ROCK PIGEON

The 'Rock Pigeon' (''Columba livia'') is a member of the bird family Columbidae, doves and pigeons. The bird is also known by the names of 'feral pigeon' or 'domestic pigeon'. In common usage, this bird is often simply referred to as the "pigeon". The species was commonly known as 'Rock Dove' until 2004, when the British Ornithologists' Union and the American Ornithologists' Union changed the official English name of the bird in their regions to Rock Pigeon.

Contents

Habitat

Characteristics

Reproduction

Domestication

Feral pigeons in cities

Symbolism

Spread of disease

Pigeon Lung

Population control

References

Further reading

See also

External links

Habitat

The Rock Pigeon has a restricted natural resident range in western and southern Europe, North Africa, and into South Asia. Its habitat is natural cliffs, usually on coasts. Its domesticated form, the feral pigeon, has been widely introduced elsewhere, and is common, especially in cities, over much of the world. In Britain, Ireland and much of its former range, the Rock Pigeon probably only occurs pure in the most remote areas. A Rock Pigeon's life span is anywhere from 3–5 years in the wild to 15 years in captivity, though longer-lived specimens have been reported.
The species was first introduced to North America in 1606 at Port Royal, Acadia (now Nova Scotia).

Characteristics

The Rock Pigeon is 32–37 cm long with a 64–72 cm wingspan. The white lower back of the pure Rock Pigeon is its best identification character, but the two black bars on its pale grey wings are also distinctive. The tail is margined with white. It is strong and quick on the wing, dashing out from sea caves, flying low over the water, its lighter grey rump showing well from above.
The head and neck of the mature bird are a darker blue-grey than the back and wings; the lower back is white. The green and lilac or purple patch on the side of the neck is larger than that of the Stock Dove, and the tail is more distinctly banded. Young birds show little lustre and are duller. Eye colour of the pigeon is generally an orange colour but a few pigeons may have white-grey eyes. The eyelids are orange in colour and are encapsulated in a grey-white eye ring. The feet are red to pink.


When circling overhead, the white underwing of the bird becomes conspicuous. In its flight, behaviour, and voice, which is more of a dovecot ''coo'' than the phrase of the Wood Pigeon, it is a typical pigeon. Although it is a relatively strong flier, it also glides frequently, holding its wings in a very pronounced V shape as it does. Though fields are visited for grain and green food, it is nowhere so plentiful as to be a pest.
The bowing courtship, when the metallic lustre of the neck is fully displayed, often takes place on ledges where Guillemots and Razorbills sit.
A small prehistoric subspecies of the Rock Dove that lived during the last ice age in France has been described as ''Columba livia minuta''.

Reproduction

The nest is usually on a ledge in a cave; it is a slight structure of grass, heather, or seaweed. Like most pigeons it lays two white eggs. The eggs are incubated by both parents for about 18 days.
The nestling has pale yellow down and a flesh-coloured bill with a dark band. It is tended and fed on "crop milk" like other doves. The fledging period is 30 days.

Domestication

Rock Pigeons have been domesticated for several thousand years, giving rise to the domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica). Many domestic birds have escaped or been released over the years, and have given rise to the 'feral pigeon'. These show a variety of plumages, although some look very like the pure Rock Pigeons. The scarcity of the pure wild species is due to interbreeding with feral birds.

Feral pigeons in cities

Feral pigeons, also called 'city doves' or 'city pigeons', find the ledges of high buildings a perfect substitute for sea cliffs, and have become abundant in cities all over the world. However, they are often considered a pest or even vermin, owing to concerns that they spread disease (perhaps unfounded, see 1), damage property, cause pollution with their excrement, and drive out other bird species. Some also consider pigeons an invasive species. [1].
Many city squares are famous for their large pigeon populations, including:

★ Plaça Catalunya — Barcelona

★ Kabootar Khana — Mumbai

★ Trafalgar Square — London

★ Dam Square — Amsterdam

★ Martin Place — Sydney

★ Piazza San Marco — Venice

★ Piazza Duomo — Milan

★ Egyptian Bazaar — Istanbul

★ Rynek Główny — Kraków

★ Richard J. Daley Center — Chicago

★ Piccadilly Gardens — Manchester

★ Baščaršija - Sarajevo
For many years, the pigeons in Trafalgar Square were considered a tourist attraction, with street vendors selling packets of seeds for visitors to feed the pigeons. The feeding of the Trafalgar Square pigeons was controversially banned^[1] in 2003 by London mayor Ken Livingstone. However, activist groups such as Save the Trafalgar Square Pigeons^[2] flouted the ban, feeding the pigeons from a small part of the square that is under the control of Westminster City Council, not the mayor. The organisation has since come to an agreement to feed the pigeons only once a day, at 7.30am^[3].

