Where Did All the Pigeons Go?

By Shannon Williams

Walking to the train station, as five Rock Dove pigeons rest atop the electrical wiring, watching and waiting. Routinely, the view of 60-year-old Native New Yorker Annette Rivera. Rivera has fed the pigeons native to her Bronx neighborhood for the past 15 years. Every Saturday at 10 am, she breaks pieces of bread and throws grains or rice to feed the flock that awaits a meal. “It brings me joy to feed them. Some people think of them as pests, but they bring me peace,” Rivera says. Rivera admits that recently, there haven’t been many to feed. “I used to have so many waiting for their feeding lately, it’s been one or two,” Rivera says.  So, where have all the Pigeons gone?

During the 1600s, European settlers brought the Rock Dove pigeon, a non-native bird, to the Americas. They were utilized as a food source and also used for communication, as they could deliver messages, which led to their domestication. As the Americas developed and parts urbanized, the pigeons acclimatized to city life and no longer depended on humans. Presently, New Yorkers are claiming that they are noticing a decline in the number of pigeons spotted, while there is no exact count on the number of pigeons in New York City, it is estimated to exceed 1-4 million.  While the decline is notable, with a 46% decline in the Rock Dove species, the causes vary, with illegal netting and poaching among them. During the process, the bird’s wings are clipped, so they are unable to escape, and are available for use as targets. On March 19, 2024, House Bill H.B. 2139 was introduced and has since passed, prohibiting the illicit poaching and live pigeon shoots, as Pennsylvania was the last state to ban live pigeon shoots, often leading to the pigeons from New York City being netted and traded in Pennsylvania.

Tina Piña Trachtenburg, a pigeon activist who goes by the name Mother Pigeon, has led a protest in front of Pigeons On Broadway, a pet store owned by Michael Scott, who has been accused of illegally netting and selling pigeons for live shoot use. A video of an unidentifiable man who viewers claim to be Scott’s brother is seen in the act netting went viral. Scott denies the claim. Mother Pigeon has recently posted a flyer on her Instagram announcing another protest taking place in front of Scott’s store on Saturday, May 24 at noon, demanding the end of unlawful netting.

The Rock Dove Pigeon, New York City’s unofficial mascot, has brought together activists fighting against the inhumane acts of netting and poaching. They advocate for the rights of these birds, as they work to play a big part in the ecosystem.  “Seeing less pigeons feels like something is missing, a piece of New York,” Rivera says.