Ward 13 Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam wants to make it illegal to feed pigeons on both public and private property in Toronto.

Councillor Tam's motion, passed by council on July 16, called "Go Tell it to the Birds" aims at eliminating pigeon "overfeeding" which instead will result in ALL feeding being made illegal - including winter-feeding when ALL birds need us to survive the harsh winter weather.

Pigeons are intelligent, gentle and curious animals. Many people take a great deal of pleasure in feeding them and watching their beautiful acrobatics as they take flight in their flocks. 

But even those of us who don't appreciate pigeons must realize that we cannot ban feeding one species without affecting the urban ecosystem as a whole. While overfeeding any wild animal should not be done, what's proposed by the motion will stop all feeding and negatively impact ALL urban birds - including songbirds and raptors. 

The negative effects of such a proposal are many:

- Songbirds, like pigeons, rely on seed for their nutrition and health. Feeding stations on private property in winter months are especially essential to ensure Toronto's bird populations remain strong and healthy. Studies have shown that bird feeding has a protective effect on bird populations.

- While the motion ostensibly targets "overfeeding", the term is vague and arbitrary. When is feeding to support flocks "overfeeding".  The result will be an effective ban on all feeding as people will be fearful of violating the bylaw and stop putting out all feed.

-The motion seeks to initiate "rapid-response investigation and enforcement" of 311 complaints related to pigeon feeding." It will redirect city resources away from essential services to instead chase-down citizens for the "crime" of helping our urban birds. In effect, Councillor Wong-Tam', motion will criminalize those who take pleasure in the innocent act of showing compassion towards wildlife.

- Feeding birds is a known benefit to mental health and is tool in teaching children about the natural world around them. To prohibit it means that seniors, the homeless and other vulnerable citizens lose their ability to connect with our urban birds in a healthful and healing way, and we lose a valuable means of raising children with a connection to the environment and a respect for wildlife.

- To make it illegal to feed pigeons in a multiethnic city like Toronto amounts to cultural insensitivity and discrimination. Many religious groups - including Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs feed pigeons for religious reasons. For many, there is a belief that when a person dies his or her soul assumes the form of a bird (normally a pigeon) and therefore by feeding birds they are caring for the souls of their departed ancestors.

- Many people keep dovecotes.  Because of pigeons' remarkable ability to freefly and return to their homes, many of these birds appear to be wild when they are in fact personal pets.  To prohibit feeding pigeons on private property means for a great many people that they must stop feeding their pets. Raised in coops, these pigeons have always relied on human care, would not survive on their own.

Preserve your right to help nurture these beautiful and gentle birds both on public property and more importantly in your own backyard. Make your voice heard and help to stop the passage of Councillor Wong-Tam's motion.

Please sign and share to let Toronto Council know we need a better, more thoughtful, more compassionate solution than starving our urban wildlife and penalizing Torontonians who choose to contribute to its welfare.