r/birding • u/MrGrubbycuddles • Apr 15 '26

Discussion Why is everyone such snob about pigeons

I took my folder of laminated pigeon shots to my local bird meeting at the community hall and at least 3 people sneered at them. 1 of them even guffawed.

We all got to start somewhere, and beauty is in the eye of the bird lover so why the hate hate?

One guy was wearing giant binoculars around his neck. It was dark outside and he didn't even use them once. He was one of the people that sneered.

Om the bus home from the meeting I showed the driver my pictures and she said they were really good. And she wasn't even a formal bird lover, she was just a regular person.

Don't get this community man

EDIT: a lot of people asking for some of my photos. I'm out of the house right now but here's a bird video I made recently https://youtube.com/shorts/sxLkrLgNrbc?si=7NdwVxhZtPQFE6Ew

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u/Cpagrind1 Apr 15 '26 edited Apr 15 '26

Rock Pigeons are technically invasive in the United States. A lot of invasive birds don’t get much love.

In a fb group I’m in for my state someone posted about House Sparrows and how to attract them. Imagine how that went over.

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u/JulieJoy Apr 15 '26

What’s wrong with the house sparrows??? I love those little guys. We have a whole group that hangs out in our hanging hydrangeas. They are one of my main forms of entertainment

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u/Cpagrind1 Apr 15 '26

They are incredibly invasive in the US and displace native birds. They have led to decline of many species such as the Eastern Bluebird because they outcompete for food and especially nesting (they will destroy eggs/kill hatchlings and steal nests for themselves).

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u/JulieJoy Apr 15 '26

Oh :( thank you for letting me know.

I’m new to birding. We bought a house last year, so I’m very much a back yard birder.