They’re birds, too. In a Hitchcockian sort of way.
Writing by treason on Saturday, 23 of April , 2005 at 9:45 am
I appreciate the urban pigeon. There are few of us who do. True, it’s a small group, and I’m not really sure why we exist. Again, it must be to provide some balance to those who refer to pigeons as “sky rats.” Or maybe it’s because of my childhood. Back in the days of Joyce Kilmer School, there lived a crossing guard named Louise. She and her husband lived in a basement apartment and I imagine that they probably had a modest income. Yet Louise - uniformed, energetic, and wise - stood at the street corner every day with the largest leather satchel I’d ever seen. I’m not talking Gucci. It was almost like a mailbag; or more accurately, like the sack Santa had in the back of his sleigh. It was enormous. And I truly believed it was magical. How Louise managed to fit everything in the world of necessity into that bag fascinated me. Needed a band-aid? It was in the bag. Candy? In the bag. Nuts for the squirrels? They were there. Biscuits for dogs? In there - every flavor. Bird food. Indubitably. There was something in that sack for everyone. It was clear to me that Louise had a heart the size of Wrigley Field. If one of us kids spotted a wounded bird, sick cat, or stray dog on the way to school, all we had to do is mention it to Louise and the problem was addressed. We could go to class, assured that the dog would be back in a warm home, the cat would be cured, and the bird would be healed by the time the final bell rang. The woman was a problem solver. Dependable, stable, and kind.
During those years my mother worked on Morse Avenue and walked the same route I took to school. She had to cover the morning shift then, so she left that day before I did. It was still very early, so she might have been one of the first to see the horror. Some piece of human debris had scattered poison throughout the neighborhood in order to assassinate the local dogs. The pigeons got to it first. When I arrived at the first viaduct on my way to school, I noticed that the pigeons who were usually there were gone. As I left the shadows of the viaduct and came into the light, I saw them. Hundreds of birds, lying on the ground, still, lifeless. They were everywhere. In the street, on the sidewalks, in the grass, in doorways. And all I could think is that it was just so quiet. By that time my mother had already alerted Louise, knowing that she would address the situation. But I don’t think even Louise was prepared for what she was about to see.
I don’t know if that’s why, many years later, I sat in Manhattan surrounded by pigeons who shared a Carnegie Deli bagel with me. Or why when my current employer said that it was time to eliminate the pigeon problem on the top of our building I warned that hundreds of dead pigeons littering the sidewalk around the structure would be perfect fodder for the nearby university’s journalism department. They have cameras, I said, and would love the story. Think: Pigeon Holocaust. The birds were then left to their own devices and are still crapping happily on passers-by.
Is it some romantic fantasy of mine? Do I associate these birds with vibrant metropolitan areas like New York, Boston, Venice, and Rome? Do they represent some sort of old world charm? Or is it something more rural? Does their presence scratch that itch for the country life and a yard full of chickens pecking the ground around my feet? Or do I admire them for their resourcefulness and dogged persistence? All I know, is that once I built my wild bird oasis in my backyard - multiple feeders with every variety of seed, bird baths and drip systems, plants to attract then protect them from predators like Mr. Hawk - I started to attract the pigeons from the apartments down the street. First it was two or three, then nine or twelve. One morning I went out to fill the feeders, and I stopped counting pigeons when I got to seventy. I wanted to make sure they were getting a healthy diet, but I also had fantasies about someday being able to retire. Bird food ain’t cheap. It wasn’t so bad that the pigeons were there, but then they started congregating outside my bedroom window in the morning to wake me up so I’d get out and fill the feeders. What were the neighbors thinking when they watched dozens of pigeons flying up the hill to sit on my roof? Worse, what did the owner of the house next door think when they set up housekeeping on his? He was trying to sell the property…would you buy a house that had sixty pigeons on the roof?
But how was I to discourage the pigeons and not penalize the smaller birds who had become so dependent on me as a food source? And now that I’d introduced a huge problem into my life: pigeon droppings, the risk of disease affecting my dogs (yes, once in a while they’d snatch one), and - worse - the occasional injured bird that had to be taken care of. Have you ever driven a pigeon to the vet during rush hour traffic? I have! So, desperate, I asked the experts but nothing worked. It’s been almost two years, and now I’ve reduced the amount of feeders in the yard. I still get pigeons. The problem is, there’s one I’m particularly fond of.
She’s a real charmer, what can I say? She has markings that I’ve never seen on a pigeon. She’s black and white - an all white face over what looks like a tuxedo. She’s always formally dressed for visits and she loves to bring company with her. Each day it’s a new group of birds that she’s introducing to my feeders. But this is not to say that the others are any less spectacular. Pigeons, up close, are truly beautiful creatures. The shades of blue, pink, green, and rose brown are breathtaking in the sunlight. I could go on, but I won’t. Let’s just say that not everyone in the house is as enamored as I am. And it’s become an issue that needs to be resolved…quickly.
