Things you need to know about FERAL PIGEONS!
2024 ж. 19 Мам.
179 148 Рет қаралды
Feral pigeons are one of the best known birds on the planet and there are many reasons why they are so internationally successful.
In this video we will talk about seven of the main reasons that feral pigeons continue to be a pest or a pleasure to people all around the world.
A massive thanks to Brian Steel for allowing me to use his Pigeon pictures for this video.
Other images were obtained through creative commons licences. The originals and licences can be found at:
Chimpanzee
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Orca
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Asian elephant
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Magpie
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
WW1 Pigeon
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Thumbnail: www.geograph.ie/photo/3188698
If you have just enjoyed watching this video then be sure to check out my latest video, taking a look at the European Water Vole: kzhead.info/sun/h5SSYsWApnd9lYU/bejne.html
I love how positive your video is, but it would have been nice to include some more facts: pigeon racing is bad, most of them don''t find home, or get killed while trying. the survivors then live in the citys and make established swarms even bigger, which most people hate. So they get kicked or ran over. And they breed. A "normal" rock-pigeon lays eggs one or two times a year like any other bird. Pigeons are bred to lay all year around, so at least 7 times a year. Also, Pigeons can't find the right food in citys and are nearly always starved (the only thing that makes them look "round" are their feathers) and sick.
@RR Continued what are you even saying? Rock pigeons are ancestors from City pigeons which are heavily bred, Wood pigeons are another species and wildlife
I befriended a 'couple' during lockdown and they now visit everyday. They are indeed very intelligent and curious but have an awful, and undeserved, reputation. Thank you for such positive information regarding my new buds.
Hey, same! What did you name the couple? The two I've befriended on my balcony are called Laylen and Radish. Sadly one of them had a crippled leg from the moment they arrived, but aside from that they're pretty adorable and even raised two babies who still visit!
i rescued one through lockdown kzhead.info/sun/ftWuibapgGmurGg/bejne.html
I befriended a couple as well! First came the male, then I saw him showing my balcony to his partner. After some time, a junior pigeon joined them! They visit every day and I have noticed that they have shifts - the female comes in the morning, the male only in the afternoon.
How do you befriend them?
@@domsquaaa4323 I already had sunflower and pumpkin seeds. I then ordered wild bird feed and left it in the same place everyday. Works like a charm!
They are so cute! That mating dance the male pigeons do is adorable! They look like marshmallow peeps all puffed up.
Yeah that is so cute lol you'll see the boys get all clean in the water and flap to dry and proceed to dance hahah
Such smushies
I used to like pigeons, they r so cute with their bobbing heads and colorful necks but now I hate them cause when I was away in my hometown for 2-3 months those pigeons pooped all over my balcony, i mean the for was green and white just eughh and there was a dead pigeon in container spreading an awful smell
@@albuspercivalwulfricbriand5110 so now you hate them bc a pigeon died on ur balcony?
@@viscounttewkesbury2350 no bcs they are flying poop machines
I love this! I rescue pigeons and actually have a pet one, he’s disabled so can’t be released - I wish people cared more about them, poor little darlings don’t deserve the reputation they’ve got.
I feed wood pigeons, feral pigeons, rooks and jackdaws every morning. Often there's a many as 50. They are all beautiful animals. Sad to see so many videos on yt about killing them. Some people seem to enjoy it, I get so much pleasure from knowing I'm helping them. They recognise me and wait on my roof in the morning to be fed.
A rescued pigeon will be your friend for life
I think many people have a soft spot for them and they do survive quite well dont they?
I saw video yesterday and i was shocked because some people call them pests and flying rats and the thing that upset me was they were killing them bruitally with guns and enjoying it, its really broke my heart and i felt ashamed of being a human 😖
We rescued an injured pigeon we named Saturday. He flew away after we nursed him back to health. To our amazement he started to visit us everyday for about two months. We’re hoping he found a mate which is the reason why he doesn’t visit us anymore.