Although pest exterminators using poison, a hawk or nets have been employed at ground level to control urban pigeon populations, the effect is limited and very short term. Pigeons breed when the food supply is good—for wild rock doves this might be on a seasonal basis so they usually breed once a year. In the urban environment, because of their year-round food supply, feral pigeons will breed continuously, laying eggs up to six times a year.

Feral pigeons can be seen eating grass seeds and berries in urban parks and gardens in the spring, but there are plentiful sources throughout the year from scavenging (e.g. dropped fast-food cartons). Further food is also usually available from the disposing of stale bread in parks by restaurants and supermarkets, from tourists buying and distributing birdseed, etc. Pigeons tend to congregate in large, often thick flocks when going for discarded food, and many have been observed flying skilfully around trees, buildings, telephone poles and cables, and even moving traffic just to reach it.

Long term reduction of feral pigeon populations can be achieved by restricting food supply, which in turn will involve legislation and litter (garbage) control. Some cities have deliberately established favourable nesting places for pigeons – nesting places that can easily be reached by city workers who regularly remove eggs, thereby limiting their reproductive success.
As a result of the continuous food supply, pigeon courtship rituals can be observed in urban parks at any time of the year. Males on the ground initially puff up feathers at the nape of the neck to increase their apparent size and thereby impress or attract attention, then they single out a female in the vicinity and approach at a rapid walk, often bowing as they approach. Females invariably initially walk away or fly short distances, the males follow them at each stage. Persistence by the male will usually eventually cause the female to tolerate his proximity, at which point he will continue the bowing motion and very often turn full- or half-pirouettes in front of the female. Subsequent mating when observed is very brief with the male flapping his wings to maintain balance on the female. Sometimes the male and female beaks are locked together.
Nests are rudimentary as for the wild doves and pigeons. Favourite nesting areas are in damaged property. Mass nesting is common with dozens of birds sharing a building. Loose tiles and broken windows give pigeons access – they are remarkably good at spotting when new access points become available, for example after strong winds cause property damage. Nests and droppings will quickly make a mess of any nesting area. Pigeons are particularly fond of roof spaces containing water tanks, though they frequently seem to fall into the tanks and drown. Any water tank or cistern in a roof space needs to have a secure lid for this reason. The popularity of a nesting area seems little affected if pigeons die or are killed there – corpses are seen among live birds, who seem unconcerned.

On undamaged property the gutters, window air conditioners, chimney pots and external ledges will be used as nesting sites. Many building owners attempt to limit roosting by using bird control spikes and netting to cover ledges and resting places on the façades of buildings. These probably have little effect on the size of pigeon populations, but can help to reduce the accumulation of droppings on and around an individual building.
Only the larger and more wary Wood Pigeon (which often shares the same territory and food supply) will build a tree nest; for some reason it prefers trees close to roads.
The cooing of the feral pigeon is almost continuous when birds are on a nest; it is rarely heard at other times except courtship. Males are at least as likely to be on the nest as females, though a pair of birds will attend the nest.
Peregrine Falcons which are also originally cliff dwellers have also adapted to the big cities, living on the window ledges of skyscrapers and often feeding exclusively on Rock Pigeons. Some cities actively encourage this through falcon breeding programs.[2]

Symbolism

★ White doves, usually meaning domesticated Rock Pigeons, are a traditional Christian and Jewish symbol of love and peace. According to the biblical story, a dove was released by Noah after the flood in order to find land; it came back carrying an olive branch in its beak, telling Noah that, somewhere, there was land. A dove with an olive branch has since then come to symbolize peace. In Christian iconography, a dove also symbolizes the Holy Spirit, in reference to Matthew 3:16 and Luke 3:22 where the Holy Spirit appeared as a dove at the Baptism of Jesus.

