Understanding and Defending Pigeons and Realizing Their Historical past

Ubiquitous in our cities, pigeons are sometimes ignored regardless of their fascinating behaviors. One lesser-known facet of their conduct is monogamy: Pigeons are monogamous and mate for all times, though this monogamy is extra social than genetic. Certainly, infidelities have been discovered to happen amongst pigeons, even when they’re uncommon.¹

In city areas, pigeons nest in constructing cavities. The feminine usually lays two eggs, incubated by the male throughout the day and by the feminine at evening. The mother and father then feed the chicks with “pigeon milk,” a nutritious substance produced of their crop². After a few month, the younger pigeons start to fly and depart the nest every week later. A pair of pigeons can thus elevate as much as six broods per 12 months.³

Regardless of tough accounting, it’s estimated that round 11 million equines and tens of 1000’s of canine and pigeons have been used throughout the First World Conflict⁴. Provider pigeons have been significantly worthwhile previously for delivering pressing and secret messages. For instance, pigeons have been utilized by the French military to speak on the entrance strains.

Earlier than the conflict, navy pigeon coaching facilities had been established in France, at Coëtquidan and Montoire. In the course of the conflict, these pigeons have been transported in cell subject models, typically in specifically geared up vans, and have been generally launched from planes or ships.⁵ About 60,000 pigeons have been mobilized for the First World Conflict.⁶

Amongst these heroic pigeons, historical past has remembered Vaillant. Pigeon Vaillant is taken into account a hero of the First World Conflict. Registered as 787.15, Vaillant was the final pigeon from Fort Vaux (a strategic location for the French military), launched on June 4, 1916, to ship an important message from Commander Raynal to Verdun. This message, transported by poisonous fumes and enemy hearth, reported a gasoline assault and referred to as for pressing communication. Gravely poisoned, Vaillant arrived dying on the pigeon loft of the Verdun citadel, however his message saved many lives. In recognition of his heroic act, he was cited within the Nationwide Order: a French ornament recognizing providers or acts of remarkable devotion, achieved for France on the danger of 1’s life.⁷

A classic postcard depicting a service pigeon. (Supply)

At this time, the administration of pigeon populations varies significantly from one metropolis to a different. In France, there is no such thing as a particular laws governing this administration, leaving municipalities that want to intervene free to decide on between merciless strategies (akin to capturing, seize adopted by gassing, surgical sterilization, or scaring) or moral strategies like contraceptive lofts (constructions that present a habitat for pigeons whereas controlling their inhabitants). Strategies of inhabitants management contain shaking laid eggs, changing them with pretend ones, and offering contraceptive corn (a contraceptive therapy that particularly targets pigeons, introduced within the type of corn kernels). This new methodology, respectful of animal welfare, has already confirmed its effectiveness in lots of European cities.⁸

To raised perceive present practices, Projet Animaux Zoopolis (PAZ) requested for administrative paperwork associated to pigeon administration from almost 250 municipalities (the most important in France when it comes to inhabitants). The present outcomes present that about one in two cities makes use of merciless strategies.

To fight these practices, PAZ acts at each native and nationwide ranges. On the native degree, the affiliation conducts investigations to focus on the merciless strategies utilized by sure cities, helps studies by petitions, and meets with elected officers to current moral and efficient strategies. Because of our efforts, a number of cities have stopped utilizing merciless strategies towards pigeons, akin to Annecy, Colmar, Marseille, Nantes, Rennes, and Excursions.

On the nationwide degree, PAZ has succeeded in elevating political consciousness in regards to the merciless strategies employed towards pigeons. Because the starting of the marketing campaign, 17 deputies and senators have submitted written inquiries to the Authorities, and a invoice aimed toward legislating on this situation is being ready.

PAZ can be dedicated culturally to selling peaceable coexistence with liminal animals, that are animals that reside freely in city areas. These animals, together with pigeons, rats, and rabbits, are impacted by urbanization, together with disturbances in habitat, way of life, and weight loss program. The affiliation strives to spark public debate on the administration of pigeons. In 2023, our actions to defend pigeons garnered over 200 media responses, and since early 2024, we have now counted greater than 120.

In 2024, PAZ initiated the primary World Day for the Protection of Liminal Animals, specializing in pigeons and merciless strategies of concentrating on them. Today is supported by 35 associations, three political events, and two municipalities in France. Fifteen avenue mobilizations are deliberate worldwide, together with 12 in Europe and three in the US. Different cultural affect actions (e.g., articles, podcasts, and so on.) may even happen in Spain, Italy, Mexico, and France.

It’s essential to care in regards to the destiny of pigeons and different liminal animals⁹ who’re despised and even killed. Though it’s tough to estimate the variety of pigeons in France exactly, we all know that there are about 23,000 rock pigeons (Columba livia) in Paris.¹⁰ Merciless administration strategies, akin to capturing, gassing (just like drowning), scaring (the place pigeons are subjected to predation by birds of prey that themselves have needed to endure coaching and captivity), and surgical sterilization (a painful methodology with a really excessive mortality fee), trigger nice struggling for a lot of people. There are pigeons in each metropolis. PAZ is combating for important progress by highlighting the horror of those administration strategies, their inefficiency, the rising public empathy for pigeons, and the provision of moral and efficient options.

1. Patel, Okay. Okay., & Siegel, C. (2005). Analysis Article: Genetic monogamy in captive pigeons (Columba livia) assessed by DNA fingerprinting. BIOS, 76(2), 97–101. https://doi.org/10.1893/0005-3155(2005)076[0097:ragmic]2.0.co;2  

2. Horseman, N. D., & Buntin, J. D. (1995). Regulation of pigeon cropmilk secretion and parental behaviors by prolactin. Annual Evaluation of Vitamin, 15(1), 213–238. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.nu.15.070195.001241  

3. Terres, J. Okay. (1980). The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds. Knopf. 

4. Baratay, E. (2014, Could 27). La Grande Guerre des Animaux. CNRS Le Journal. https://lejournal.cnrs.fr/billets/la-grande-guerre-des-animaux  

5. Chemins de Mémoire. (n.d.). Vaillant et ses pairs. https://www.cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr/fr/vaillant-et-ses-pairs  

6. Archives Départmentales et Patrimoine du Cher. (n.d.) Pigeons voyageurs. https://www.archives18.fr/espace-culturel-et-pedagogique/expositions-virtuelles/premiere-guerre-mondiale/les-animaux-dans-la-grande-guerre/pigeons-voyageurs 

7. Jean-Christophe Dupuis-Remond. (2016, July 6.) Histoires 14-18: Le Valliantm le dernier pigeon du commandant Raynal. FranceInfo. https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/grand-est/meuse/histoires-14-18-vaillant-le-dernier-pigeon-du-commandant-raynal-1017569.html; Derez, J.M. (2016). Le pigeon Vaillant, héros de Verdun. Éditions Pierre de Taillac. 

8. González-Crespo C, & Lavín, S. (2022). Use of fertility management (Nicarbazin) in Barcelona: An efficient but respectful methodology in direction of animal welfare for the administration of conflictive feral pigeon colonies. Animals,12, 856. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12070856 

9. Liminal animals are outlined as animals that reside freely in city areas, akin to pigeons, sparrows, and rats. Typically despised and even killed, they’re vastly impacted by urbanization. 

10. Mairie de Paris. (2019.) Communication sur la stratégie « Pigeons ». https://a06-v7.apps.paris.fr/a06/jsp/website/plugins/odjcp/DoDownload.jsp?id_entite=50391&id_type_entite=6