I've been looking after about 100 of them for 7 years now, feeding them, providing water, rescuing, doing minor first aid and cutting string off of their toes when they get tangled up in it. I'm all the way in, and my little buddies have bonded with me pretty strongly. There's nothing that could make me ever stop.
Thank you so much for your kindness!. May ALLAH bless you with a long and healthy life!
Good for you! Do you work at a rescue centre? Occasionally, we'd get a racing pigeon at our garden, when we phoned the number on the leg, the owner wouldn't want it back as it hadn't 'homed'. We'd feed them, yet eventually they'd fly off.
@@VanderlyndenJengold I just fell in love with them when I stopped and took the time to really observe them. When they sit on your shoulder and eat out of your hand, and you look them in the eye, you can see an intelligence and innocence. When you watch them get cleaned up from the water you put out, and you see how pretty they look once they're clean, you realize that you've made a difference in their lives, it's a very satisfying thing, and words are not adequate to describe it. I've been butting heads with mean, selfish narcissists and bullies my entire life, so I'm hard wired to defend anything that is mistreated or abused by "normal" people. Swimming upstream against the current is my modus operandi. For the last 8 years, these amazing critters have been my second family. Then it happened. Somebody ratted me out to the bird Gestapo, and I was visited by Rosie O' Donnel with a badge, a gun, and a big truck with flashing lights that said "protect the species" on the door. This individual informed me that I would be fined thousands of dollars and be put in jail if I continued to care for my pals. So now I'm playing out a 21st century version of "The Diary of Anne Frank" if you think I'm being overly dramatic, consider that an autocratic government has decreed that certain individuals are inferior beings with no right to exist and therefore the bureaucracy has the plenary power to exterminate them, and furthermore, anyone who assists in sustaining them is anathema to the order. The mentality is exactly the same, and the intent is identical. The only real difference is the species of the intended victims. Operation Paperclip is still with us. Nikola Tesla fed the pigeons nearly every day, either in Central Park, or on the window ledge of his apartment building.
More power to you! 😍
how do I fix a broken leg pigeon. one at my school fell was on the ground had poopoo on its feathers and could not move. sadly they might have killed him or happily they might have given him to the shop that sells pigeons and chickens over the road
I became really fond of pigeons these last few months. It started with the wood pigeons - they are really cute and chunky, but now I like all kinds of pigeon. The feral ones are really good at interacting with people - they were domestic animals after all!
There’s a pair of wood pigeons that’s been coming to our garden for the past 7 years. “James and Veronica” I named them. But a house opposite has solar panels and a load of feral ones live under them
Pigeons deserve a better reputation than they have. They are friendly, intelligent, much cleaner than people think and have been with us for thousands of years. They have saved human lives more times than most people would think possible and have received death, hatred and one of the worst reputations I have seen in an animal in return. They deserve better.
I have allowed for them to nest around my home, the neighbours will hate me but they helped English soldiers in the war. After reading a book on pigeons and how they were honoured, I have great respect.
I've been feeding pigeons outside my door for 12 years now, and for about 5 years before that. They wait to be fed every morning and some land on my arm and feed from my hand.
Same with me, I adore them 🥰
Ive accidentally been host to a flock of pigeons for about 5yrs now & have been amazed how intelligent these souls are. I had 1 who'd look into my window & tap at it with his beak each afternoon around 3 for some seeds. If I moved to another room he followed me to tap on that window. One of his offspring does exactly the same now only with a bit more familiarity. Last week during a hot day I made a cheese sandwich & left it unattended on the sofa for a minute to get a cold drink. The window was open about 2 inches - never been an issue before. I walk back in & find Mr Pidge has opened the window on the latch wide enough to get in, sit on my sofa & tuck into my sandwich! Bloody cheek! He must have recognised me as he let me pick him up & put him back outside with no fuss. Although I suspect he might have been secretly cussing me using cooing pigeon sounds.
