Once upon a time, when technology wasn’t that advanced and we didn’t have things such as phones/texting/email system, birds known as pest today “PIGEONS” were kept, fed and used as messengers. They were sign of hope and love for many including families of WW1 soldiers. Pigeons were always companions and help for human at the same time they always depended on human for food.

Today there are so many misconceptions about pigeons, they are trapped, poisoned, killed, kicked, because people fear of disease which was never scientifically proven. They are called pests, flying rats, yet in many farm areas and some cities in most countries such as England, Ireland, Germany, Poland, France, Italy, China, Morocco, and even in some parts of USA they eat them. There is a famous pest control youtuber who makes videos of how to trap pigeons, then he eats them after. How irony it’s that he runs a business where they advertise pigeons as pest and warn businesses, residents about health hazards from pigeons, yet he eats them without fear of getting the dangerous diseases they warn others about.

In Vancouver many Skytrain stations they have set cages, where they lure pigeons by dropping lots of seeds around and inside the cage, once they get inside the cage they are trapped. I have witnessed it with my own eyes that those birds were trapped for 3 weeks, and on 4th week they were death, their remains were removed 6 weeks after they died. This is inhumane and cruel; we cannot call ourselves animal lovers than enjoy or support cruelty towards some animals. Witnessing the pigeons trapped every morning before work, while using TransLink services has cause me and many others great stress and anxiety. Everyday we witness them on cage trying desperately to find the way out. TransLink is responsible for taking the peace of our minds, when we pay to use their services as customers we shouldn’t be witnessing their cruelty. There is petition to fight Translink cruelty against pigeons, which was shared with people not only in Canada but other countries. And those people who signed the petition got the wrong impression of Canada towards its animals, since Culling of Coyotes in Stanley park already made a huge headline, and killing of 100s of bears every year, even if they don’t attack. Canada could be better than that, to help stop Translink cruelty against luring and trapping of pigeons, please sign this petition >>> https://www.change.org/p/translink-stop-inhumanly-killing-of-pigeons

In cities birds are desperate for food they can easily get lured, trapped and killed. But even today there are some kind and compassionate people who care about pigeons, by providing some seeds during harsh winter times, or whole year long but in many cities around the Europe, and north America, either feeding pigeons is a total ban, or they are pushing the by-law to ban it, and breach could lead to some high amount of charges/Ticket. It amazes me that in the same cities, in park areas, on streets and in many public areas, people are allowed to inject themselves with drug, or consume it, and leave mess behind, some of the mess they leave are life threading to our fur families such as dogs or a real health hazard. We have heard many times from Wildlife not to feed pigeons they find their own food, yes true they do find food, but in cities except junk and left overs they cannot find what they are actually suppose to eat, which are seeds. By consuming what they are not supposed to eat, that could cause pigeons get disease and spread it to another birds. In cities they are even seen eating chicken or meat product, because like all of us they need food to survive. If human is in situation where they cannot find food, for survival they can even eat another human, history has witnessed it in some harsh situations.

Banning the bird feeding or pigeon feeding will not stop people from feeding them, but what may happen, the increase of violence against those who feed pigeons. There are people who truly hate pigeons, the ban could give them opportunity to become more violent, and more aggressive, which means higher crime rates over something minor. The government and cities should focus on more serious issues than putting rules on minor things. Kristyn Wong-Tam Toronto City Council who proposed the feeding ban, should focus on more serious issues. There are people who commit major crimes in bright day light and walk without fear and no one dares to even stop them, but people who try to feed these birds are in more fear than those who commit serious crimes. Eventually it could lead to more stress, anxiety and mental health problems

If the cities truly don’t want people to feed birds or pigeons then they should STOP using pesticides on grass which kills worms and make even other birds depended on human feedings. Or they can plant more trees/plants that produce natural seeds, so that these birds don’t depend on human. But with number of high rises and condos in cities, they will find excuse to kill and starve these birds in name of pest etc.

To prevent these birds from building nest in balconies, and other properties, they can also build pigeon house, and sell their droppings for fertilizer purposes. Pigeon poop, or guano, is nitrogen rich, making it an excellent source of fertilizer. There is also evidence that pigeon poop is a better fertilizer than other farm animal manure, which ultimately could have led to the development of more efficient agrarian societies.

In short there are many humane and beneficial solutions FOR PIGEON ISSUE, rather than trapping them, poisoning them, starving them and KILLING THEM IN MOST INHUMANE WAYS.