s band of pigeons have logged over 620 miles with their backpacks over the course of 41 flights. Impressive!

Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/25/scientists-recruited-pigeons-help-stop-climate-change-9008203

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Mum fined £150 for feeding sausage roll to pigeon

Pigeon Patrol — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 22:20:41 +0000

Elisa Menendez – Wednesday 19 Jun 2019 9:56 PM

A woman has been fined £150 by her local council for feeding a piece of sausage roll to a pigeon. Sally-Ann Fricker fed the bird while shopping with her three children in Bath.

Her daughter, Toni Bradley, said they were approached ‘seconds later’ by an officer for littering, despite the pigeon flying away with the food.

Toni said: ‘If she’d chucked the wrapper down then that would have been fair enough, but this was absolutely ridiculous, we were very upset and very shocked.’

According to Bath and North East Somerset Council, those caught littering face a £150 fine, reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days.

Councillor Dave Wood, cabinet member for climate change and the environment, said the authority would review whether the fine was appropriate in this incident.

However, he added that there are notices on many streets asking the public not to feed pigeons as they are a ‘public nuisance’.

Daughter Toni was outraged at the fine, adding that her mum is a carer and the fine was worth more than her weekly earnings.

She said: ‘When I got home my three-year-old asked me to take down the bird feeder from the garden “because nanny got into trouble” for feeding them.’

Wood added that councils and their contractors should use ‘common sense’ with situations like Sally-Ann’s.

‘I have asked officers to urgently look into this matter and review the action taken with the contractor, to determine whether it was proportionate,’ he said.

He added: ‘As a general point, pigeons and gulls cause a public nuisance and are part of the problem the council has to manage when dealing with litter on the streets. ‘There are notices all over the city asking people not to feed birds.’

Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/06/19/mum-fined-150-feeding-sausage-roll-pigeon-10016074

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Indonesian pigeon sells for $100,000 amid national racing boom

Pigeon Patrol — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 20:55:51 +0000

Jayabaya

A pigeon named Jayabaya has become the most expensive bird ever sold in Indonesia. A racing pigeon in Indonesia has been sold for 1 billion rupiah ($101,700), breaking the national record for the most expensive bird ever sold in the country.

The male pigeon, named Jayabaya, was bought by Robby Eka Wijaya in the town of Cilodong in West Java to compete in Indonesia’s booming pigeon races.

Mr Wijaya bought the pigeon from his colleague after watching it compete in a number of different competitions.

He told the ABC he made an offer the owner could not refuse because the pigeon had “special features”, including a rare consistency and “stable mood”.

“One race can last over two days and nine rounds. Often birds can only perform for four rounds, but this bird is able to get into the top 20 at every competition,” he said.

Jayabaya competed against thousands of birds from across the country last year and received the highest score in the national competition, according to Mr Wijaya.

Pigeon racing is a traditional sport in Indonesia, mainly from the island of Java, but it has rapidly gained popularity ever since the creation of a national pigeon organisation.

Robby Eka Wijaya holds a sign of the pigeon he had just purchased named Jayabaya. The type of competition varies and includes speed racing, freestyle flying, as well as a table category, where the pigeons are expected to land back on a table at a certain time after flying.

In order to get Jayabaya to return during a competition, its owner calls out for him with his “girlfriend”, a female pigeon which shares the same cage as him, which Mr Wijaya says is a common practice.

“From what I’ve observed in the past 10 years, there are only two or three birds that are like him,” he said, adding that his friends has questioned his sanity over the amount he paid.

The popularity of pigeon racing in Indonesia has been partly attributed to high profit margins. Pigeons cost around 20,000 rupiah ($2) and the winnings can range from $7,500 to $10,000, or even a brand new car.

The registration cost to compete is also relatively low at a mere $13 to $16, according to the organisation of High Pigeon Fans Indonesia (PMTI).

However, Indonesian newspaper Kompas reports that the average participant pigeon racing competitions are anywhere between 1,500 to 2,000 people, making reaching the top 20 a feat in itself.

Mr Wijaya said it would be “easy” to be able to generate profit off Jayabaya, who is estimated to be two to three years old.

“There is already someone who is willing to spend 100 million rupiah ($10,200) for a set of eggs he fathers, but I won’t sell it,” he said.

In March this year, a Chinese buyer bought a racing pigeon for 1.252 million Euros ($1.98 million) during a pigeon auction by a Belgian breeder, the most expensive pigeon of all time.