I love them! Most oeople are either indifferent or dislike them, but imagine you walk out and there is no pigeon anymore... that would be so sad and boring. They are fun, intelligent and quite gentle, in their own way.
I rescued a pigeon fledgling on Dec 23, 2022 when the temperature was going to drop from 50 degrees to 6 degrees in a couple of hours in NYC. My eye caught this fledgling on the ground as the winds were churning at 30 mph. I grabbed a box and put the bird inside and took it home. I learned on KZhead how to feed it and I’ve had it a little over a month..it knows how to fly and take a shower in the sink, it opens its wing under arms and lets the water wash him. This is all by instinct.. since I know nothing about pigeons.. I found this pigeon to be sooo intelligent and a quick learner! I gave him coup in my locked bathroom and soon will let go over to a friend that has a flock of pigeons in his pigeon coop.. hopefully my pigeon will acclimate and fly like an eagle in the sky as it was meant to be!
You are an Angel! Thx for rescue a beautiful soul, pigeons are wonderful & clean, human will never get any diseases from them that is sure fact from scientists. I love them & feed them ❤
For anyone that see Feral Pigeons as being flying rats and know nothing whatsoever about them should watch this very informative video,it will most certainly make you look at them in a very different light 🕊 Great Stuff👍Best wishes,Sean 🐦
Thanks Sean for you really kind comment. Thats my view too, anyone who thinks they are flying rats or vermin simply doesn't know enough about them.
They are very dirty and carry parasites/diseases though, right?
@@Kitsune-dono nope
It’s a handy rule of thumb to observe, anyone who calls them “flying rats” is a scumbag. Every time.
No I saw a pigeon pecking and eating vomit from the pavement floor outside years ago and it stayed with me they really are flying rats just gross 🤢
I remember watching a WW2 documentary that spoke of what was able to be done with the pigeons and messaging. Amazing. I don't think people appreciate them, but hey, they've got as much a right to live, as anything else. They seem to be doing a good job of it :) Take care!
Thanks for your comment George! Yes, people overlook them quite a lot but there is way more than meets the eye to them :)
Yes true people really dont appreciate what these birds did for us many years ago. Humans dont appreciate anything we are like a cancer to Planet Earth
My cat took a sudden interest in what I was watching. lol
When I was putting it together (with the original pigeon sounds) my cat wasn't sure if he was coming or going. Thanks for your view and comment :)
Throw the cat out
I absolutely love pigeons 🕊️ I feed them bird seed from my garden and i love to watch them coo at each other 😅 brings me joy watching them play
Feral city pigeons are the main prey of the urban peregrine and are probably the main reason that peregrines have made such a successful return. Thank you feral pigeons xxx
Thank you very much for this fine documentation and for displaying pigeons so positively 😍 Subscribed. Best wishes
Thankyou very much! I appreciate your support :)
Good informed video 👍
This was a brilliant documentary. My Dad raised racing pigeons for 40 years. One of his won the North American Continent race. Pigeons are wonderfully brilliant (an loving towards humans) animals. They are first-cousin to the dove. Only ignorance makes people 'dislike' them. (And racing pigeons do not 'poop' on people as they fly - all of their bodily energy goes into flying. Just another interesting fact.)
I feel bad for pigeons, they helped us during the war. People are mean to them
Feral pigeons are lovely birds
I love pigeons. They always like to hop in the train in my city, and ride the subway instead of flying. I can't imagine hating on these lovable animals, unless you're concerned about their fare evasion, haha. Great video :)
I didn't realise how intelligent pigeons are. Over time I saw them watch other birds getting the food from the feeders which they couldn't at the time. Eventually they learned how to. Trouble is, I put out food and they eat most of it. They even know around what time I come home, and are sitting waiting staring at my kitchen window or even getting on my windowsill pecking at the window. Drives my neighbour nuts lol
Currently taming a pigeon at my school! Today it stepped up onto my hand while i hand fed it. I have now gained the title “pigeon master”
The sound they make flying from side to another is soothing and beautiful.
