Hi, this is a campaign to educate people on the hazards of pigeon colonies and the benefits of green cover.

Though the sight of pigeons may appear pleasing to some, they create a disproportionate amount of mess in their surroundings. Power lines make a comfortable perch, and window ledges and building shafts make an excellent nesting place for them.  They breed in building shafts, and their droppings and feathers create a visual and olfactory nuisance. Breathing in air laden with particulates of pigeon droppings and feathers can cause life-threatening diseases of the lungs and chest. The droppings dry up and are easily carried on to the air.  Even the A/C compressor units can bring in the antigens from the droppings and feathers. Inflammation of the lungs can quickly go from acute to chronic, causing life disabling ILDs (interstitial lung diseases).  The droppings are also corrosive and cause considerable damage to buildings and monuments.

While individual apartments handle this through nets, spikes, etc. the expansion of this menace needs to be controlled across localities in the city.  Cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad have had significant challenges with this menace (check reference links below).  Let us spare Bengaluru.  Let us demand that pigeon feeding spots be removed with immediate effect and the same areas be reinstated with plants and trees.  Pigeons do not breed in green areas, and the plants and trees will be pleasing to look at and also improve the air quality. The following are known feeding spots:

1. Opposite to Bellandur Central mall - under the flyover
2. At the very end of SunCity Apartments, Iblur - in the land next to the shop

These areas have become a breeding ground for hundreds of pigeons, assisted by superstitious people who come to feed them. Apart from nesting and breeding in this area, they have infested the apartments nearby and have clogged pipes, shafts and other open areas with droppings. They have also destroyed ACs and other exposed expensive equipment.  All these while causing major health and life risks for the residents of this area.  Imagine how an already strained lung could deal with coronavirus or other complications.

It is also extremely necessary to replace the open areas with trees and or large planter pots.  The green cover will also help in improving the environment and quality of air around this area and make it a better place to live for the residents.

In this petition, we are supported by residents from Bengaluru including doctors, birders and other experts in the matter.

Please support with your signature, share with resident groups in these localities, and get your friends' and neighbours' signatures too.  Add more spots in the comments, and we will update the petition details accordingly.

References:

• The pigeon paradox - Feeding them could be bad for your lungs
• Aasheesh Pittie, Ornithologist - A Plague of Pigeons
• Mumbaikars battle pigeon menace - YouTube video