The pigeon, named Armando, was described as the Lewis Hamilton of racing pigeons and holds a variety of records including best one day long distance pigeon in Belgium.

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Mystery pink pigeon spotted on rooftops in Breightmet

Pigeon Patrol — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 08:21:30 +0000

A MYSTERY pink pigeon has been spied in Breightmet.

The bird, which has pink and white plumage, but still has a normal grey head, was spied on a rooftop in Breightmet earlier this morning.

There is a breed of bird called a pink pigeon — called nesoenas mayeri which are native to Mauritius — but these are very rare and normally such a paler shade of pink they are almost white.

David Taylor managed to photograph the unusual bird in Tetbury Drive at about 8am on June 20 and said: “I was having breakfast this morning and saw this red and white pigeon on top of a neighbour’s roof.

“When I went out it was gone but then 15 minutes later I spotted it on a neighbour’s roof.

“I don’t know why it’s that colour, I thought someone had painted it.

Jackie Fish, who also from Tetbury Drive, thought someone had spray painted the bird in the colours of the St George flag.

She spotted it at 7.15pm on June 19, 45 minutes before England kicked off their crucial World Cup match with Uruguay.

She said: “I just saw it there and realised it had been painted white and red, to look like the England flag.

“I have to say as supporting England goes, this is a bit too much and I would class it as cruelty and a bit beyond a joke.”

Gemma Pidluski also reported seeing the bird on June 19 and said on Facebook: “I have just been sitting at home and a pink pigeon has landed on my shed roof. Is it real?

“I have googled it and sure enough there are pink pigeons! Bit of nice news for a change!”

A similar bird was spotted in Ealing, West London in August, 2012 and experts were at a loss to identify it.

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Pigeons trapped in ceiling after new roof installed at Albuquerque salon

Pigeon Patrol — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 07:26:28 +0000

Trapped with no way out – at risk of losing their lives – creating fears of a health risk to people nearby…relax. We’re talking about pigeons here.

Pigeons. They’re just rats with feathers, right? But nobody wants to see them suffer, even if they are trespassing. The birds apparently got caught between the roof of a strip mall and a drop ceiling in a hair salon during a renovation job.

Employees at the Style America salon at Central and Tramway removed some of the ceiling panels, hoping that the birds would fly down and out the door. No luck. The fat little knuckleheads just squat up there doing what pigeons do – which leads to worries about illness and disease from pigeon poop.

“With some basic precautions, unless you’re going to put yourself right in contact with it, there’s really very little risk,” said biologist Justin Stevenson who runs a Los Lunas-based company called RD Wildlife Management. “That’s based on a tremendous amount of science and research, which is what we base everything on.“

Stevenson did say people with immune system issues do need to worry about even small amounts of pigeon droppings. He said that based on his experience, there is probably a way in and out for the pigeons, and people in the building see them roosting and think they’re trapped. He said if in fact they are trapped, he will conduct a rescue operation for free.

A Style America customer said she called City Hall at 311 to get some help, but learned that the city is not in the business of removing pigeons from private property. It’s up to the owner or the tenants to deal with it.

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67 suspected bird strikes at airport last year

Pigeon Patrol — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 08:51:07 +0000

Despite measures in place at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport to keep birds away, bird strikes have gone up over the years, shows data. In 2014, around 67 suspected bird strikes at the Mumbai airport were reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), up from 49 suspected bird strikes in 2013.
The growing number forced the Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL) to purchase an avian-deterrent variety of grass recently to plant near the runway on a trial basis.
Pariah kites, pigeons, common myna, egrets and crows are some of the birds involved in bird strikes at the airport, according to MIAL.
When an aircraft makes the final approach towards the airport, these birds are likely to hit the aircraft.
Avian-deterent Ryegrass, purchased by MIAL, has natural fungus in the form of endophyte, which produces chemicals that deter insect growth. According to the Association of Private Airport Operators, while bird strikes lead to losses of over Rs 20 crore annually to the Indian aviation industry, they are also a serious threat to passenger safety.
“A 30-lbs goose striking the windscreen of a plane flying at 200 knots (in circuit speed) creates a relative impact of 20 tonne, which could cause serious damage to aircraft and pose a risk to the lives of passengers. The civic authorities never pay attention to environmental issues when it comes to airline operations,” said Captain Mohan Ranganathan, an aviation safety expert.
There are approximately 250 slaughterhouses near the airport, which attract birds in the area, besides the garbage ‘hill’ at the Deonar dumping ground that lies in the approach funnel of the Mumbai airport.
“Besides the Deonar garbage hill attracting birds, flowing near the airport is the filthy Mithi river. Further, within the airport, there are open drains, making it a haven for birds,” said Dr Satish Pande, director of Ela Foundation, an NGO. MIAL has asked the NGO to conduct a survey to understand the behaviour of birds in the 10-km radius of the airport (risk zone), and suggest solutions to avoid bird strikes.
“There is also a small bat colony in front of terminal 1-B and these bats leave their roost at night. We have proposed trimming of trees to dissuade such colonies after taking all necessary permission,” said Pande, whose report will be submitted to MIAL this month.
Besides bursting crackers, MIAL uses launchers and cartridges that cause an exploding and whistling sound, and vehicle mounted scarecrow during the day. At night, laser bird repellent torches are used to scare birds during poor visibility.