I was in Jamaica years ago, at Negril beach, and was quite suprised to see a good number of pigeons sunning themselves in the sand.
Love these birds. Probably the most friendly of all birds. Always go out of my way to feed them. Especially in a place like london, when they sometimes seem like the only decent interaction you get with a living being.
Pigeons are so lovely, even feral ones. Love them 🥰😍
I breed pigeons and have experimented with their reactions to mirrors extensively, the Smartest ones immediately walk to the end of the mirror and look behind it, and never care about the mirror after that, but they all have a slightly different reaction.
My parrot (green cheeked conure) looks behind but becomes obsessed also, he'll repeat this behaviour as if he is confused how a mirror could work or dance around/lick infront of a shiny surface
I’ve recently learned I love pigeons. 😂😂
I don’t blame you!
Excellent production with crystal clear narration, engagingly spoken and very interesting.
Thanks for your kind comment! I really appreciate the support :)
Beautiful fantastic creatures! The myth of them carrying diseases was started by pest control companies in the 50s & 60s. In our ever growing urban areas, these survivors are usually the first harmless & fun wild creature young children first encounter
I love them :D I rescued an injured pigeon a few months ago and I've been obsessed ever since
Well done me too. I now try to help whenever i can. If in help for the future considering you are in London lol call on london wildlife protection organization that helps pigeons and all wildlife as opposed to RSPCA
Thank you for this insightful video. I didn’t know pigeons were so incredible! 🤩
Very educational! I always wondered how animals learned self recognition. It's cool that they can do that and count. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for your kind comment :) There is so much more to pigeons than meets the eye, they are definitely not bird brains. Cheers, Liam
Hey don't learn it just like we don't. You have it or you don't.
Very well made video. It's always fun to learn something new. Keep up the great work! :)
I absolutely love pigeons and all columbidae in general. They are extremely agile and maneuverable. June 13th in actually the International Pigeon Day.
I really love them :) Something so special and long may they live 👍🕊
I had some pigeons set up home on my balcony couple years ago (I was away for a while) I can confirm what you say is true they are very intelligent birds and they are top notch parents, it was truly wonderful to watch them raise their 2 chicks, once that was done though I stopped them having access to my balcony (they make a lot of mess) and yes they kept trying to come back for ages
I've been feeding one for over a year. Charlie can be quite picky and very territorial. Yes I talk to him as I believe he knows his name.❤❤❤
I have never seen a male pigeon succed at mating rutuals but yet they are everywhere
Thanks for this very informative video. Awesome footage!
Thanks for your kind comment! :)
Thanks for that,fascinating. Also the music was great.
Very lovely and enjoyable video! Makes me drink a pint over listening to you, and also keep me some pigeons.
Brilliant video and fantastic narration would never have known all this about pigeons
Thanks Sinead! :)
Pigeons have unbelievably high intelligence. My feral ones have trained me
What tricks can you do?
Great informative video...been waiting for your next one...) you haven't disappointed..)
Yes, I have been a bit busy with work lately but should be able to get a few more completed in the next few weeks. Im glad you enjoyed :)
Fantastic video!😊🐦💙
Very nice wee film about these lovely birds,we love them all .very well done my freind.White mealy
Thanks Brian :)
what a groovy film and filled with interesting facts, thanks heaps!
Thanks, im glad you enjoyed the video :)
Very informative video! I used to breed pigeons s as a young las to get as much variety as possible, grey, whites, browns and all combinations within.
My sister loves to feed the pigeons. They come from miles around. She offers them a place to nest and birdseed by the pound. She used to walk among them dropping little crusts of bread, till one returned the favor and dropped something on her head!
And?
