NYC to Pigeons: No Soup For You!

[livius drusus]

New York City is considering making feeding pigeons illegal on account of how corrosive their crap is. NYC Pigeon Problem Prompts Feed-Ban Idea (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iS-7wa2jlcbrHTGUGel1pQfsOdKgD8SSEM000). A bit of an unenforceable law, I suspect, but what entertains me most about the article is the accompanying picture:

http://ap.google.com/media/ALeqM5ja8FJdAhWwGl-aOSuCk0oBXHE0Ug?size=s "Council Member Simcha Felder leaves after a press conference at City Hall announcing legislation to ban feeding pigeons, New York, Monday Nov. 12 , 2007."

:giggles:

[Stormlight]

Good! I hate flying rats.

And that picture is pure genius! :lol:

[Pinecone]

Is that white spot on his lapel what the pigeons think of having their free chow cut off?

[Joshua Adams]

But how will this impact our deal with the pigeons (http://www.pkmeco.com/seinfeld/merv.htm)?

[Shelli]

Flying rats fer sure. :gross: And the picture is genius. :lol:

[Caligulette]

Obviously that pigeon is a scout and spy. Simcha is done for.

[livius drusus]

Is that white spot on his lapel what the pigeons think of having their free chow cut off?
He's going to have to start wearing hats if he knows what's good for him.

But how will this impact our deal with the pigeons (http://www.pkmeco.com/seinfeld/merv.htm)?
My guess is the streets of New Your will become an unnavigable obstacle course of passive pigeon resistance.

Obviously that pigeon is a scout and spy. Simcha is done for.
Clearly he has underestimated his enemy. There's probably a GPS/listening device in that spot on his lapel.

[Crumb]

What do people have against the poor wittle pigeons? :sadno:

[livius drusus]

Well, their guano is pretty destructive, but other than that, I quite like them. They make excellent happy noises. :aww:

[Ensign Steve]

I love pigeons. :aww: Whenever I see them strutting about, I imagine that they are the Goodfeathers.

Are you cooin' at me?
http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/1130/goodfea.jpg

[Shelli]

They're fine and all until they SHIT ALL OVER YOUR CAR/HOUSE/YARD/YOU. :unpoop:

[Crumb]

Don't be a hater, Shelli. :sadno:

:feedingbirds:

[davidm]

I live in NYC, and I love the pigeons. They are one of the few representatives of wildlife that we have (apart from mice, rats and cockroaches, and quite frankly, I don’t mind them, either. In fact I rather like them, especially the roaches, which seem such hardy souls.)

If you carefully observe pigeons, you will see that each one is slightly different, just like humans. Pigeon couples are also charming. One will chase after the other persistently, hectically flapping its wings and pecking at it partner, who probably forgot to pay the rent or something.

The pigeons don’t fear humans, and you can easily get them to feed out of your hand. They love peanuts.

Cockroaches, mice, rats and pigeons: gorgeous creatures! Only a cretin would try to pass a law preventing their feeding, IMO. And I say this as someone who has wiped off pigeon shit. :doh:

[Shelli]

I don't hate the pigeons really. I hate their :shit:.

Find a way to make shitless pigeons and I'll like 'em. :giggle:

[Watser?]

Maybe they should introduce hawks or some such birds to keep their numbers down (and increase biodiversity).

[Crumb]

I don't hate the pigeons really. I hate their :shit:.

Find a way to make shitless pigeons and I'll like 'em. :giggle:
Or at least pigeons that can only :shit: while on the ground.

[viscousmemories]

They're fine and all until they SHIT ALL OVER YOUR CAR/HOUSE/YARD/YOU. :unpoop:
And it's just dandy when anyone/anything else does that? :P

[Shelli]

I don't hate the pigeons really. I hate their :shit:.

