‘Amanda, What Are You Doing With That Pigeon?!’

Amanda Sykes, one of the founders of Glasgow’s Happy Feet, explains:

One summer afternoon, a little bunch of us went to a pub with an outdoor eating area. I was collecting my food from inside and came back out to see Shona, one of our group, holding a “stringfoot” pigeon. “Stringfoot” pigeons are those suffering from painful, disfigured feet because of litter being dropped by humans onto our streets … the pigeons’ home! Human hair, discarded string, and the like wraps around their feet, tightening, and cutting off blood flow, so that the birds are losing toes, feet, and sometimes even entire legs. Another friend, Kevin, was working away with a pair of borrowed scissors to cut the string from the pigeon’s feet. We were all in awe, but rather than taking the “glory,” Kevin turned to us and said, “You could do this.”

So we did! We now have an active cohort of regular volunteers who go out on pigeon patrols, armed with pointed scissors, tweezers, and birdseed, and over 500 members belong to our Facebook group, Happy Feet – Glasgow. Our team has inevitably grown from being primarily focused on pigeon destringing to much more generally focused on pigeon welfare and public education. I remind people that the feral pigeons around us today are the descendants of once-wild birds who were domesticated to be used for their eggs/flesh, for carrying messages, and for pigeon racing … and then abandoned when we no longer saw a use for them. Pigeons are not responsible for their existence on our streets – humans are.

As for the fear of disease, it’s just hysteria really. Far more people are hospitalized from dog- and cat-related incidents than from any interaction with pigeons! When we’re out on patrol, often with a pigeon on our knees as we destring them, we talk to members of the public about what we’re doing, and why. Pigeons are helping us sow the seed of kindness. We have recruited several new group members from that kind of public engagement.

The bird who’s on my mind – and in my bathroom – at the moment is “little Trevor,” an escapee from a predator attack. I found him in the park when I was feeling very sad, two days after the death of my dad, Trevor. I was on my way to a friend’s house and had nothing to contain him, so I just picked him up in my hands. He has been assessed by our rehabber and is recovering in my bathroom. I am grieving my dad, but little Trevor is bringing me some comfort. Pigeons are the gentlest creatures, little “peace ambassadors,” who have as much right to their place on this planet as humans and every other living being.

Upending Nasty Old Notions About These Remarkable Birds

Prepare to be gobsmacked by someone who weighs about 300 grams, about the same as two apples! Someone (yes, they’re not rocks) who is probably better at math than most people you know, able to solve problems in a way similar to AI algorithms, using trial and error to predict the best solutions. Pigeons do all that and a bag of chips: They have almost photographic memories, which allow them to recognize the face of the mean galoot who stomped his feet at them and the kind person who shared her lunch.

And pigeons would be scandalized at human divorce rates and parenting skills because they are phenomenally devoted partners who stay together for life, and – tell this to your other half – both parents share equally in nesting, food collection, and feeding duties for their offspring (male and female pigeons both make milk in their crops!).

What You Can Do

Start discussions with friends, family, everyone about why pigeons matter and deserve our care. If you find a pigeon in trouble, always stop and help! Quickly but gently place a jacket over the bird or place your hands on either side of the bird’s body and scoop her up. Secure her in a box with airholes and then contact a local wildlife rehabilitator – Facebook has pigeon pages with access to rehabbers around the world – or contact PETA. And when you spot children in parks running through flocks of pigeons, thoughtlessly scattering them and scaring them half to death, please intervene. Talk to them and their parents about respecting our animal neighbors.