Very interesting Pigeons Video 💖Wonderful Footage 💖
Nice video 📹👌very informative 👍I love your narrations 👍👌😍🙏thank you dear friend 😍
Thanks for your kind comment and support :)
what a delightful video. Pigeons are amazing.
That’s my species! Nice! Thanks for teaching people facts about us!
Cool facts its amazing how they have traveled and are around all over the world like that. Thumbs up x
Yes, they are more well-travelled than you :P So far at least...
We get the odd one but Wood Pigeons are the ones we have in the garden every day and they can empty a seed tray in no time! I wonder it they mate for life as well as feral ones. I know some feral pigeon have beautiful colours and they are very clever. Thank you for the interesting video. Greetings, Julie.
Hi Julie. Apparently wood pigeons also mate for life. From personal experience they are much less intelligent when compared to Ferals though. Thanks for your kind comment :)
What about the feral ability to communicate food source? From one visitor it became half a dozen which meant removing trays to discourage an entire flock.
@@AShotOfWildlife I rescued a wood pigeon and had her for 7 months along with my 2 lovebirds and 2 budgies. She flew away end May to start a family. She was fine during winter but became very restless and sad during the long light days of a North Europe summer - I live in C. France in a forest. Lots of male pigeons coo daily but especially evenings looking for a mate. Females make very small noises. She could communicate with me but I did not test counting.
Thanks for bringing us all these facts about these birds that most people think are "flying rats". Have a continued good week!
Thankyou Bertil :) I have always loved pigeons and im glad to be able to share my knowledge and passion for them.
Crows are the flying rats Imo.
.. did i miss you actually explain their origins, like the intro promised? They're descended from Portuguese rock doves, FWIW, originally adapted to cliff shore environments. Local populations around the world form genetically distinct groups with slightly different characteristics. Round my way, you'll sometimes see them riding the tube, taking the District line from Ealing Broadway to Ealing common; never seen 'em do it anywhere else, tho heard similar reports, but point is they obvs also have local _culture,_ much as cetacean pods or monkey tribes. A caller on James O'brien's _mystery hour_ on LBC once posed the question of why pigeons so often become roadkill - why don't they take more care around traffic? The answer that immediately came to me was that, much like any other pedestrian, they _know_ vehicles are driven by people and so are genuinely incredulous that anyone would be so c***ish as to deliberately run them over..
Loved them since childhood ❤️
the pigeons in my area don't mate for life, they mate with whichever pigeons are available
There’s a load that live under the solar panels on a house opposite me, there’s all sorts of different coloured ones, from white to “normal” grey colour. One question….. Why do they spin around in circles with each other ? These ones seem to do it constantly when they’re on the roof. They all fly off at the same time too
Interesting video with very useful information. Thanks very much and greetings from Spain
Thanks for your kind comment and support :) Greeting!
Your narrations are key ASOW good stuff here.
Thanks Tom, Im glad you enjoy my videos and appreciate your support :)
Very interesting, thanks for sharing.. Full View and Like 18..
Thanks for your kind comment and the support :)
I buy peanuts at Tesco and feed the pigeons when I have some spare time. They fly up and sit on my arms. They’re my little mates
*1:29** Sometimes, the hen will lay only 1 egg; other times (rarely), she'll lay 3 eggs - but most of the time she'll lay 2.*
Interesting, thanks for the extra information. I've never heard that before.
I love pigeons... I like the way they bring up the chicks.
Great Information!
One pidgeon near us will happily come into the house when we leave the door open in the summer. Cute little thing hops about the stairs and hall even sat atop the TV once. Then after a while it walks out again. We do feed the birds but nothing special for this one.