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Feeding ban imposed after animals and birds cause damage to Dorking church

Pigeon Patrol — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 05:59:53 +0000

FEEDING animals in St Martin’s Churchyard is to be banned, in a bid to halt the damage pigeons, squirrels and rats are causing to the historic building.

Wardens at the central Dorking landmark say they have been forced to take the drastic step as the churchyard is in danger of becoming “a zoo”.

According to churchwarden Peter Bunn, the population of pigeons, squirrels and “less-pleasant vermin” living there is causing a significant risk to the much-loved building, which dominates the town’s skyline.

Control measures are currently being investigated, which may include making the feeding of animals in the churchyard illegal, as in London’s Trafalgar Square.

Mr Bunn told the Advertiser: “There’s a completely artificial population there now.

“I think this whole thing started when Albi the albino squirrel was here. After that we became used to seeing people feeding squirrels when it was really cold in the winter – but now it is every day.

“We have a big problem with the pigeon population. In the mornings as soon as someone feeds one a vast flock appears.

“Their droppings are acidic and they are ruining the stonework.”

There has been a place of worship on the site of the present church of St Martin since the early 11th century. The current building, with its iconic 210ft spire, was completed in 1877.

However, architects have warned there is high potential for stonework damage due to the large amount of pigeon droppings collecting on it.

Already “significant” amounts of money have been spent on clearing bird mess from high-level gutters, as blockages threaten to cause water damage inside the building.

The second major risk to the church, according to Mr Bunn, is that if squirrels manage to find their way inside they could cause damage to the historic organ or, more seriously, chew through electric wiring.

Mr Bunn added: “These are birds and animals in poor health which are fed on huge quantities of unsuitable food.

“As long as we can remember, it has been a traditional part of growing up in Dorking for children in the depth of winter to put out a few nuts for the birds and squirrels.

“More recently this has developed into year-round feeding with not just nuts, but large quantities of bread.

“This has caused not just exponential growth in the populations, particularly of pigeons and grey squirrels, but also now the appearance of less-pleasant vermin.

“The situation has now become intolerable with a serious health risk to surrounding houses and flats.”

Signs requesting “Please – no feeding” will go up at the church shortly.

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Vikings stadium critics unswayed by bird collision efforts

Pigeon Patrol — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 05:50:32 +0000

When it comes to reducing collisions with the glass of the new Minnesota Vikings stadium, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, environmental advocates told stadium officials Friday.

There’s already a proven solution — “fritted” or patterned glass — which would cost only about $1 million and is being used successfully at places such as the Javits Center in New York City, they say. That’s better than waiting for a potential fix from 3M that might never come to fruition.

Michele Kelm-Helgen, chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, which is overseeing construction of the new $1 billion facility, said at a Friday morning meeting that she was open to a fuller discussion of the issue next month but that “the glass decision on the building has been made.”

The transparent design was approved after vetting by several stakeholder groups and is part of what will make the stadium “an iconic building that people are going to want to be part of,” Kelm-Helgen said. Fritted glass would clash with that look, officials have said.

If there is a solution from 3M that would be transparent to humans but detectable by birds and is possibly more energy efficient to boot, “that would be a very win-win situation for all of us, and so that’s why we’re working on that and pursuing that,” Kelm-Helgen said.

She confirmed earlier this month that the authority was in talks with 3M, the Vikings and the Audubon Society about testing possible “bird-safe window film solutions.”

The status of any such product was unclear Friday.

Kelm-Helgen said that 3M has said it has some existing products it wants to test for bird-deterrent qualities, as well as some new products under development that might work. She stressed that it’s early in the process and details aren’t finalized.

