Pigeon Droppings Archives

Habit and Habitat of Pigeon

by Pigeon Patrol | Nov 30, 2021 | history of pigeons, MBCA, pet bird, Pigeon Control, Pigeon Droppings

The Blue Rock Pigeon lives in perfect freedom in ledges, fissures and holes of rocks, forts, old buildings and side walls of wells. It prefers to live in those places of towns and cities which have plenty of coarse grains. Thus, their favourite resorts include big buildings, godowns, grain markets, temples, mosques, churches, tombs, railway stations and office buildings. They never nest on trees.

Nature:

The pigeons are inoffensive, harmless, timid and gregarious birds. During breeding season solitary couples make a simple, flat and artless nest of small sticks and thin roots, etc., at all sorts of places where there is some shelter from rain and sun. The eggs are laid in these nests and further development also occurs there. During winter, the pigeons collect into flocks which may be composed of several hundred individuals.

Food and Feeding:

The pigeons are vegetarians, feeding on grains, pulses, seeds of fruits and grasses. Sometimes they feed on insects, snails and slugs probably mistaken for seeds. They regularly leave their places of retreats and settlings during mornings and evenings, and collect into flocks to plunder the nearby fields.

Locomotion:

The pigeons are provided with long powerful wings which are well adapted for swift and strong flight. They walk on their two legs and such kind of walking is called bipedal gait. They walk on ground in search of food with great rapidity. When startled, they rise suddenly by striking the ground with their wings producing a crackling sound.

Sound:

The pigeons do not sing, chirp or screech but produce a characteristic sound which resembles the syllables gootur-goon, gootur-goon.

Family Life:

They lead a monogamous life, i.e., one male lives and copulates with only one female throughout the life.

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Reproduction and Incubation:

The internal fertilisation is performed by copulation in which temporary union of male and female takes place at their cloacal ends, i.e., cloacae of the two oppose each other, and transfer of sperms occurs directly into the urodaeum of female. The pigeons are oviparous, the eggs are laid in the nest and are incubated by the warmth of the parent’s body and hatching occurs after a fortnight.

Parental Care:

The newly hatched youngs are immature, helpless and featherless and are nourished by both parents by a fatty, curdy secretion, the pigeon’s milk, which is secreted in their crop. The parental care and homing instinct are well developed in pigeons.

Distribution:

The Blue Rock Pigeons are widely distributed in Palaearctic (Europe) and Oriental regions (Asia) and North Africa. They are especially plentiful in Palestine city of Israel. In India, two subspecies of Columba livia are namely, Columba livia neglecta is found up to 13,000 feet on the Himalaya.

Another Columba livia intermedia is smaller and darker race, which occurs throughout India. The Indian wild pigeon differs from that of European in having the rump or lower part of the back ash-coloured, while Indian pigeon is white.

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Long-extinct passenger pigeon finds a place in the family tree

by Pigeon Patrol | Nov 23, 2021 | history of pigeons, MBCA, pet bird, Pigeon Control, Pigeon Droppings

With bits of DNA extracted from century-old museum specimens, researchers have found a place for the extinct passenger pigeon in the family tree of pigeons and doves, identifying for the first time this unique bird’s closest living avian relatives.

The new analysis, which appears this month in Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, reveals that the passenger pigeon was most closely related to other North and South American pigeons, and not to the mourning dove, as was once suspected.

Naturalists have long lamented that one of North America’s most spectacular birds was also one of the first to be driven to extinction. In the early 1800s it was the most abundant bird species on the planet, even though its range was limited to the eastern and central forests of the United States and parts of eastern Canada. Flocks of passenger pigeons were so vast they darkened the sky; it could take days for a flock to pass overhead.

“It must have been unbelievable to see one of these flocks,” said Kevin Johnson, an ornithologist with the Illinois Natural History Survey at the University of Illinois and lead author of the study. “There is nothing in modern times that we can compare it to. The passenger pigeon was very nomadic and it formed these huge flocks, in the millions, and breeding colonies in the millions.”

Passenger pigeons followed their food, settling down in forests that periodically produced a superabundance of acorns and chestnuts. The pigeons nested in dense colonies covering hundreds of acres. This made them easy targets for human predators.