😍
Wasn't particularly averse to pigeons and might well have fed the ones in Trafalgar Square in the past.....But have been feeling very stressed and antagonistic towards the ones who have taken up residence under my solar panels. My main concern is because of having heard that they carry diseases, and am also concerned that they may be damaging my roof and/or my solar panels. They also wake up and start cooing as soon as it gets light, which makes it difficult for me to get back to sleep if I wake up and need to pee. I know the ultimate solution is going to be to get them removed and get netting put up around my panels, but that's likely to cost several hundred pounds and I'm on a limited income. So in the meantime I'm trying to adopt a less reactive and antagonistic attitude to them, as I know they're just doing their pigeon-thing, and maybe they find me just as much of a disturbance. It helps anyway to watch videos like this and realise that some people actually love pigeons and people also keep them as pets and breed them, and presumably don't get sick from doing so...
Awesome video. I learned a lot.
Cheers!
Excellent video.
An experiment was done on pigeons and if was found that there homing instinct is because of smell .they used the same thing a dentist use to numb gums and numbed the pigeons nasal cavity and it couldn't find its way back to its home .apparently they can smell different air currant from east west north south and that's how they navigate . I kept pigeons as a kid and I'm going to set up a pigeon loft again for about 6 / birds . Thank you for reminding me thees birds are fabulous 👌
I have a rock pigeon on my lap right now who got hit by a car.. Her wing broke as and both eyes popped out. She's home with me now and happy
Great once again!!! 👍
Cheers! I appreciate your kind comment and support :)
Lovely video, Thank you very much, I get so fed up with with Pigeon haters.
Great video. Subbed
Interesting Video!! Thanks for sharing!!
Thankyou :)
very nice, thanks for sharing.
Very glad I found your site, any advice would be helpful. I am hand raising two beautiful ferile pigion babies rescued. About three weeks old now I use your method to feed them.
I’d be happy to help but it’s easier if I answer any questions you have, so ask away :)
3:07 dude you just blew my mind!
thanks for the facts and infos, like Pigeons
Thanks for your kind comment and support :)
I love your videos
I love pigeon and I feed them every day with good seeds
Bert would love this video.
I love your videos Liam. I'm interested in all animals especially pigeons , jackdaws, magpies, and crows. What country do you live?
I really like pigeons. Such cute lil babies! Does anyone know a local city place where I can adopt a pigeon? Let me know!😘
Brilliant video!
Thankyou :)
excellent video :) 👍
Thankyou ❤️
There's an Amtrak bridge in my area that has these pigeons nesting underneath it. The city's crews have tried to put all those spikes and nets to deter them. Every time they do, the pigeons tear them out and move in anyway. It's always raining bird poop as one goes under the bridge with that foul musty bird poop / attic smell combo.
I’m working on a fictional book involving pigeons so I’m watching as many of these videos as possible 🙂
So basically they are hybrid doves. I have a nest on my balcony, when the baby flys away I’m going to rearrange my balcony to accommodate their next nest but close off the rest so I can actually use it again.
I considered doing the same thing on my balcony but the pest control guy told me if the pigeons see me using any part of my balcony on a regular basis, they’ll abandon their babies and they won’t continue nesting there in the future. They prefer to use areas that are empty or unused for their nests. So if you’re wanting to keep them around, I’d be very careful with how you go about it!
Not hybrids as they are just one species. The only way I can describe it is very similar to how we have so many breeds of dogs now but they all came from the same species. If lots of dogs escaped and started breeding with eachother, the resulting animals would be a similar thing to what feral pigeons are now.
Pigeons are cool. they have a personality. I saw two fighting and it reminded me of kung fu the way they were fighting. That is how kung fu came to be by the way. Ancient people took animal moves and combat techniques and integrated it into fighting forms.
Love them🥰
First comment my friend👍🏻 🌱🐞☘🍀🐞🌿⚘🐞☘🌿
Thanks for the support ;)
Norwich! my home town, there are so many pigeons in the city centre
Well done for recognising the place. Surprisingly, it actually took me two attempts to film them because the first time I went into the city centre there werent any there! If you still live in Norwich, you'll probably like some of my other videos, a lot of them were filmed in Norwich.