In defense of pigeons

Dear Bernat, a moment ago I received your article for my opinion and I tell you, I am beside myself. How dare you dismiss a living being in this way and, incidentally, also all the people who care and worry about the future of this planet where you also live?

For your information, the pigeon is native to Asia where it lived on the cliffs of the coasts, nesting in small caves and crevices, which is why it was called "rock pigeon". It was the Romans who began breeding them for culinary purposes. Others bred and still breed them for competition in beauty and racing contests. It also served as a carrier pigeon, especially during battles and wars, as a means of communication.

This animal was always a domestic animal and is considered as such by law. The city pigeon is the product of human hands. It has not asked to be displaced from its natural habitat, the distant coasts of the Asian seas. It is man who made it dependent on him and his irresponsibility has led millions of rock pigeons to subsist poorly in our cities: always hungry and therefore weak and sickly, feeding on unnatural food (because pizza with motor oil is not exactly nutritious food for a granivore). Given that there is a lot of competition for scarce food in the city among them, these birds approach humans, asking for food. It comes from the imprint they have through centuries of breeding by depending on man.

And the city pigeon has nothing to do with those of the countryside or forest. Its ancestors lived on the cliffs of the seas and for it, the streets of our cities with their buildings resemble cliffs. It is for this reason that it lives in our cities and not in the forest, as you would like.

Given that there is a lot of competition for scarce food in the city among them, these birds approach humans, asking for food

And as for its high reproduction: it is human manipulation through the centuries that has led it to procreate incessantly. All animals have their reproductive cycle, the rock pigeon no longer. It can breed throughout the year, which is not natural because all animals only breed when the weather and food availability are favorable for raising young.

But with his immense greed, man, that is, the male of our species, carried out an artificial selection on this bird so that it would breed all year round. Among other things, to always have a tender pigeon roast on hand or to boast of possessing the fastest or most beautiful pigeon.

Even so: the more a species is harassed, the more it reproduces. This is how nature has foreseen it. Other species with an exponential population increase due to constant human harassment would be wild boars, roe deer, and foxes. Curiously, these are precisely always the animals that man, that is, the male of our species, relentlessly pursues.

With his immense greed, man, that is, the male of our species, carried out an artificial selection on this bird so that it would breed all year round

Another point to consider are the many competitive races in which hundreds of pigeons are lost each time. Recently in the United Kingdom, thousands of pigeons did not return to their dovecote after being released in a single competition. And throughout all countries, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of such events in just one year. In one weekend, the pigeon population in a country can increase by tens of thousands of pigeons.Animals that have not found their way back. Then the release of doves at weddings or other human celebrations around the world is a sign of love and peace. Accustomed to the presence of man, they join their companions in the city.

But in many cities, including Basel, Frankfurt, Berlin, Vienna or London, pigeon birth control is carried out, offering them dovecotes with nests and food, and where their eggs are exchanged for plaster eggs, and thus the pigeon population is kept at least constant.

Birth control through chemical sterilization is not viable, given that for this the animals have to ingest a certain amount, which is impossible to control. Besides, these medicines then pass into the subsoil where they enter the underground water masses. And these are already heavily contaminated with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and various pesticides, so there is no need to add hormones.

In many cities, pigeon birth control is carried out, offering them dovecotes with nests and food, and where their eggs are exchanged for plaster eggs, and thus the population is kept constant

And although they may seem a nuisance to you, they enrich with their presence the cities full of cement and artificial life, andrepresent one of the last vestiges of nature within a city, while also brightening the lives of many people who establish relationships with them and feed them. And no, it's not the food that makes them increase in number, but human persecution. In this case, that of the city councils that capture them by the thousands and take them to be gassed. With so many missing, the pigeons that are born have a better chance of survival because there is more food available to them.

It's very curious to find someone from the city bothered by the cooing of a pigeon, yet not by the infernal noise of a motorcycle speeding past their window. Or the honking of a car. Or the shouts of a few drunk neighbors. I wonder how you would behave with roosters crowing at four in the morning in a village.