Hello everyone — as you’ve probably observed, I’m posting more about pigeons than I am about parrots on this site in recent, but that will soon change. I’m launching a new educational site that will be populated with pigeon-specific content soon – the domain is PigeonFriendsNY.com.
Pigeons face a tough life in NY and there are plenty of people out there who’d like to see them banished from New York (including some controlling the levers of power). The good news is that there are plenty of people who cherish them and want them to thrive. Please stay tuned for the launch of our new site — we have plenty of projects (including plans for pigeon-friendly, rat-proof pigeon feeding stations — and some great contributors who have plenty to say about our beloved pigeons — the Rodney Dangerfields of the bird world.
My hope is to have this new site (not a replacement for BrooklynParrots.com — a companion!) in the next few weeks and months.
My passion for Brooklyn’s wild parrots remains strong, but lately, due to health reasons, I’ve been spending more time at home with a remarkable rescue pigeon named Artemis. Artemis loves to play with trains (as well as get a good scrinch whenever possible). Here are some of his antics with my small O Gauage model railroad: The Guano River & Western.
If you live in Brooklyn long enough, you’ll eventually come across a bird that needs help, whether it’s a pigeon recovering from a window strike, a stunned sparrow, or a starling in distress. Because my friend Juliet Hanlon has been so active rescuing birds in distress (I think her rescue count is up to 22 now), I’ve found it useful to develop a “wild bird rescue kit” that can be used to keep the bird alive until it can meet a medic. Here’s what I like to have in this kit:
Small Hard-Sided Pet Carrier Think of this as the “ambulance” portion of your kit. A ventilated cat or small-animal carrier works perfectly. Hard sides keep the bird secure and help reduce sound and motion. Because I typically wind up transporting the bird via subway, I like to place the carrier in a large shopping bag to further insulate the bird from the racket of the subway system. Hard-sided pet carriers aren’t exactly cheap – they usually range from $30 to $40 on online sites. It’s a worthy investment you can use again and again.
Soft Cotton Towel Your most-used tool. Towels allow you to safely scoop up a bird without causing additional injury. They also line the carrier and keep the bird steady during transport.
Disposable Gloves These protect both you and the bird. Latex-free is best. Keep a few pairs in the kit so you’re never caught without them. Unfortunately, it’s rare to find an urban bird free of parasites and other troubling conditions, so don’t run out of gloves.
Disinfectant Wipes or Hand Sanitizer For cleaning your hands and your carrier after transport. Eco-friendly wipes are ideal and often cheaper when bundled online.
Electrolyte Solution (e.g., Pedialyte) Do not feed birds unless instructed by a rehabber. That said, having a small bottle of electrolyte solution is very useful, especially during heat emergencies, when a professional might recommend offering a diluted drop or two. A travel-size option fits nicely in the kit.
Small Bag of Bird Seed Not for immediate feeding (injured birds often can’t swallow well). But for stabilized birds, or when a rehabber gives the go-ahead, a little seed mix can help. A snack-size zip bag is enough. Unfortunately, wild bird seed is getting very difficult to find in Manhattan, but you can still find supermarkets in Brooklyn that sell it, often at very advantageous prices.
Notebook and Pen Rehabbers love good notes. Write down:
Where you found the bird
When you found it
What happened
What you observed
This information can guide treatment and improve the bird’s odds.
Small Heat Pack or Hot-Water Bottle Many injured birds become hypothermic. A microwavable heat pack (wrapped in cloth) provides gentle, stable warmth during transport; this can be critical for survival.
Time is of the Essence! I’ve learned through bitter experience that it’s far better to get the bird to a rehabber quickly than to wait and see whether it recovers on its own. Sometimes one must wait, of course, until the rehabber is open (the Wild Bird Fund’s hours are currently 9 AM to 7 PM). Keep the bird warm, safe, and let it eat/drink if it wants to, but get it off to the rehabber as quickly as you can.
On a breezy afternoon at 96th and Broadway, a woman with a shopping bag full of bread crusts stands at the corner, scattering handfuls onto the pavement. Within seconds, pigeons swoop in, wings fluttering, heads bobbing, their iridescent feathers glinting in the sun. Children stop to point. Passersby smile or frown, depending on their mood.
But when the pigeons have had their fill, scraps of bread remain. And as evening falls, another New York regular shows up: rats. They scurry out of subway grates and planters, taking over the feast the birds left behind.
This cycle — pigeons by day, rats by night — has become a familiar rhythm in many neighborhoods. And it raises an uncomfortable question: can we celebrate pigeons without feeding rats? This question has become increasingly urgent, given the fact that Gale Brewer (a local leader) appears to be dead set against any future feeding of the birds (despite the fact that pigeons, unless fed every three days, will likely die of starvation).
Remember the Dog Waste Problem?
If you lived in New York in the 1970s, you remember. Sidewalks were minefields of dog feces. Everyone complained, but no one thought it could change — until it did. The “pooper scooper law” and the creation of dog runs transformed the city. What was once a nuisance became a story of civic success.
Today, advocates believe it’s time for a similar solution — this time for pigeons.
A Fresh Idea: Pigeon Feeding Stations
Instead of fighting pigeon feeders, why not give them a better place to do it?
A very simple idea for a pigeon feeding station. An actual prototype would likely have to include more rat-proofing features. Additionally, human resources (likely volunteers) would likely need to be deployed to regularly clean around the stations.