“There is no product yet,” said 3M spokeswoman Fanna Haile-Selassie. Company scientists believe they may be able to find a solution, hopefully by this spring, Haile-Selassie said.

All of which makes some bird advocates suspect the 3M possibility is a red herring being floated by the authority to distract from the fritted glass solution.

“It’s absurd, absolutely absurd, that you’re now pointing to a possible future solution and taking refuge in that as some kind of action that you’re taking to deal with this massacre of birds that’s going to occur unless you change course and change the glass,” Constance Pepin of Minneapolis told authority members.

Brad Bourn, a member of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, said a $1 million fix on a billion-dollar project would be “the equivalent on the park board of painting a swing-set blue instead of green in the final design.”

But Kelm-Helgen said the $1 million is only the cost for the fritted glass. Changing direction at this point also would mean wasting the glass already fabricated for the project, the value of which she said she couldn’t estimate. Plus it would necessitate a redesign and cause a delay, the duration of which she said she was not sure of.

And authority board member John Griffith assured bird advocates they were being heard. “I think that they’ve shown that there’s a large constituency that cares very much about this issue,” he said.

Griffith said he’s personally affected when he sees birds that have died after colliding with buildings. “Every once in a while, whether it’s downtown Minneapolis or wherever, you see one of those little fellows on the sidewalk. It bums me out, there’s no question about that.”

Testing of a bird-safe solution this spring would begin on other existing buildings, Kelm-Helgen said, with the stadium being added to the test after the building is finished in 2016.

The new stadium will have about 190,000 square feet of glass. It sits in downtown Minneapolis in what’s called the “Mississippi flyway” for migrating birds.

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Courthouse forced to feed pigeons birth control to reduce bird droppings

Pigeon Patrol — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 22:54:09 +0000

A courthouse which is being defiled by birds is taking drastic measures to protect itself as staff are planning to feed the local pigeons birth control chemicals.

Staff at the Wayne County court house in Wooster, Ohio, claim they have run out of options to protect the beautiful 19th century building from the ever increasing amount of bird-poo covering it.

After years of other plans doing little to deter the birds from defecating on the beloved building, Wayne County officials say they will add a chemical into bird seed that will stop the pigeons from reproducing.

MORE: Somerset police actually cordon off a swan sat in the road, for some reason

They say the seed will only affect pigeons, and will cut the population of birds that reside around the courthouse by half after only one application.

The strange new plan comes after citizens began complaining about the cost of repeatedly cleaning the ornaments on top of the building.

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Lebanese share wheat with rats, pigeons

Pigeon Patrol — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 08:31:09 +0000

BEIRUT: After weeks of warning the Lebanese over rotten and contaminated meat, the health minister raised red flags Tuesday over something seemingly more innocuous: wheat.

“Lebanese are sharing wheat with rats and pigeons,” Health Minister Wael Abu Faour said Tuesday at the end of an inspection tour of grain silos at Beirut’s port.

“There is a fence, but it’s not sufficient,” Abu Faour told a news conference with the agriculture and economy ministers. “We found a number of rats and rodents, some of them dead.”

“The presence of a huge number of birds also allows the transmission of spores,” he said from the port. “There are also pigeons, some of them dead, around the silos.”

The health minister said two other issues that need to be addressed were the cargo containers and maintenance rooms that could lead to water leakage, causing mold to thrive.

Abu Faour also said the trucks transporting the grain “were not in good condition.”

He referred the case to judicial authorities.

Abu Faour acknowledged that grain silos in the port have recently been placed under new management, noting that an administration was set up only seven months ago, and a manager was appointed two months later.

The health minister said that he “did not hold any party responsible” for the filthy conditions given that the problems in Beirut’s port have been accumulating for years.

But the agriculture minister was quick to blame the poor conditions on the government’s “historic neglect of this port.”

Chehayeb also expressed concern over the facility’s working conditions, noting that 4,000 truck drivers do not have access to a single bathroom.

Port manager Moussa Khoury expressed his support for the health minister’s campaign, but noted that investigations were restricted to areas surrounding the silos and not inside the silos themselves.

Abu Faour and Chehayeb could not access the silos because they became trapped in an elevator for 15 minutes inside the facility.

Despite the poor conditions of the facility, the manager maintained his belief that the wheat abided by health standards, noting that the grains are received and withdrawn from the silos using approved equipment. Khoury also noted that the grains are sterilized before being transferred to the mill.

Tuesday’s move was the latest in a series of actions undertaken by Abu Faour as part of his wildly popular food safety campaign last month. Abu Faour and inspectors from the ministry have been inspecting food and transportation facilities around the country, highlighting safety violations publicly.

