NYC Pigeon Facts
Pigeons and New York City go together like bagels and a schmear. Well, perhaps not exactly like bagels and a schmear, because everyone loves bagels and a schmear, but not everyone loves the pigeon. Pigeon stereotypes are that they are dirty “rats with wings”, a menace to society, but there is much more to the pigeon than meets the eye. Let’s discover the truth of the New York City pigeon.
How did pigeons get to New York City
Pigeons, also known as rock doves (or Columbia livia) are not indigenous to New York City, so how did pigeons get here? Pigeons arrived in New York City much the same way humans did. As early as the 1600s, sailors arrived in New York City carrying pigeons which were used for food, entertainment, and believe it or not, food. Menus included stuffed pigeon, and it was often served in manners that consume chicken today. Pigeons were barnyard animals, raised for the table.
It’s not well documented how the pigeons transitioned from domesticated bird to wild animal of the streets, we do know their roles began to change in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Pigeons were used for communications. During World War II, many NYC rooftops had pigeon coops, and the government mandated that 5 pigeons from every coop in the country be bred and trained as homing pigeons in combat! They were valuable messengers during wartime.
Today, as few as 50 pigeon coops exist in New York City. Pigeons instead dwell in the nooks and crannies and New York City’s skyscrapers, which serve as an excellent replacement for the craggy cliffs of the pigeon’s native land. It’s estimated that over 4 million pigeons call New York City home.
Myth Busting Pigeon Stereotypes
The pigeon is a noble bird. Like true New Yorkers, they are resilient and adaptable to different environments. Pigeons are brave, courageous, and smart.
A reason pigeons make such good messengers is that they can find their way home from over 1,300 miles away! Scientists believe they do this using the sun’s position, since they have no visual, olfactory, or magnetic clues to aid them. To make this even more impressive, pigeons have been able to find their way home even after being transported in complete isolation to a location they’ve never been, while their cages were rotated to prevent the birds from knowing which direction they were traveling in.
Pigeons are also surprisingly fast! Sure on the ground they might look a little silly bobbing their heads, but they can fly as fast as 93 miles per hour.
Great sense of direction and super fast speeds? No wonder pigeons made such good soldiers!
Most animals cannot recognize their own image in a mirror, but pigeons can! This self awareness is just another clue to how smart pigeons are!
And finally, pigeons are not dirty! They are surprisingly clean birds! Pigeons are known for keeping their nesting areas neat and tidy. It is also very rare that pigeons carry disease.
Does New York City Have a Pigeon Problem?
The most dangerous aspect of having so many pigeons in New York City is their droppings. Pigeon droppings cause a mess and can be harmful to New York City landmarks. Unfortunately acid in pigeon droppings can corrode and deteriorate surfaces and accelerate their decline. Thus, it’s important to clean up pigeon poo.
While it is indeed legal to feed pigeons in New York City, it is largely discouraged due to the large amount of pigeon droppings in a concentrated area feeding them creates.
In New York City, property owners are required to clean up pigeon droppings. If you see a property owner neglecting their pigeon droppings, call 311.
New York City also celebrates the pigeon. Recently, The High Line held the first ever pigeon fest, that included talented performers dressing up as pigeons and performing.
Show off your love for pigeons by putting photos of them (or you dressed up as a pigeon!) on the Welcome to Times Square billboard. How do you get your photo on a Times Square billboard? Visit welcometotimessquare.com and you can appear for as low as $150 a day!