Pigeon Feeding Stations would be small, designated areas in parks or plazas where people could feed pigeons safely and responsibly. Picture a raised platform, rat-proof by design, with a simple seed dispenser and a sign explaining why it matters. Clean, controlled, and even educational.
Why It Works
Keeps sidewalks cleaner by moving food away from street corners.
Cuts into rat populations by eliminating one of their favorite midnight buffets.
Preserves tradition by giving New Yorkers and tourists a place to feed pigeons without guilt.
Celebrates culture by acknowledging pigeons as part of the city’s character — just as much as the High Line’s new pigeon statue or the wild parrots of Brooklyn.
Why Bird Lovers Should Care
A Small Pilot, A Big Payoff Imagine starting with just a few stations: say, 96th & Broadway, Union Square, and Chinatown. Places where pigeons already gather and feeders already show up daily. With modest investment, New York could try something new: a humane, practical approach that keeps everyone happy: birds, people, and yes, even sanitation workers.
At BrooklynParrots.com, we’ve always argued that New York is at its best when it embraces the wildlife that shares our streets. The monk parakeets in Brooklyn, the red-tailed hawks in Manhattan, and yes, the ever-present pigeons — they’re all part of the fabric of city life.
Pigeon Feeding Stations aren’t about taking that away. They’re about making it sustainable.
The Big Picture
It’s easy to roll your eyes at pigeons. But think about it: in the 1970s, people laughed at the idea that New Yorkers would ever clean up after their dogs. Forty years later, we can’t imagine the city without dog runs.
Pigeon Feeding Stations could be the same kind of civic breakthrough — a way to solve a sanitation problem while preserving something that brings people joy.
So the next time you pass the pigeon lady at 96th Street, imagine her in a different setting: standing in a clean, well-marked corner of a park, pigeons flocking overhead, children laughing, and no rats waiting for leftovers at night.
That’s the future we should build. I plan to submit this proposal to mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa (who appreciates the pigeons more than any other NYC politician I know of) and hope both that he is elected and that he can bring this project to fruition.
If you are interested in receiving more details on my proposal, please send email to stephencarlbaldwin <AT>gmail.com.
My friend Juliet Hanlon has rescued 22 wild birds in distress on the streets of New York in the past several years. She’s not alone — there are many good people in NYC who will drop just about everything they’re doing to help a wild animal in distress — but she’s good at it and getting better with every bird she rescues.
The Wild Bird Fund is an essential resource for anyone doing bird rescues in NYC, and the WBF has been a huge help in Juliet’s various rescues, which have included many pigeons, starlings, sparrow, and even a domesticated chicken. Without the WBF, I’m sure that many of her rescues wouldn’t have made it.
A new video features our favorite rescue pigeon (retrieved, injured, from near Coney Island) greeting a newly refurbished Lionel EP-5 as it makes its inaugural runs around the “Guano River” branch of the NYNH&H.
As always, please observe all safety protocols when introducing any bird or small animal to a model train layout. Never put your pet in a dangerous position!
By the way, I’ve been a bit housebound recently (post-op) but if you want to see Brooklyn’s wild parrots, get out to Green-Wood Cemetery on one of these beautiful summer days. The parrots are active from mid-morning through to the sunset hours. You can learn more about Green-Wood Cemetery here: https://www.green-wood.com/
Artemis the intrepid rescue pigeon appears to greatly enjoy the new Lionel 450 Signal Bridge I’ve recently installed on the layout.
Remember, folks, when operating the signal bridge and other Lionel accessories with a pigeon present on the layout, it’s important to follow proper safety and operational guidelines. Monitor the pigeon closely to prevent it from damaging wires or delicate components, and gently encourage it to leave using soft tools or treats if needed. After the pigeon has left, inspect the layout and signal bridge for any signs of damage or debris, clean and sanitize the area, and check for any loose parts that could interfere with future operations. These steps help ensure the safety of both the pigeon and your equipment.
When engaged in nighttime operation of an O-gauge model railroad with a pigeon present, special steps need to be taken to ensure safety. Reduce noise and vibrations by operating trains at low speeds and moderate sound levels. Provide a safe perch or resting area away from the track, and ensure the layout is free of loose wires or small parts. Avoid flashing lights or sudden train movements, as these can disorient or stress the pigeon. Keep emergency lighting nearby in case of unexpected lighting changes, and supervise the bird’s interactions with the layout to ensure its comfort. These precautions support a safe, stimulating nighttime experience for both the pigeon and the model railroad operator.
NYC’s noble pigeons get some long overdue positive PR from CBS Sunday Morning — it’s about time! This very nice video feature includes an interview with the sculptor of the giant pigeon that’s now on the High Line and an inside view of the Wild Bird Fund.
One of the challenging things about attempting to video the activities of wild parrots is getting close enough to really capture their personalities. A gentleman named Mark, who’s affiliated with avibirds.com, brought to my attention a video he recorded a few years back in Israel that captures, in wonderful close-up, many endearing qualities of the monk parakeet, which include sociability, dexterity, charismatic cuteness (the bird is, after all, scientifically placed in the “charismatic megafauna” column), along with some of its astoundingly strident vocalizations.
Avibirds.com is a wonderful site, by the way, run by enthusiasts whose goal is to make birdwatching more accessible. Check it out. A lively YouTube channel with cool bird content can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/@avibirds1551
