Pigeons or Pests

Different species of plants, animals and birds that exist on the planet have their role to perform with certain number, above and below which they disturb the balanced existence of other species, including humans. If we take a view of our surroundings, we find variety of species whose numbers either have increased or have decreased or totally vanished. The repercussions of irregular number of different species led to various forms of human-wildlife conflict, resulting in direct and indirect harm to either of the two. The fluctuating number of individuals of different species of plants and animals point ultimately to human negligence towards various ecological and environmental phenomenon. Therefore, for better sustainability of nature and its different species we need to adjust and optimize our attitude towards population of different plant and animal species.

If we talk about the species in the field of ornithology which have increased the number of their individuals recently, one common bird i.e., Pigeon (Columba livia) shows itself in front of us. This bird prefers human settlements as its habitat due to safer nesting sites and food availability. The bird possesses a good breeding potential and has a clutch size of about 1-3 eggs with 1-6 broods per year. Their average hatching time ranges from 18-20 days. They feed on variety of naturally available food sources (including grains). However, in addition to naturally available food sources, people offer them food grains on public places in enormous quantities. Due to abundant food supply, they breed to the fullest, leading to their increased population. This has resulted in ‘Pigeon menace’ in and around human settlements and has created nuisance to humans. The increased number of these birds pose a serious threat to humans and they are, therefore, regarded as ‘pests’. For instance, the increased pigeon population damage paddy nurseries, thereby, leading to huge crop loss to farmers. In addition to crop loss the droppings of these birds lead to unhygienic conditions at various public places. They also have potential to transmit various disease causing pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.) which can result in serious health problems including histoplasmosis and psittacosis (parrot fever). The pathogens for these diseases contained in the droppings of these birds are blown by wind after the droppings dry off.

Therefore, keeping in view various threats that pigeons pose to humans, there is a dire need to keep the population of these feral pigeons under check. For this purpose we cannot hold responsible only government agencies, rather, at individual level, we also have a role to play.

What common people can do?

1. i) Keep yourself away from areas which have increased population of feral pigeons. If necessary, move to the pigeon dominated areas with mask covering your nose and mouth, to prevent infections.
2. ii) Do not un-necessarily feed pigeon population, as this ultimately leads to their increased population and the repercussions thereof.

iii)  Keep vigil over crops including paddy nurseries. Use proper pigeon repellents to scare away feral pigeons from your crop.

What Government can do?

In consultation with concerned experts and researchers in the field of ornithology, the government must devise a proper strategy to deal with the Pigeon menace in and around human settlements, so that threats due to their increasing population are reduced.

Dr. Hameem Mushtaq, faculty Department of Zoology, Central University of Kashmir