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Pigeon poo problem solved

Pigeon Patrol — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 08:45:28 +0000

PROBLEMATIC pigeons will no longer be able to nest under the railway bridge on Chepstow Road.

Network Rail put up the nets after councillors raised concerns about safety, adding the birds were so foul they made worshippers reluctant to go to a nearby mosque.

Maindee residents had hoped for a solution for years and say they are delighted action has finally been taken.

Worshippers at the Shahporan Bangladeshi Jam’e Mosque had to walk underneath the bridge to get to prayers, but many felt the pigeon mess made it difficult to be clean before entering the mosque, a requirement in Islam.

Others said the pigeon prevalence was dangerous as people had slipped over on the droppings.

Councillor Christine Jenkins said her husband noticed workmen installing the netting last week. “I want to say ‘Thank you’ to Network Rail”, she said. “It has been installed since we put it in the paper and it’s a good result. We have waited a long time to have netting put under the bridge. It’s nice to know Network Rail is listening to the public. It’s going to have a good effect on the community – they have been fighting for years for it.”

One worshipper, Abbas Meah, 75, who has lived in Maindee since 1962, said the pigeons had been a serious problem. “People must walk through pigeon mess on both sides of the bridge,” he said prior to the nets being installed. “People can’t pray like this.”

Majid Rahman, councillor for Victoria ward, said the walls had been “grubby with pigeon mess. It’s a health and safety issue. Someone badly hurt their hand as a result of droppings on a metal grate.”

Cllrs Rahman and Jenkins delivered a leaflet to Maindee residents last week saying the nets had been installed “to protect you from pigeon droppings” after talks with the council’s street scene department, Network Rail and Maindee Action Group.

A Network Rail spokesman said previously: “Network Rail has a responsibility to taxpayers to ensure that it spends its limited public funds wisely.

“When looking at the problem and nuisance we know pigeons cause, we look at the scale of the problem and undertake a risk assessment to make an informed judgement.”

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Is Killing pigeons is necessary ?

Pigeon Patrol — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:01:47 +0000

KILLING pigeons over farmland is ‘necessary to protect crops’, according to a shooting and conservation group.

The Sentinel reported earlier this week that Kidsgrove residents’ lives are being made a misery by gunmen shooting the birds near their homes.

But the British Association for Shooting and Conservation believes it must be done to safeguard crops.

Spokesman Simon Clarke said: “Pigeons are the UK’s number one agricultural pest and the damage they can do to is immense. Shooting them is the only effective way of protecting crops and will increase as harvest approaches. “However, if residents find such pest control a nuisance, they should talk to local farmers.

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The killer seagull terrorizing Hyde Park

Pigeon Patrol — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 01:01:36 +0000

Stupid Bird

Hungry bird spotted drowning pigeons in the Serpentine and eating their bodies Bird grabs pigeons by the neck before dragging them into the water Visitors to the London park say bird has been doing this for five years Aggressive gull wades into a crowd of pigeons and picks out a straggler It then sprints up, seizes its prey and drags its into the Serpentine Bird then and drowns the pigeon before eating it with his female mate Experts say behavior is extremely unusual for lesser black-backed gulls They usually survive on a diet of small fish, aquatic insects and crustaceans.

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Call for action over pigeon droppings from Maindee bridge

Pigeon Patrol — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 04:04:49 +0000

PIGEONS are making life difficult for people who say the droppings they leave underneath a railway bridge are a safety risk and so dirty they make worshippers reluctant to go to a nearby mosque.

Now councillors and residents in Maindee, Newport, are calling on Network Rail to install netting to stop the birds nesting.

Many worshippers at the Shahporan Bangladeshi Jam’e Mosque just off Chepstow Road have to walk underneath the bridge to get to prayers.

In Islam, there is a requirement that people are clean before they come into the mosque or begin to pray. But some feel the dirty bridge makes this difficult, while others say the pigeon prevalence is dangerous, as people have slipped over on the droppings.

Abbas Meah, 75, who has lived in Maindee since 1962, said the pigeons were causing problems for people going to mosque.

“People must walk through pigeon mess on both sides of the bridge,” he said. “I have spoken to our local MP. If they just put a net up that would help; that’s all we’re asking for. People can’t pray like this.”

Majid Rahman, councillor for Victoria ward, said: “The walls are grubby with pigeon mess. It’s a health and safety issue. Someone badly hurt their hand as a result of droppings on a metal grate. We’re looking to have a meeting with Network Rail.”

