Declaring War on Pigeons

The following was taken from an online article that I thought would shed some light on some of the conditions in the city of Antofagasta (we are praying about living and ministering in that city in the future).
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The cities of the world are ideal habitat for the proliferation of the pigeon, or rock dove, a picturesque species that actually poses health and environmental risks.

Experts recommend not feeding them, refitting buildings that provide roosting sites, and controlling garbage in order to keep the pigeon population in check.

Chile declared pigeons "prejudicial or harmful" in 2004 and authorized hunting of these birds.

They carry pathogenic agents that can be transmitted to other birds or to humans, and their excrement, rich in uric acid, "corrodes homes, buildings, monuments and machinery," he said.

Above: A photo I took while in Antofagasta in Jan. 07.
Pigeons are a major problem due to the lack of rain,
thus causing the city to be covered in...well...you know.

Pigeons can spread bacteria like salmonella, which causes gastrointestinal illness; Chlamydophila, which causes severe respiratory distress and fever; yeasts like Cryptococcus neoformans, which can affect the meninges and the central nervous system; and parasites like the red mite, which is linked to dermatological problems.

In addition to leaving unsightly messes, the bird droppings damage air-conditioning systems and can ruin products stored in warehouses, causing economic losses.

Originating in Europe, Asia and North Africa, the rock dove was introduced to the Americas as a domesticated bird in the 16th century, but soon began to reproduce in the wild.

The main reasons for the abundance of pigeons are their longevity (they live 15 to 20 years), the lack of natural predators, and their prolific breeding. They live in pairs and can produce as many as 12 fledglings per year.

But the uncontrolled increase of this species in cities goes hand in hand with urban conditions: buildings with many crevices and niches where they can make their nests, and an abundance of food waste, as well as the popular custom of feeding them.

Pigeons eat seeds and fruit, but they also eat whatever human food they can find.

The number of pigeons in Chile is unknown, but their proliferation in cities led to the declaration that they are harmful to health and the environment. The Law on Hunting authorizes that they can be taken in unlimited numbers and their nests can be destroyed, in any season and anywhere in the country. But the use of chemicals is banned because they can have harmful effects on other species.

"Their mere elimination does not solve the problem. On the contrary, it has been shown as a cause behind the increase in their population in the medium term," because the possibility for survival increases as there is less competition for resources, said Pedro Varas, a veterinarian with the Santiago regional health ministry.

(Read the entire article from the Source)