I didn’t choose this just because…did you think I just picked a random book in my library LOL
of course not…I’d suggest others but something about being fine art or whatnot…
some easy bits in some funny writing I don’t recognize as Japanese char
I skipped to the pigeon chapter, and I was really enjoying it because it seemed like the author really did their research: they talked about pigeons’ history, why they like human buildings and to be near humans, different pigeon breeds, etc…
But then the last page of the chapter really ruined it for me /:
Pigeon enthusiasts might not understand, but I really hate when people say NOT to feed pigeons. Would you tell people not to feed street dogs? Street cats? You should give them food because otherwise they would starve.
But somehow, it’s been normalised to starve pigeons
Pigeons are domesticated animals. They are not wild. They need us to have food. Wish they would stop perpetuating that hate.
Indeed…
And I find it especially cynical that they portray it as if it were pigeons themselves who don’t want the food… In other words, the authors of that poster seem to think they know what’s good for pigeons better than pigeons themselves and this gives them the right to speak as if on their behalf…
That being said, there is one problem with feeding the pigeons: some people don’t seem to pay attention where exactly they feed the pigeons. Throwing fodder near a park road – is ok, throwing fodder at the center of the park road – not so much. Especially, if that road is also used by bicyclists and scooterists…
Anyway, best of luck with your studies and other cativities!
Yes, that one especially left a really bitter taste in my mouth…
Imagine the poster showed an emaciated child instead, doing that action and saying what the pigeon is saying. “No, I don’t need food.”
Like… what? Everyone would know food is exactly what the child would need immediately. What strong-will? There’s no feeling of ‘strong-will’ or ‘dignity’ or whatever other tripe, flowery human emotion they’re trying to stick to a starving animal. Nor to an actual human that hasn’t had their basic needs met.
That’s how bad and ridiculous this looks to me, but they don’t get it
You probably didn’t ask for this lol But my ranting on pigeons has now started hahaha
Studies have actually shown that pigeons proliferate more if people don’t feed them and they have less food around. So if they think not feeding pigeons will help keep their numbers down, they are sadly mistaken.
Also, ironically (or not), if you feed pigeons proper food, their droppings become less of a problem. When they are starving and sick or eating food they’re not supposed to be eating (rubbish, bread, whatever trash takeaway people throw at them), their droppings are very watery and corrosive and harder to wash away. But if the animal is healthy and eating a proper diet (seeds and grains), their droppings are more solid and easier to naturally wash away by the rain or other weather.
Of course, this won’t solve the issue of feral pigeons existing in the cities. Since we created them, I really believe we need to take responsibility. Crazy thing is, there is a special feed for pigeons that has birth control mixed in available for sale. If councils made use of it, they would eradicate the existence of city pigeons within 5-10 years (that’s at maximum how long they can survive without being taken care of by humans).
But councils prefer to waste money instead by putting up signs, barriers, spikes, hire falcons, clean historical buildings, etc etc… Decade after decade after decade…