It’s Louise’s fault, I tell you, that my life has come to this. At work, I keep an enormous jar of candy on my desk and bags of dog biscuits on my file cabinet. Every Halloween I live in fear that I’ll run out of candy for the trick-or-treaters, so I fill a shopping cart with candy that ends up taking up space in the cupboards for a year. Why? Because no matter what your circumstances or financial situation, you need to make sure of one thing. Treason number eight: Always have treats. Be practical, yes, and make sure you’re taking care of necessities first; but no matter how bad things get, be sure to have the treats. Not only for others, but something really wonderful for yourself. It can be books, cologne, imported truffles, trinkets, scented shower gel, cheesecake, designer ice cream, a good pen, stationery, or a great bottle of Scotch. Whatever it is, make sure you have it on hand at all times. It’s that special treat, when things seem hopeless, that will remind you that being alive to enjoy it makes all the other crap worthwhile.
Category: Uncategorized
- Add this post to
- Del.icio.us -
- Digg -
Comment by Thomas
Made Wednesday, 27 of April , 2005 at 11:18 am
PART I:
While you may enjoy having pigeons around, keep in mind they are a nuisance, destructive, and a potential health hazard. First, their acidic feces eat away gutters and other metal roofing channels, erode stone, concrete and shingles, and burn shrubs and lawns. Second, pigeons introduce insects including mites and fleas even into areas not known as
hospitable environments for these pests. Third, surplus food, or constantly available food attracts other pests and
disease-harboring animals such as rats, mice and squirrels. Fourth, pigeon droppings are also known to host a variety
of diseases and parasites, and may present a health hazard including:
Toxoplasmosis: A single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii causes a disease known as toxoplasmosis.
* Most people who become infected with Toxoplasma are not aware of it.
* Some people who have toxoplasmosis may feel as if they have the "flu" with swollen lymph glands or muscle aches and pains that last for a month or more.
* Severe toxoplasmosis, causing damage to the brain, eyes, or other organs, can develop from an acute Toxoplasma infection or one that had occurred earlier in life and is now reactivated. Severe cases are more likely in individuals who have weak immune systems, though occasionally, even persons with healthy immune systems may experience eye damage from toxoplasmosis.
* Most infants who are infected while still in the womb have no symptoms at birth, but they may develop symptoms later in life. A small percentage of infected newborns have serious eye or brain damage at birth.
Histoplasmosis: A disease caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. Its symptoms vary greatly, but the disease primarily affect the lungs. H. capsulatum grows in soil and material contaminated with bat or bird droppings. Spores become airborne when contaminated soil is disturbed (great in sandy, windy environments, or where "swamp coolers" are used). Breathing the spores causes infection. The disease is not transmitted from an infected person to someone else. Wearing rubber gloves, a dust mask (hmmmmm), and washing with disinfecting soap during and after clean-up of, or around, pigeon droppings is highly recommended.
* Most infected persons have no apparent ill effects. The acute respiratory disease is characterized by respiratory symptoms, a general ill feeling, fever, chest pains, and a dry or nonproductive cough.
* Distinct patterns may be seen on a chest x-ray.
* Chronic lung disease resembles tuberculosis and can worsen over months or years.
* The disseminated form is fatal unless treated.
Salmonella: Salmonellosis is an infection with a bacteria called Salmonella.
* Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection.
* The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized.
* The Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause septicaemia or death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.
* The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.
Psittacosis: A flu-like illness which can cause death in vulnerable people.
* Infection is acquired by inhaling dried secretions from infected birds.
* In humans, fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a dry cough.
* Pneumonia is often evident on chest x-ray.
Meningitis: An infection of the fluid of a person’s spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain.
* Rare, but one causative agent is commonly found in pigeon nests
* Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion, and sleepiness.
* As the disease progresses, patients of any age may have seizures.
* Forms of bacterial meningitis are contagious; spread through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions (i.e., coughing, kissing).
Comment by Thomas
Made Wednesday, 27 of April , 2005 at 11:19 am
PART II:
Prevention from http://www.cfhs.ca:
As with all wildlife conflicts, the best solution is prevention. This requires a little understanding of the natural behaviour
of the species. Pigeons are seeking food, nesting and roosting (or perching) sites. If these needs cannot be met, the pigeons
will be forced to move elsewhere. The abundance of pigeons in cities and parks is largely attributable to people feeding them.
These well-intentioned people, who regularly throw bread, birdseed or other scraps for pigeons, encourage more and more birds to
flock to the area. As the number of birds dependent on these scraps increases, the individuals provide more food and the situation
can quickly get out of hand.
The best approach to feeding is moderation. In situations where massive feeding has occurred, a gradual reduction should be
introduced over several weeks. Then, people should be urged to provide only as much food as birds can consume in five to ten
minutes. Feeding should not take place regularly at the same time and place as this conditions the birds to flock to the area
at these times, making them dependent on this food. If moderate feeding cannot be enforced then feeding may have to be discontinued
in order to get the pigeons to move elsewhere.
* Allow pigeons to find their own food. This helps to control their numbers, and discourages them from congregating in particular areas.
* Porcupine wires can be attached to ledges, window sills, eaves, roof peaks, ornamental architecture or anywhere pigeons may roost. Although these devices look menacing, they do not harm the birds, since the birds simply cannot land on them.
* Hang frightening devices such as strips of mylar fabric, CDs, pinwheels, aluminum pie plates, life-size reproductions of falcons or other predators. These should be moved regularly as the birds will become used to them.
BASICALLY, THEY’RE JUST NOT WORTH THE HEADACHES.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