Fellow councillor Christine Jenkins said: “They clean it but as soon as they do, the mess is there again. It’s time Network Rail took responsibility for their bridge. It’s dangerous – someone is going to slip on it.”

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “Network Rail has a responsibility to taxpayers to ensure that it spends its limited public funds wisely.“When looking at the problem and nuisance we know pigeons cause, we look at the scale of the problem and undertake a risk assessment to make an informed judgement. We cannot justify the expense of netting as we don’t believe there is a statutory nuisance.”

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Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

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Pigeons, pigeons, everywhere!

Pigeon Patrol — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 03:45:33 +0000

Pigeons and humans have co-existed for thousands of years. But when they become a nuisance, who is to be blamed?

Pigeons, one of the most resourceful species on the planet, are traditionally, symbols of love, peace, family and faithfulness. Their inflated throaty coos are a common sound in virtually every part of the globe with the exception of the Sahara Desert and the Polar ice caps. It is ironic that the species is currently being referred to as “the most serious bird pest associated with human habitations”.

Flock together

Pigeons have lived alongside humans and been used for food, sport and as messengers. Considered one of the most intelligent species on the planet, pigeons can perform tasks previously thought to be the sole preserve of humans and primates.

Descended from wild rock doves that thrive in a cliff environment, feral pigeons form large flocks that roost on building and ledges and under bridges. They can often be found in loft spaces and empty buildings — anywhere that offers a small amount of shelter.

Naturalist Dr. T. Murugavel says, “Feral pigeons thrive in urban areas in particular because there is usually a good food source and the absence of predators. The result is that they can become ‘pests’ in built-up areas. Unless food is strictly controlled, pigeons will rapidly breed out of control, resulting in overpopulation in areas of human habitation. Researchers have proved that pigeons do not usually like any change in their nesting area. Even a decoy or an image of a raptor when placed in the nesting or roosting area of pigeons discourages them from nesting. Whatever you do, ensure that it is humane and eco-friendly.”

Research conducted around the world to find a humane way to control, includes methods like ‘birth control’ pellets to controlling the number of eggs allowed to hatch, spikes to deter landing and thorny cacti on a sunny windowsill! But aren’t ‘pigeon problems’ really ‘people problems’? Can we coexist better with a bird that has survived in close association with man for over 10,000 years?

A recent report in The Independent spoke of how people found feeding pigeons in the Austrian city of Vienna were to be fined €36 in an attempt to keep the city clean. Pigeon experts from the animal welfare ombudsman said that it was rubbish in the city that caused problems beyond the pigeon population. Obviously, unclean neighbourhoods in any part of the world are the reason for many health and environmental issues, but looks like it is the issue that is being most conveniently pigeonholed!

Shoo!

The National Audubon Society Birds site, which gives tips on “how to shoo them away”, says that many safe and effective commercial products are also available including plastic or metal bird spikes. If pigeons are roosting on a utility wire or other area where they can’t be easily blocked, a weatherproof bird sound device that plays bird alarm or distress calls may chase them away.

Downside

Pigeon droppings are acidic and can cause damage to buildings and machinery. Nesting material, droppings and feathers can block drains and air vents. Startled flocks that take flight suddenly may cause hazards to motorists and pedestrians. While large numbers of pigeons can drive smaller birds away from feeding areas, they can also spread disease to other birds.

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Die-offs of band-tailed pigeons connected to newly discovered parasite

Pigeon Patrol — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 03:40:11 +0000

A new pathogen has been discovered by scientists investigating major die-offs of pigeons native to North America, according to studies led by the University of California, Davis, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.Scientists were able to implicate this new parasite, along with the ancient parasite Trichomonas gallinae, in the recent deaths of thousands of Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeons. The die-offs occurred during multiple epidemics in California’s Central Coast and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges. Scientists named the new pathogen Trichomonas stableri.

Avian trichomonosis is an emerging and potentially fatal disease that creates severe lesions that can block the esophagus, ultimately preventing the bird from eating or drinking, or the trachea, leading to suffocation. The disease may date back to when dinosaurs roamed the earth, as lesions indicative of trichomonosis were found recently in T-Rex skeletons. The disease may also have contributed to the decline of the passenger pigeon, whose extinction occurred exactly 100 years ago.

Epidemics of the disease can result in the death of thousands of birds in a short amount of time. An outbreak in Carmel Valley killed an estimated 43,000 birds in 2007.