★ Doves or other birds are sometimes released at Christian weddings. They are generally the valued property of individuals who provide them specifically for this purpose. They are regularly permitted to fly free from their home dove cotes and therefore know very well how to fly back home after leaving the scene of the marriage ceremony. All rock pigeons are capable of homing over such short distances, but occasionally birds may be distracted by finding a mate or by being caught by a predator.

★ Doves are often associated with the concept of peace and pacifism. They often appear in political cartoons, on banners and signs at events promoting peace (such as the Olympic Games, at various anti-war/anti-violence protests, etc.), and in pacifist literature. A person who is a pacifist is sometimes referred to as a dove (similarly, in American politics, a person who advocates the use of military resources as opposed to diplomacy can be referred to as a hawk).

★ Rock pigeons selectively bred for their ability to home over long distances, called homing pigeons, have served humans in times of war as war pigeons, and have even been awarded war medals to honour their services to humanity. These include the homing pigeon, Cher Ami, who received the French Croix de guerre for services during wartime, and who is now enshrined in the Smithsonian Institution, and G.I. Joe, who received the Dickin Medal for his role in preventing the bombing of an Italian village of over 1,000 people.

Spread of disease

Though feral pigeons are often associated with the threat of disease, this is actually a fairly recent idea. Pigeons have been associated with a variety of diseases, including histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis.
In addition, pigeons do not spread West Nile Virus; though they can contract it, they do not appear to be able to transmit it. In fact, they are no longer monitored as an indication of the presence of the virus in the area (as crows still are). Pigeons are also at potential risk for carrying and spreading avian flu.[3] [4]
Certainly pigeons, like any other wild animal, carry some risk of disease. They are known, in particular, to be susceptible to salmonellosis, tuberculosis, and ornithosis (None of these have been proven to be transmitted from pigeons to humans, however). It is wise, therefore, to use precautions when handling them.
Extreme fear of pigeons is known as peristerophobia.^[4]

Pigeon Lung

Pigeon breeders sometimes suffer from an ailment known as Pigeon Lung. A form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, Pigeon Lung is caused by the inhalation of the avian proteins found in feathers and dung. It can sometimes be combatted by wearing a filtered mask.[5]

Population control

In the last few decades, people have begun to poison feral pigeons when their numbers become too large. This has proven to be fairly ineffective, however, as pigeons can breed very quickly (up to six times a year) and their numbers are determined by how much food is available; that is, they breed more often when more food is provided to them. When pigeons are poisoned, surviving birds do not leave the area. On the contrary, they are left with more food per bird than before. This attracts pigeons from outside areas as well as encouraging more breeding, and populations are re-established quickly.
A more effective tactic to reduce the number of feral pigeons is deprivation. ^[5][6] Cities around the world have discovered that not feeding their local birds results in a safe population decrease in only a few years. Pigeons, however, will still pick at garbage bags containing discarded food or at leftovers carelessly dropped on the ground.
Due to the huge population in California, an experimental project will use an animal contraceptive called "OvoControl P" in Hollywood. OvoControl P intereferes with egg development, and will be put in food in feeders. The venture has the support of animal rights groups.^[7]

References

1. Feeding Trafalgar Square's Pigeons illegal BBC News
2. Save the Trafalgar Square Pigeons
3. Save the Trafalgar Square Pigeons - Background
4. Why do we hate pigeons so much? - BBC News 23 April 2007
5. Feral Pigeons in Bexley
6. About Pigeons
7. US pigeons to get contraceptives

Further reading

★ Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

★ ''Collins Bird Guide'' by Mullarney, Svensson, Zetterström and Grant ISBN 0-00-219728-6

★

★ Panigrahy B et al (2004) Susceptibility of pigeons to avian influenza. Avian Dis. 1996 Jul-Sep;40(3):600-4

★ Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird

See also

★ Birdfeeding

★ Tipplers

★ Homing pigeons

★ Histoplasmosis

★ List of Pigeon Breeds

★ Dovecote

External links

★ National Pigeon Association (USA)

★ National Pigeon Association (Great Britain)

★ The Canadian Pigeon Fanciers Association

★ Some photographs of rock pigeons

★ Why do pigeons bob their heads? (from The Straight Dope)

★ BBC Life and Nature (from the BBC)

★ Facts about pigeon-related diseases

★ Pigeon and dove information

★ Some squab recipes

★ Pigeon and Dove info

★ South Dakota Birds - Rock Pigeon Information

★ Pigeon author website with good information on Rock Doves and links to other sites