Intensive hunting of the pigeons in the mid-to-late 19th century disrupted their ability to breed, Johnson said. That and habitat destruction led to the bird’s eventual extinction. (The last of her kind, a passenger pigeon named Martha, died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914.)

To find the passenger pigeon’s place in the evolutionary history of pigeons and doves, Johnson and his colleagues compared sequences from two of its mitochondrial genes with those of 78 species of pigeons and doves from around the world. (There are more than 300 species of pigeons and doves worldwide.)

“We had two sequences from the mitochondrial genome, which is a separate organelle in the cell that has its own genome,” Johnson said. Mitochondrial genes are plentiful and so are easier to sequence, he said. And the mitochondrial genome evolves more rapidly than the nuclear genome, making it a good target for evolutionary studies.

The researchers first analyzed the available sequence data for all (extant and extinct) pigeons and doves together. Then they focused only on the living species, for which much more genetic information is available. They built a family tree of all living pigeons and doves, and then compared the available gene sequences of the passenger pigeon to those of its relatives to find its place in that tree. Both approaches placed the passenger pigeon on the same place in the tree.

Prior to this study, some believed that the passenger pigeon was most closely related to the mourning dove, a smaller species that also has a relatively long tail, Johnson said.

“But it turns out, based on the DNA, that it’s actually related to the New World big pigeons in a totally different genus,” he said.

The band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata, which lives in the western mountainous regions of North and South America, was the passenger pigeon’s geographically nearest relative. Other members of this genus are found in forests in parts of Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

The passenger pigeon was fairly distinct from its relatives, however, as it belonged to a separate genus, Ectopistes, Johnson said.

“The passenger pigeon is in a monotypic genus, which means there is only one species in that genus: Ectopistes migratorius,” he said. “This bird is pretty diverged from its nearest relatives, meaning it had a unique place in the world. It represented a unique lineage that’s now gone.”

The study team included Dale Clayton, of the University of Utah; John Dumbacher of the California Academy of Sciences and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute; and Robert Fleischer, of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.

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Loved or loathed, feral pigeons as subjects in ecological and social research

by Pigeon Patrol | Nov 16, 2021 | Pigeon Droppings, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Predators, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons, Pigeons in the News

The feral pigeon (Columba livia) carries with it a reputation that runs counter to conservation: it is feral, exotic and invasive and even considered down right filthy. But upon closer inspection, the pigeon could be a subject worthy of study for both ecological and social science purposes and highlight the importance of urban species in ecology. This insight on pigeons occurred during an urban ecology study that focused on habitat and population dynamics of the birds and is also supported through an extensive literature review. As a nearly ubiquitous species, we discuss how important pigeons are as a prey-base for numerous raptors and underscore our position by highlighting several studies on the biological uptake of environmental contaminants that may have benefited from including the pigeon as part of the research. We further our stance on the importance of pigeons in urban ecology by highlighting additional concerns such as zoonotic disease and climate change. We expand our case by turning to the social construction of nature, the importance of public participation in conservation. Once again, the ubiquitous presence of pigeons lends itself well to citizen science in ecology and conservation, especially to show trends across a range of geographic locations. In short, this commentary strives to reconceptualize the feral pigeon, promoting the bird as a valuable asset to ecological and social research in ways that raise awareness for conservation concerns and advance our scientific thinking.

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Why Pigeons Are Bad For Business

by Pigeon Patrol | Nov 12, 2021 | MBCA, pet bird, Pigeon Control, Pigeon Droppings, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Predators

No matter what type of business you’re in, pests may eventually become a problem. This is doubly true if you’re in the food business in London. Out of all the pests you may encounter, birds are probably one of the worst. Not only are these pests irritating, but they can also be extremely harmful to your business. As an example, here are a handful of reasons why pigeons are bad for business.

Pigeons can harm businesses in the following ways

1. Their faeces and the damage it causes

The biggest issue with pigeons is their faeces. These birds defecate constantly. To make matters worse, they very often do their business over your business. In addition to this, if their mess is on the ground, someone will eventually have to clean it up. And this is something you’ll have to do over and over again due to the health and safety risks associated with pigeon droppings.

