Pigeons: Urban Terrorists?

Cities such as London, Hong Kong and Mumbai now prohibit feeding of pigeons -- but can it help to control the burgeoning urban population of the birds?

1 minute read

June 13, 2007, 7:00 AM PDT

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera

Have pigeons - once deemed to be reliable couriers of messages across hundreds of miles - turned enemies of humankind? Yes, appears to be the answer, if we go by one school of thought."

"Big cities provide the perfect setting for pigeons to thrive. Eaves, sills and deserted roofs of high rise buildings are perfect places for them to roost. With safe home assured, the only thing that remains is food."

"Recently, Mumbai announced a fine of Rs 500 for those feeding pigeons, joining the ranks of London and Hong Kong. The Mumbai ban has been attributed to that fact that pigeons act as carriers of a number of disease carrying micro-organisms like pigeon fleas, flies, mites and lice. Pigeon droppings, with their high acidic content, can corrode building surfaces. It can clog gutters and drainpipes, causing flooding."

FULL STORY: Are pigeons an urban liability?

Tuesday, June 12, 2007 in Deccan Herald

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