“The same parasite species that killed band-tailed pigeons during the outbreaks were also killing the birds when there weren’t outbreaks,” said lead author Yvette Girard, a postdoctoral scholar with the Wildlife Health Center in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine at the time of the studies. “This indicates there may be other factors at play in the die-offs.”

“We are now investigating what triggers these die-offs, which may be caused by the congregation of infected and vulnerable birds during certain environmental conditions, or even spillover from another nearby species,” said principal investigator Christine Johnson, a professor with the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center.

Between winter 2011 and spring 2012, there were eight mortality events—defined as more than five dead birds found in the same geographic area during the same time frame. The study said trichomonosis was confirmed in 96 percent of dead, sick or dying birds examined at seven of the mortality events. This disease was also found in:

36 percent of band-tailed pigeons at wildlife rehabilitation centers
11 percent of hunter-killed band-tailed pigeons
4 percent of the birds caught live and released

“What makes this disease more troublesome for band-tailed pigeons is their low reproductive rate—about one chick per year—and also that these events are occurring in the wintertime,” said co-author Krysta Rogers, an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “That means almost all the birds we’re losing during events are adult birds. They’re being killed before they have the ability to reproduce in the spring.”

Mortality events in band-tailed pigeons have been reported in California at least since 1945, but have increased during the last decade, with outbreaks reported in six of the last 10 years.

“Going into the study, we expected to find a single, highly virulent species of Trichomonas in birds sampled at outbreaks,” Girard said. “Having two species killing birds at these large-scale mortality events is surprising.”

Necropsies of the birds were conducted at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory at UC Davis and the Wildlife Investigations Laboratory at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Both studies were funded by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

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Out to catch pigeons, teens end up robbing woman

Pigeon Patrol — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 08:11:55 +0000

The moment Satyavathi walked out of her house to pluck flowers, the duo entered the unlocked house and stole 60,000 cash and jewellery worth 19 lakhTwo teenagers, who were trying to earn a few rupees by catching a wild pigeon to sell, stumbled on much bigger game. It was easy pickings, and for about five days the youths, both SSLC dropouts, had a good time spending their ill-gotten wealth. Then the law caught up with them and they are now cooling their heels in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.

Gowtham (19) and M Diwakar (Deepak) (18) are close friends. After they failed their SSLC exams, they took running petty errands to earn a little money. The duo, both residents of HAL II Stage, soon realised that catching and selling pigeons was an interesting money-making enterprise.

On the morning of June 6, the duo spotted a few birds on the terrace of a residential building and decided to go after them. As they were climbing up, they spied an old lady counting money in a room in a house in the building. Satyavathi Krishnappa, 70, the elderly lady, was securing her life’s savings. On seeing the money, the youths changed their mind about catching the pigeons and decided to rob the elderly lady instead.

The duo waited and watched and realised the old woman was alone. The moment Satyavathi walked out of her house to pluck flowers, the duo quickly entered the unlocked house. They cleaned up the cash amounting to Rs 60,000 and, to their surprise, also found jewellery in the same cupboard. They did not know the value of the jewellery, but stole it anyway. Their crime was complete in five minutes flat.

Over the next few days, the duo spent almost the entire cash they had stolen. They purchased a second-hand bike for Rs 35,000 and the rest of the money was spent on booze and food. Their party, however, lasted only five days.

Satyavathi realised the theft only on June 10 and filed a complaint with the Indiranagar police. What caught the police’s attention was that the duo had also stolen a mobile phone from the elderly lady. They focused their investigation on finding the phone.

Though Deepak and Gowtham had changed the SIM card of the phone, they did not realise that the police could still track them through the phone’s IMEI number. The phone’s activity was concentrated around Jeevanbheema Nagar and HAL so the police decided to bait the duo. One of the investigating officers called the number, posing as their long-lost friend. The duo fell for the trap easily and ended up disclosing their location to the police. On interrogation the duo spilled the beans. Police say the jewellery was worth more than Rs 19 lakh.

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

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Ruffling pigeon feathers in Bathurst CBD

Pigeon Patrol — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 06:17:28 +0000

BATHURST Regional Council has not ruled out resorting to using birds of prey in an effort to control the pigeon problem in the central business district.

Council has had discussions with Dubbo City Council regarding its success in using falcons to encourage pest species to leave the main shopping precinct.

A report to tomorrow night’s ordinary monthly meeting updates council on how Bathurst’s pest bird management strategy has fared since it was adopted in 2012.