Another reason why pigeons are bad for business, is because they defecate onto your roof. This is also an enormous hassle to clean up. More importantly, it can cause significant damage to your roof. The reason why is because pigeon faeces are extremely corrosive. This means that over time, accumulated droppings can eat through your roof, and also damage important infrastructure.

2. Annoying your patrons

The main problem with pigeons is that they often take over outside eating areas and harass patrons. This is probably the biggest reason why pigeons are bad for food industry and hospitality businesses. Anyone who has found themselves surrounded by a seething mass of pigeons pestering them for scraps can attest to this.

These birds are extremely annoying and off putting, and have even been known to defecate on customers. They also make a lot of noise. What’s more, over time the presence of these birds can actually dissuade people from purchasing your food or visiting your cafe. All in all, pigeons are a serious nuisance and should be dealt with by a professional London pigeon control team immediately.

3. Nesting on buildings

Pigeons are also bad for business because they nest on the property. The problem here is that pigeons can damage your building in several ways. Besides defecating, they also continuously shed their feathers.

These feathers can eventually block drains which may, in turn, lead to flooding and water damage. Along with this, their feathers blocks vents, chimneys, and air conditioning units.

Pigeons also cause damage whilst building their nests. Not to mention the mess and debris they leave you to deal with. The other issue with nests, is that pigeons often destroy parts of your roof in their hunt for building materials. These birds may also peck at and damage roofs and sections of your guttering.

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The ‘doos’ and don’ts of pigeon fancying

by Pigeon Patrol | Nov 12, 2021 | MBCA, pet bird, Pigeon Control, Pigeon Droppings, Pigeon Patrol's Services

THEY ‘doo’ like to be the seaside – that’s 25,000 enthusiasts who will flock to Blackpool for the Crufts of the pigeon world this weekend.

This major event, The British Homing World Show of the Year, is the highlight of the year for pigeon fanciers and showcases a sport that involves racing and showing homer pigeons and is followed by none other than the Queen.

The top prize has been won four times in recent years by the same Scottish couple – and they hope to lift the prestigious Supreme Champion trophy for a fifth.

John and Alice Bell are up against stiff opposition with more than 3,000 pedigree racing pigeons and 2,000 show pigeons competing at the Winter Gardens, but they are confident their prize pigeon will rule the roost once more.

John, 51, has had pigeons since he was 10 and caught the bug from a neighbour in the Ayrshire village of Catrine who raced pigeons. He started off with two hens and two cocks and now has 60 birds in the ‘loft’ or shed in his back garden.

Despite working full time at a garden centre, he and his wife spend up to seven hours a day feeding, cleaning and tending their pampered pigeons, and they spend most weekends packing the car with boxes of pigeons and taking them to shows all over the country.

“I used to race pigeons but all the races are in the summer months and it was interfering with family holidays,” said John, who has a 23-year-old daughter, Nicole, 23 who is also a pigeon fancier.

“I was also fed up losing pigeons as they don’t always come back, so I went into show pigeons. It’s more sociable and is something you can do with the family. We all get great pleasure from it – the pigeons are affectionate and tame and they’re always happy to see you. Growing up, my daughter came to the shows with us and now she has her own pigeons. I’ll be competing against her this year.”

The Bells won the Supreme Champion trophy in 2007, 2011, 2014 and 2016 and are hopeful the same bird, a nine-year-old cock that won in 2011, will win this year, along with one of its sons.

“He’s the top dog in the loft,” John said “and has bred some winners as well as being the Scottish champion. We’ve won that competition four years in a row.”

Linda Bruce, secretary of the Scottish Homing Union, said: “It’s a really absorbing sport but it’s time-consuming as you have to look after the birds seven days a week. Over the last 30 years the number of members in Scotland has halved from 6,500.

“Racing pigeons was popular in mining communities. If you are down a pit all day, you want to come out into the sunshine and look at your birds flying in the sky. It’s also a sociable sport and most towns in Scotland have pigeon clubs. The age group is mostly middle-aged now but they take the sport very seriously and there’s a lot of competitiveness.”

While racing pigeons are lean, light and can often suffer feather damage, show pigeons are large, plump and glossy with pristine plumage. In the weeks before the show owners keep the lofts spotless, bringing in fresh water in basins so the birds can bathe, carefully wiping off any dirt with a soft cloth and handling the birds after putting talc on their hands or wearing gloves to keep feathers oil-free.