Find a way to make shitless pigeons and I'll like 'em. :giggle:
Or at least pigeons that can only :shit: while on the ground.hmm.. maybe liter boxes? :girlthink:

[Shelli]

They're fine and all until they SHIT ALL OVER YOUR CAR/HOUSE/YARD/YOU. :unpoop:
And it's just dandy when anyone/anything else does that? :Phrm.. well, as of this time, no one nor anything (save a different type of bird) has ever shit on my car/house/yard/self, thank :tigger:, so, erm, no, no that would NOT be just dandy. :nojustno:

Why do you ask? Is this a regular occurance for you? :girltong:

[viscousmemories]

hmm.. maybe liter boxes? :girlthink:
Oh now you're just exaggerating. Surely they don't dump more than a pint or two.

[Shelli]

:rofl:

That's sooo gross. :gross:

[Sock Puppet]

Maybe they should introduce hawks or some such birds to keep their numbers down (and increase biodiversity).I'm pretty sure the raptors would concentrate the toxins ingested by the pigeons, then sicken and die. Pigeons must have amazingly efficient livers.

[Ensign Steve]

:roflcopt:

[The Lone Ranger]

Maybe they should introduce hawks or some such birds to keep their numbers down (and increase biodiversity).

Peregrine Falcons have been deliberately introduced into New York City and some other large urban areas over the past couple of decades. In fact, NYC currently has one of the highest densities of peregrine falcons anywhere on the East Coast.

The idea originated in an effort to recover falcon populations that had been devastated by DDT and by shooting. (Some people will shoot anything that flies.) The idea was that there would be plenty of food for the falcons (pigeons), and that skyscrapers would mimic the ledges they nest on in the country, thus providing good nesting habitats.

It has been a great success. Peregrine falcons have become relatively common in NYC, and where they nest, pigeon populations have declined drastically.


Also, there are several breeding pairs of Red-Tailed Hawks in Central Park. They eat pigeons as well as rats.


Alas, you can't please everyone. The city has received complaints about Peregrines and Red-Tails preying upon "defenseless" pigeons. Some of the complainers have demanded that city officials shoot and kill the birds of prey in order to protect the pigeons. Go figure.


ETA: All birds produce uric acid in their droppings. That's why the droppings are so corrosive. (Most mammals, by contrast, secrete their nitrogenous wastes in the form of the much-less-corrosive urea.) Most birds don't have separate urinary, reproductive, or digestive openings; instead all those tubes end in a common structure known as a cloaca. Accordingly, bird droppings are a semiliquid mixture of fecal matter and uric acid.

Cheers,

Michael

[Uthgar the Brazen]

Love you lots, M, but damn I didn't need to read that while eating lunch. :yuck:

[Watser?]

You are reading a thread about pigeons at your own risk :indifferent:

[livius drusus]

I live in NYC, and I love the pigeons. They are one of the few representatives of wildlife that we have
The pigeons are actually the feral descendants of domesticated carriers introduced to New York ages ago, if the AP is to be believed (which is a big if, as you know).

If you carefully observe pigeons, you will see that each one is slightly different, just like humans. Pigeon couples are also charming. One will chase after the other persistently, hectically flapping its wings and pecking at it partner, who probably forgot to pay the rent or something.
The best is when the males cruise the ladies and get all puffy. I could watch them strut around mack daddying for hours.

The pigeons don’t fear humans, and you can easily get them to feed out of your hand. They love peanuts.
And corn. Paper cones of corn sell well in Venice.

Cockroaches, mice, rats and pigeons: gorgeous creatures! Only a cretin would try to pass a law preventing their feeding, IMO. And I say this as someone who has wiped off pigeon shit. :doh:
You go, you crazy New York bastard, you. :cheer:

[Ensign Steve]

I'd love to see some falcon/pigeon Wild Kingdom live and in person. That's what I call entertainment.

[Leesifer]

We already hate pigeons (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3275233.stm).

[livius drusus]

That's just in Trafalgar Square, though. The NYC ordinance is intented to cover the entire city. Also, the fine is $1000, not your measly £50. Wussies.

[Leesifer]

Damnations! :caught:

Yebbut £50 is like ONE MILLION DOLLARS!

