Pigeon Proof by Chipka
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Description
Though pigeons are better suited to city life than humans may wish to admit, they’re not allowed everywhere in humanity’s cities; there are those (pigeons primarily) who might argue that humans are the interlopers, however. They may argue (these improbably vocal pigeons) that human cities exist within Pigeon Territory. I don’t disagree with this; humans—like any other animal species on the planet are not beyond the displacement of other species. The only real difference is that humans like to pretend that they are beyond the displacement of other species, and that other species are—somehow—below us. This is especially the case with pigeons.
One must admit, however, that pigeons poop indiscriminately. As I see it, this doesn’t make them dirty creatures so much as…well…perhaps a bit…indelicate. Human aesthetics mean nothing to them. Indeed, humans are irrelevant to them: this, I think is the root of all human antipathy towards pigeons and other “vermin” species. They do not recognize human ascendancy. No other creature on Earth recognizes human ascendancy, but pigeons go one step farther (as do their gull cousins) and actually relieve themselves on what we take as the outward manifestations of our magnificence. They perch upon our gods and our saints, preening and pooping in exactly the same manner as they perch upon our bridges, our rubbish bins, and our abandoned, junk-yard toilets…preening and pooping. Ah…how wounding to the human ego this is.
I thought of this as a photographed a fire escape belonging to the Chicago Theater; as I walked to the el for a somewhat-crowded ride home, I noticed billowing, black netting; it wafted in the stagnant, chilly breeze of early-Springtime Chicago. It was a defensive measure as it prevented pigeons from perching, preening, and…
…well…as you can probably guess, this fire escape is not quite as biologically-interactive as it would be if pigeons were allowed to do what they do best. (I’m not fan of pigeon guano, despite its usefulness in flower-pots and in gardens, but I do find it amusing to see the lengths to which humans will go in order to prevent pigeons from doing what they do.)
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all on the verge of a great weekend.
Comments (14)
Faemike55
I would say that it is more of redirection rather than prevention Great capture
Chipka
I agree...and I did also checked to see if there was a fire-escape-shaped guano-free area of concrete below.
giulband
Very cool !!
Wolfenshire Online Now!
Pigeons cause so much damage. A few years ago we had to evacuate our offices and have them fumigated. We didn't know they had been bringing fleas, or something... these little white bugs into the roof. All of a sudden one day it must have hit a saturation point and they poured in though the roof by the swarms.
durleybeachbum
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/61646.php Have a peep at this article, I had no idea about this until I saw an entertaining documentary about pest control. The fire escape looks extraordinary, like a stage set. Great pic!
Chipka
Years ago, beaches were closed in Chicago, on account of pigeons...well...their rich, fertile guano. Humans had taken to feeding them (in places where they shouldn't, and Nature took the opportunity to stage one of those ecological-cascade-things that led to more pigeons, which led to overpopulating, which led to encroachment into new territories already occupied by other critters that just so happened to find a nice, happy life inside of pigeons until they were evicted...and for one of those oddly coincidental reasons, they were evicted on what pigeons viewed as beachfront property...some of the evictees were the salmonella organism--which, before infecting humans--got a nice Oak Street Beach tan. Lesson? Oh, there are zillions of them!)
kgb224
Superb capture my friend. God bless.
rangeriderrichard
Great capture! Pigeons can do what they like, as long as they don't do it while over my car ;)
jendellas
Another interesting muse, I presume the people have a ladder to get down to the street :o)))) x
tommorules
To most wild mammals trying to survive in suburbia & inwards, humans are vermin. A view I can empathise with. I am not supposed to, but I often feed my urban fox. She is a great garbage disposal unit, if nothing else, and she didn't ask to be forced from the countryside by modern farming methods. I am in awe of her survival skills. However the pigeon that coos on my chimney at 5am and 11pm in Summer, well he is just dead meat...
netot
Great capture, I think the pigeons may wonder why humans build houses in places where they do their.... business :)
MrsRatbag
It's an unfair battle; I don't like excluding any species (except maybe rats and roaches and certainly mosquitoes!). And I hate seeing those spikes on buildings and bridges to keep the pigeons out. This netting is a new technique to me, I haven't seen this before. Somehow it doesn't seem too safe, wouldn't it be a fire hazard? I would think importing some predators might be a more ecologically sound way of dealing with the problem.
wysiwig
The netting may or may not work but it, along with the fire escape, makes for a wonderful design. Several years ago falcons were introduced into downtown Los Angeles. The pigeons are still there, just more nervous. As for who is the superior species, I had a boss come into work once looking disgusted and mortified. A dive bombing pigeon had put one dead center on the top of her head. I have never read any reports of people doing the same to pigeons.
helanker
Hmmm... do I spot a single pigeon on top of it all? Ok, that might be a lamp :D I understand why they put nets on the exit stairs. To prevent slippery guano...just,. I hope the nets are not too slippery then. :) That would be nemesis :)
Chipka
I really should revisit this spot: I have a sneaking suspicion that pigeons make regular use of this pigeon-proofed spot.
minos_6
What a fascinating image! As I first looked at it, I had to tilt my head, I wasn't sure what I was seeing. The fire escape looked as though it was laid flat against the ground until I took in the whole picture properly. No wonder pigeons avoid this! ;) This also has that great "urban" feel that is uniquely yours. Love it!
anahata.c
wonderful reflection on pigeons. They always seemed to be put here to take haughtiness down 20 notches. Pooping on statues is a dynamite thing, like heaven's message to "tone it down, humans". (Maybe the comic dog, Triumph, should be a pigeon. And the guy who animates him trained in Chicago...) And aren't pigeons also related to doves? If so, doves probably regard their cousins as the 'black sheep' of the family. As a photo, this is another example of what your new camera has allowed you to do. It's a terrific shot, Chip: I've probably seen this sight but never 'looked', and it's just terrific. Not just because of the netting (and yes, I'm with helle---there's a pigeon up there for sure), but the whole concept. The big looming fire escape, suspended up there, w/ no real connection to the rest; and those deep shadowed doors with the angled brick joins, the looming endless brick, and that old painted brick sign for the theater. Telling us the entrance is just to our left. I have to go there and find this sight: I just don't remember it. Terrific urban capture. Terrific Chicago capture to. I love it.