Ian Evans, Secretary of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association and manager of The British Homing World Show of the Year, said: “There are 40,000 pigeon fanciers in the UK. While it’s always been seen as a working man’s sport, it actually covers all levels of society with some really wealthy people and lots of women taking part. The Queen has racing pigeons, and her father and grandfather before her.”

FIVE FASCINATING PIGEON FACTS

•The homing pigeon was the most decorated animal during World War II. A pigeon called Cher Ami was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for heroic service during World War I after it was shot in the chest and leg but continued its flight to get the message home through shrapnel and poison gas.

•Pablo Picasso was such a pigeon fancier that he called his daughter ‘Paloma’, Spanish for pigeon. Other famous pigeon fanciers include tough Scottish footballer Duncan Ferguson, former boxer Mike Tyson, and the Queen, who has 240 birds at the Royal Pigeon Lofts in Sandringham.

•Racing pigeons can be bought for as little as £15 but can fetch much more. Recently a champion racing pigeon was sold in America for a record $1.3m. A British company that breeds racing pigeons bought him as a stud.

•The Rothschild family set up a network of pigeon lofts throughout Europe and used homing pigeons to carry information between its financial houses. The speed of service kept them ahead of the competition and helped them amass a fortune.

•A champion pigeon can be released 400 miles from home and still return the same day. No one knows how pigeons make their way back, although it’s thought they navigate using landmarks in known territory. Another theory is they have an internal compass and use the earth’s magnetic field.

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Pigeon droppings health risk – should you worry?

by Pigeon Patrol | Nov 1, 2021 | history of pigeons, MBCA, pet bird, Pigeon Control, Pigeon Droppings, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Predators

An infection linked to pigeon droppings was a “contributing factor” in the death of a child at a Glasgow hospital, it has been confirmed.

The child was being treated at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital when he or she appears to have caught the infection – a fungus called cryptococcus.

The child has not been named. The fungus did not contribute to the death in December of a second patient infected with the same pathogen, say experts.

What is it?

Cryptococcus is a yeast-like fungus that lives in the environment.

It can be found in soil contaminated by pigeon droppings.

How can you catch it?

People can become infected if they breathe it in.

The child who died in December at the hospital in Glasgow had been exposed to the fungus.

Experts say the probable source has been traced to a room on the rooftop of the hospital. Pigeon droppings appeared in the room via a small break in the wall which was “invisible to the naked eye”, Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman confirmed.

The hospital says it has put infection control measures in place and no further cases have been reported.

How risky is it?

Most won’t get sick, but vulnerable people with already weakened immunity can get very ill with a chest infection or meningitis.

Expert Prof Hugh Pennington says it is very unusual to see cases in the UK.

“It is common in other parts of the world, particularly tropical parts, in the US and countries like that where they have more problems with this particular kind of fungus. But in the UK, very uncommon.

“There are cases in people who have problems with their immune systems. They’re the people who are at risk with this kind of bug.”

Cryptococcus infection cannot spread from person to person.

How dangerous is pigeon poo?

Breathing dust or water droplets containing contaminated bird droppings can lead to several diseases, including a flu-like illness called psittacosis.

Salmonella – a bacterial infection that can cause diarrhoea – may also be present in some bird droppings.

If you are cleaning up or come into contact with droppings, you should take precautions. Wash your hands and clean any exposed skin before eating, drinking or putting your hands near your mouth.

Likewise, if you are feeding or handling birds, wash your hands afterwards.

If you have a compromised immune system, including from HIV/AIDS or cancer, you should not clean up droppings.

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Next Entries »

Habit and Habitat of Pigeon

Long-extinct passenger pigeon finds a place in the family tree

Loved or loathed, feral pigeons as subjects in ecological and social research

Why Pigeons Are Bad For Business

Pigeons can harm businesses in the following ways

1. Their faeces and the damage it causes

2. Annoying your patrons

3. Nesting on buildings

The ‘doos’ and don’ts of pigeon fancying

Pigeon droppings health risk – should you worry?

What is it?

How can you catch it?

How risky is it?

How dangerous is pigeon poo?

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