I must admit, I thought feeding pigeons was illegal throughout London. I'll see if I can find a linky.

[Sock Puppet]

What could be a more wholesome springtime activity than feeding pigeons? The nerve.

Spring is here, a-suh-puh-ring is here.
Life is skittles and life is beer.
I think the loveliest time of the year is the spring.
I do, don’t you? ’course you do.
But there’s one thing that makes spring complete for me,
And makes ev’ry sunday a treat for me.

All the world seems in tune
On a spring afternoon,
When we’re poisoning pigeons in the park.
Ev’ry sunday you’ll see
My sweetheart and me,
As we poison the pigeons in the park.

When they see us coming, the birdies all try an’ hide,
But they still go for peanuts when coated with cyanide.
The sun’s shining bright,
Ev’rything seems all right,
When we’re poisoning pigeons in the park.

Lalaalaalalaladoodiedieedoodoodoo

We’ve gained notoriety,
And caused much anxiety
In the audubon society
With our games.
They call it impiety,
And lack of propriety,
And quite a variety
Of unpleasant names.
But it’s not against any religion
To want to dispose of a pigeon.

So if sunday you’re free,
Why don’t you come with me,
And we’ll poison the pigeons in the park.
And maybe we’ll do
In a squirrel or two,
While we’re poisoning pigeons in the park.

We’ll murder them all amid laughter and merriment.
Except for the few we take home to experiment.
My pulse will be quickenin’
With each drop of strychnine
We feed to a pigeon.
It just takes a smidgin!
To poison a pigeon in the park.

[Watser?]

Or even: I get up when I want, except on wednesdays, when I get rudely awakened by the dustmen. (parklife!)
I put my trousers on, 'ave a cup of tea, and I think about leaving the 'ouse. (parklife!)
I feed the pigeons, I sometimes feed the sparrows too.
It gives me a sense of enormous well-being. (parklife!)
And then I'm 'appy for the rest of the day,
Safe in the knowledge there will always be a bit of my 'eart devo'ed to it.

[Leesifer]

FAIL (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20071112/tod-uk-newyork-pigeons-bfe916c_1.html)

* Leesifer fails totally.

It is only Trafalgar Square.

[livius drusus]

We know, hon. It's in the article from the OP. So even greater failure than you realized. :patpat:

[Ensign Steve]

:fail:

[Uthgar the Brazen]

Personally, I think the fine should only be tuppens a bird. :rimshot:

[Leesifer]

We know, hon. It's in the article from the OP. So even greater failure than you realized. :patpat:

What? OMG! I thought I'd read everything properly and linked to something different.

I'll go back to just reading stuff! :duh:

[Leesifer]

:fail:

:yup: Big time!

[Ensign Steve]

Oh, speaking of the thread...

Is it really the case that if people stop feeding pigeons they will just magically go away? Are they supposed to starve to death, or go to someplace else? Isn't there enough garbage and stuff to sustain them without them having to be hand-fed? I don't get it.

[Uthgar the Brazen]

Is it really the case that if people stop feeding pigeons they will just magically go away? Are they supposed to starve to death, or go to someplace else? Isn't there enough garbage and stuff to sustain them without them having to be hand-fed? I don't get it.

You fail at governance. No public sector for you!

[Ymir's blood]

Oh, speaking of the thread...

Is it really the case that if people stop feeding pigeons they will just magically go away? Are they supposed to starve to death, or go to someplace else? Isn't there enough garbage and stuff to sustain them without them having to be hand-fed? I don't get it. Human flesh exists in abundance in the city. I foresee an explosion in the reports of pigeon attacks.

[Ensign Steve]

We can always hope!

[Angakuk]

Damn birds.
http://i.imdb.com/Photos/Mptv/1075/th-3302-0002.jpg

[Uthgar the Brazen]

Are Lutherans allowed to use "damn" in such a context, goshdarnitalltoheck?

[Angakuk]

I don't know. I never read the manual.

[Dingfod]

If you don't believe in Gosh, you'll be darned to heck.