Anti-Pigeon Bill Ruffles Activists’ Feathers

Pigeon zealots are still squawking about Councilman Simcha Felder’s (D-Brooklyn) proposed anti-pigeon legislation.

In November, Felder put forth legislation that would cut down on the city’s pigeon population and reduce their droppings on streets, cars, and New Yorkers’ heads. In addition to imposing a $1,000 fine for pigeon feeding, Felder’s suggested tactics included support of the city’s predatory hawk and falcon populations, releasing robotic hawks, and appointing a city “Pigeon Czar” to oversee all pertinent pigeon conundrums.

But animal activists in New York and beyond are outraged at the idea of outlawing pigeon feeding. A few weeks after the bill’s announcement, a flock of protestors held a rally on the steps of City Hall shouting, “Felder’s pigeon bill is poop!”

Since then, activists have met with Felder nearly a dozen times to
negotiate ways of altering the legislation to make it more friendly toward the feathered fowls.

The Humane Society, one of the groups speaking with Felder, wrote in an open letter, “Penalizing good-natured individuals who take pleasure in feeding birds, as if these people are criminals, is extreme.” The organization suggested that an advisory council be created to make bird-conscious recommendations to represent those New Yorkers who can fly but cannot speak.

In a meeting with Felder, the Humane Society also proposed “Safe Pigeon-Feeding Zones,” in which people could legally feed the birds. The designated feeding areas would be located in parts of Central Park and Prospect Park that tend to be less crowded.

The creation of these areas would still eliminate the pastime of local residents who have made pigeon-feeding a daily ritual on the corner of Amsterdam and 103rd St.

According to Felder’s Communications Director Eric Kuo, the zones are just one of many ideas the councilman and his lawyers are taking into consideration based on dialogue with bird activists. Another suggestion to control the pigeon problem was to consider the effectiveness of fatally pointy spikes on rooftops to deter pigeons from landing.

Kuo said the bill is still in very early stages of revision, and said that no changes will be made in pigeon legislation within the next month.

betsy.morais@columbiaspectator.com.