BIRDS AND THE BEES



Why are pigeons the birds best adapted to living in cities? Could prettier species that would also thrive be introduced? Since when have there been large pigeon populations in Trafalgar Square and St Mark's Square? Patrick Raleigh, London, UK Feral pigeons are only one of several species that are extremely well adapted to urban living. Starlings (although they are in a population dip at present) are comparably numerous and are certainly very pretty when you see them close up. Other attractive urban or semi-urban species include a wide range of tits and finches along with Robins, Magpies, Jays, collared doves, thrushes, woodpeckers, herons, a wide range of wildfowl and, in the south-east, ring-necked parakeets. There are a number of lovely raptors (birds of prey) which are doing very well in towns and cities, including Kestrels, Sparrowhawks and Peregrine falcons (the last of these nested in Regent's Park last year). Some specialised habitats within inner city areas (such as the WWT reserve at Barn Elms) attract some very rare and beautiful birds, such as the mysterious Bittern. But, to get back to the point about pigeons, in order to understand why they thrive in places like Trafalgar Square, we need to consider their natural history. Feral pigeons are descended largely from the Rock Dove (which still lives in its pure form on the rocky north and west coasts of the UK and Ireland). However, in the course of human history, they became crossed with a variety of domestic breed of dove (which explains the varied plumages seen in feral pigeons). The genes from these domesticated breeds presumably made the birds more inclined to living close to humans. Couple this with the species' innate preference for tall, rocky cliffs (or similar, such as the sort of buildings found in city centres) and it is understandable why they end up concentrated in places like Trafalgar Square, especially as tourists seem happy to encourage them with scraps of food. As for how long there have been large pigeon populations in city centres, I'm not sure, but I would be willing to bet that they have been around about as long as the tall stone buildings have. Max Wurr, Stanmore, UK Pigeons (Rock Doves) adapt well to cities because they find there habitat similar to the cliffs where they live in the wild. If we were prepared to capture and eat them (not recommended today for health reasons) their populations would be much smaller of course. In Ottawa, Canada, a program of systematic poisioning by the municipal government and by owners of skycrapers has reduced the pigeon population quite dramatically. C. Alexander Brown, Rockcliffe Park, Canada The rock dove from which the feral pigeon descends inhabits cliffs and found the artifical cliffs of buildings a good substitute. They like large flocks, tolerate humans and are not too fussy about food. More important, they were protected and welcomed as a source of food for humans. Until the agricultural revolution they were a main source of fresh meat in winter. Many dovecotes still survive in rural areas and the depredations of noblemen's doves on the crops were one complaint in the French Revolution. They almost certainly have been around human settlements for a very long time. Opinions do vary but they are well liked by many and are even described as beautiful. Species with more distinctive colouring and calls which adapt equally well include the seagull and the starling, but they are if anything less welcome. Pigeons are now discouraged but because of the associated pollution, mess and possible disease, rather than their dull plumage. A similar biomass of say hummingbirds would bring the same problems. Jim Williamson, Bearsden United Kingdom The pigeon is actually known as the 'rock dove' and it evolved living on cliffs and precipices. This habitat is perfectly replicated by stone cathedrals, apartment buildings, and narrow ledges of all kinds that one finds commonly in cities. Daniel Morgan, Jupiter, FL, US Come to Brisbane a city with a population of 1.4m people and we have rainbow lorikeets, fig birds, blue faced honeyeaters and a variety of other quite colourful birds right in the heart of the city centre. John Ellen, Brisbane, Australia



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