The Ottawa Public Library recently put a new sign close to the front door: “Do not feed the wildlife”.
The pigeon close to the sign seemed particularly offended. “But I’m hungry!”
I wouldn’t worry too much about the pigeon, though. Considering the number of fast food joints and hot dog carts around Laurier, Bank and Elgin, I’m sure it can find something to eat.
Pigeons here are less of a nuisance than in Europe but they can quickly become one. When people start feeding them, they typically attract large concentrations of birds. Bird feces can spread diseases and are a pain for everyone. So don’t feed the birds! They won’t go hungry in Canada, trust me.
The biggest problem is that the more they eat, the more they reproduce!
I used to hate pigeons but a few weeks ago I saw an old dying pigeons trying to hide on a door step and I had pity for it. I wanted to take it home so he could die peacefuly but my BF did not let me!
I don’t actually hate pigeons, but when there are a lot of them, they can be a real nuisance!
Hi Zhu,
Too funny to see the lonely pigeon next to that sign!
Pigeons are a problem in the city. I love animals and would never hurt a pigeon but, feeding them just encourages them to congrgate and makes for mess.
I just respect them from afar and that’s comforable enough for me.
I feel the same! I would never hurt an animal but I wouldn’t encourage feeding pigeons for all these reasons.
I don’t get it, do you have wild bunnies in Ottawa??? 😀
I don’t mind pigeons. It’s true we don’t have that much in Lyon (in comparaison to Paris or London) and we have several other breeds of birds (even hawks at night!).
I’m often saying that without them, my city would be quite dull. There’re almost the only animals around! Plus, as Cynthia, I used to hate them but now I get that they are incredible animals. Their capacity of adaptation to an urbain environment is remarkable, I read one day that, with time, they even managed to change their biology to be able to digest all the gross food they find in the city! Remarkable. Poor things, though. It makes me happy when I see them eat worms in parks (I don’t need a lot to be happy, apparently)
Don’t laugh… we actually do have wild rabbits!
I live a ten-minute drive from Parliament Hill, in a very close suburb. It’s not the country by any stretch of imagination, although we are close to the Central Experimental Farm. And there were wild rabbits everywhere! They stand there on the side of the sidewalk and sometimes scare the shit out of me when I go for a late night walk 😆
You’re right, he does seem to be protesting the sign!
Doesn’t it?
Ha! The pigeon’s all like: “ef you, feed me!”
Didn’t work 😆