A serious quesstion.
Jul 19, 2013 13:37:35 #
I know that this may seem a bit tongue in cheek but it's meant as a serious question. I live in quite a big town and pigeons are a real problem. Given that it has to be a very rich food source, why have hawks and other predators not moved in to take advantage? It's far hotter than we're uesed to and there a couple of pigeons making out on the building opposite me so my my motivationn for asking this may well be down to jealousy. :D
Jul 19, 2013 13:52:39 #
Oh, but they have. Here in North America we have had a great come back in Peregrine Falcons, a lot who live entirely in the city because of the rich food source. Sharp-shinned Hawks and Coopers' Hawks are other species who have adapted to urban life as well. 150 years ago there were no skyscrapers, a requirement for Falcons to nest, so it may take a wild species a little longer to evolve entirely to that life style. The Pigeons just happened to have adapted a lot quicker and had few predators to keep their numbers in check. Those numbers may level out as raptor populations increase.
Jul 19, 2013 13:56:27 #
Pepper
Loc: Planet Earth Country USA
Joe F.N. wrote:
Oh, but they have. Here in North America we have had a great come back in Peregrine Falcons, a lot who live entirely in the city because of the rich food source. Sharp-shinned Hawks and Coopers' Hawks are other species who have adapted to urban life as well. 150 years ago there were no skyscrapers, a requirement for Falcons to nest, so it may take a wild species a little longer to evolve entirely to that life style. The Pigeons just happen to adapt a lot quicker.
One of our larger cities purchased a couple pairs of Peregrine Falcons and tried to reintroduce them to the city. They didn't have much success with the adults they purchased but they were able to indoctrinate the chicks and now there are several downtown and they do help control the pigeon population.
Jul 19, 2013 16:33:02 #
If they are just "making out" that's ok, but if they are having sex, I would shoot them before they multiply or else you will have pigeon poop everywhere
Jul 19, 2013 16:41:20 #
most hawks and falcons are on the increase as are urban foxes that also eat pigeon. The trouble is that local councils are very slow at pest control.. so the number of pigeons increase despite predation. Suggest pigeon pie -
as for the heat - stop watching pigeon sex and take a cold shower immediately -
as for the heat - stop watching pigeon sex and take a cold shower immediately -
Jul 20, 2013 06:50:27 #
Years ago when I worked in Oxford city centre I was walking into the Clarendon Centre (Shoe lane end?)when a peregrine took a pigeon down to the ground where it dispatched it and set about consuming it. Didn't see the kill, but caught the swoop of hawk and prey and followed it down to the ground about 15m from me and other lunchtime shoppers. Wasn't in the least perturbed by the spectators.
Jul 20, 2013 08:29:06 #
In many places in the Mediterannean countries they feed the pidgeons instead of eating them. Thus the population explosion. Rome and Istanbul comes to mind. Also I had heard that they are not very clean birds to make a meal out of them. I don't know how true that is.
Jul 21, 2013 01:28:40 #
One pigeon says to the other pigeon, Did you see the new Toyotas? He replies"yes, I spotted one yesterday".
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