One of the recommendations of the plan was to introduce a co-ordinated pigeon control program involving council facilities and businesses in the CBD.

Council conducted a successful program during 2012-2013, when 1089 pigeons were removed from council and private properties.

According to the report, council’s environmental staff have discussed with staff from Dubbo City Council that city’s recent trial using native birds of prey.

“Dubbo has a problem with starlings nesting in trees in the main street, causing $12,000 of annual clean-up costs,” the report states.

“They engaged a falconry company to conduct a trial using four different predator bird species that would fly in the area with the intention of moving the starlings on.

The program was moderately successful for two of the birds used though more trials are needed to determine if the program would work on an ongoing basis.

“This may or may not work in the Bathurst context in relation to pigeons as they are impacting across a broader area and moving the birds from one place to another may not reduce the issue.

“Council staff will continue to receive updates regarding the Dubbo trial to determine if a similar program could be conducted locally.”

The report also notes that pigeon control efforts have also continued in 2013-14 with a targeted trapping program in Machattie Park.

However, this was largely unsuccessful as pigeons are attracted to the high volumes of artificial food supply at the duck ponds and therefore could not be enticed to the trapping area.

“Since then, council has recently commenced a trapping program at the Post Office building, the TAFE complex and at one private building in the CBD,” the report states. “These three sites have the highest populations and therefore have been targeted first before the program moves onto activities at other CBD properties.”

In other pest bird initiatives, council hosted a community Indian Myna workshop, attended by local and regional residents as well as staff from Bathurst and Orange councils.

Presentations were given by the Clarence Valley Indian Myna group and the Pest Cooperative Research Centre’s Mynascan project coordinator.

Thirty Indian myna traps were distributed on the day (for a small cost) so that interested community members could remove these pest birds from their area.

Council staff will continue to implement the Pest Bird Management Plan as required and as funding and resources permit.

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

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Four-winged Terror Pigeons

Pigeon Patrol — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 05:39:23 +0000

In the dinosaur kingdom, the raptor reigns as a pop-culture bogeyman. While not as big as the T. Rex, the feathered creature had a mean set of teeth and claws. But there was at least one refuge from its tyranny: the air.

Now, however, scientists have discovered a new fossil that lays waste to that pleasant fiction. This new raptorial dinosaur named Changyuraptor yangi not only flew — it had four wings. And those wings were studded with the longest feathers any dinosaur has ever worn, said lead researcher Luis Chiappe of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” he told The Washington Post. “It is a stunning specimen and it was stunning to see the size of the feathers. This is the dinosaur with the longest known feathers — by far. There is nothing like this by a very good distance. The feathers were one-fourth the size of the animal.” Chiappe paused for a moment. “It’s just wonderful,” he said.

In the pantheon of hulking dinos, this one wasn’t on the larger side. Published in the scientific journal Nature Communications on Tuesday, the article by Chiappe and colleagues reported it was only about four feet long and weighed about nine pounds — approximately three times the weight of your everyday seagull. But what it lacked in size, it made up for in importance, researchers said.

Classed as a “microraptorine,” its fossils “are essential for testing hypotheses explaining the origin and early evolution of avian flight,” the paper stated. “The lengthy feathered tail of the new fossil provides insight into the flight performance of microraptorines and how they may have maintained aerial competency at larger body sizes.”

Be nice if the WaPo would’ve told us this is from the Early Cretaceous (100-146M years ago). But anyway, that’s cool.

ntodd

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Dogs, pigeons and other things that were flying in the Malaysia Airlines cargo

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 20:57:09 +0000

By now, we know that all of the 298 passengers and crew members traveling on the Malaysia Airlines flight that was shot down over Ukraine on Thursday were killed. Those 298 people included 192 Dutch citizens, 44 Malaysians, 27 Australians, 12 Indonesians, 10 Britons, four Germans, four Belgians, three Filipinos, a Canadian and a New Zealander. One of the Dutch citizens held dual Dutch-U.S. citizenship.

A cargo manifest that has been posted online shows that besides the luggage of those on board, MH17 was carrying hundreds of pounds of live birds, including pigeons; two dogs; and fresh-cut flowers. Here is a sample of what was loaded on to the plane at the Amsterdam airport:

12 shipments of fresh-cut flowers weighing about 474 pounds

2 shipments of live dogs weighing about 110 pounds

5 shipments of live birds weighing 154 pounds

4 shipments of live pigeons weighing 181 pounds

You can see the full list of materials in the cargo compartment of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in the manifest below:

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

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