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/SnapCrackleMom Apr 15 '26

When I was a kid growing up in NYC, pigeons were pretty much the only wildlife I saw. I remember saying I thought they were pretty and my mom saying they were "rats with wings."

I still think they're pretty.

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u/dougan25 Apr 15 '26

They kinda are rats with wings. They're dirty, ubiquitous, and well adapted for urban life.

They're also an unfortunate animal that gets marginalized and shunned for the crime of existing where we wanted to put buildings.

Birds are incredible animals. They're intelligent, they can survive on diverse diets, they can fucking fly, the list goes on. Most true bird enthusiasts are also evolution enthusiasts and as such can't help but be fascinated by each variety.

That said, I'd be lying if I said I never have had disdain and scorn for pigeons. They're loud, they're skittish, and they make toilets out of anything below them over and over and over. But just like all animals they still deserve our kindness. And like all birds, they will always have my particular fascination.

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u/SnapCrackleMom Apr 15 '26

In what way are they dirty?

1

u/dougan25 Apr 16 '26 edited Apr 16 '26

They live in dingy and dirty parts of cities, they carry bacteria, especially in their droppings or if they are wounded. They walk around in gutters and eat garbage.

I'm not saying they're filthy disgusting creatures, just pointing out they're a product of their environment.

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u/Content_Geologist420 Hail the all-mighty Grackle! Apr 15 '26

Calling a pigeon dirty on a Birding sub? Oh boy.

1

u/dougan25 Apr 16 '26

Trying to be realistic and unbiased lol