Pigeons Purloined For Pennsylvania Shootists

New York City’s unofficial birds, pigeons (AKA “flying rats”) are being illegally netted by thieves and sold to brokers for a few dollars each. These brokers often resell them to Pennsylvania gun clubs for up to $9.00 apiece. Pigeon shoots are illegal in New York but remain legal in some rural Pennsylvania counties. Bird-blasting shooting contests can last for days. Contestants may number in the hundreds; dead NYC birds in the thousands. Something tells me that solving crimes of this type is not high on the NYPD's agenda. Local statues in the city remain mum on the issue, although smiles have reportedly appeared on their stone and bronze faces.

Pigeons' Cooing Fanatics

Some bird enthusiasts truly enjoy New York City’s infamous pigeon. Most city residents (and all statues) do not like the bird. They regard it as did Woody Allen when he referred to a pigeon as “a rat with wings.” Nevertheless, a small group of admirers recently gathered together on Pigeon Hill in Central Park to celebrate “National Pigeon Day.” The group praised the bird in song and word. They spoke of pigeons' honorable service during both World Wars as message carriers. When all was said and done though, no plans were mentioned to erect a statue in the pigeon’s honor. I wonder why?

NYC Pigeon Proposal Is Full Of Poop

So now there’s talk about penalizing those who feed pigeons in New York City with a $1,000.00 fine! I guess our politicians believe we each have “money trees” in our backyards to afford that kind of fine. Councilman Simcha Felder, D-Brooklyn said “We hope people who are spending their time collecting old bread from bakeries to feed pigeons to poop on your head will stop." The belief is less food, less pigeons, less baby pigeons.

History shows that regardless of the plans that have been tried before, pigeons have never flown the NYC coop. There are too many food sources here besides breadcrumbs from the elderly. Strong initiatives should be taken to control the pigeon population (as with rats) but not with another new civil law and layer of government behind it. We don't need a "NYC Pigeon Czar." Try asking the public to understand the problem and to stop feeding the birds … don’t levy yet another outrageous fine upon those who elect you. We may respond better than you give us credit for.

To all the do-gooder councilmen and other city officials, let’s be more concerned about pigs wasting taxpayer’s money instead of pigeons pooping on the statues of ex-politicians. Who knows? That attitude might get a statue erected for you.