Reducing the availability of food to control feral pigeons: changes in population size and composition

Senar, Juan Carlos; Montalvo, Tomás; Pascual, Jordi; Peracho, Víctor

doi:10.1002/ps.4272

Cited by 26 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(41 reference statements)

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“…Silva and Medeiros (2008) indicate that humans are increasingly concerned about pigeon populations (and presumably their accumulated faeces) in the urban space, and in response (Senar et al 2017), demonstrate that food control is key to population reduction. A greater understanding of the chemical responses of urban spaces to faeces, both recently voided and accumulated, is necessary to complete the picture of the effects of feral pigeons.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, studies have shown that population densities are higher in the city centres than at the periphery (Uribe et al 1984) or in suburbia (Ferman et al 2010), with the nature of micro-habitat as one of the determinants (Przybylska et al 2012). The density of feral pigeon populations in an urban community appears to be directly related to the amount of available food (intentional feeding, spillage, organic waste) (Sol et al 2000;Buijs & Van Wijnen 2001;Morand-Ferron et al 2009;Przybylska et al 2012;Senar et al 2017) which is also related to the size of human population (Hetmański et al 2011). A large quantity of energy requirements of the feral pigeons is provided by edible waste in public areas (Jokimaki & Suhonen 1998;Buijs & Van Wijnen 2001).…”

Section: Urban Pigeonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Property owners have engaged in a diverse range of often costly repellent techniques to rid themselves of these nuisance birds (Alderson 1991;Howard et al 1991;Slater 1998;Stevens et al 1998;Cook et al 2008;Haag-Wackernagel & Geigenfeind 2008;Duarte et al 2011;Riddell 2011;Seamans & Blackwell 2011;Jenni-Eiermann et al 2014;Stock & Haag-Wackernagel 2014). While the mechanical, chemical and acoustic repellent methods appear to be of dubious efficacy, and trapping and poisoning pose issues of social acceptability, as well as ecological efficacy (Kösters et al 1991;Magnino et al 2009), the most effective method appears to be the denial of food (Przybylska et al 2012;Senar et al 2017).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Dietary habits of urban pigeons (Columba livia) and implications of excreta pH – a review

Spennemann¹,

Watson²

2017

European Journal of Ecology

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Pigeons are considered to be urban pests, causing untold damage to buildings and potentially impacting the health of humans who come into contact with them or their faeces. Pigeon faecal matter has been implicated in both health impacts and building damage, with the acidity of the excreta playing an important role. Purpose of the Review. This paper is a wide-ranging review of the chemical processes of excreta in the pigeon to aid our understanding of the potential problems of pigeons to buildings and human amenity in the urban space. The natural pH of pigeons is shown to vary based on the bird's and age as well as reproductive stage. Key findings of the review. The influences of the altered diet between the rock dove (the wild progenitor of the feral pigeon) and the feral pigeon are detailed, indicating that the human-based diet of urban pigeons most likely causes the feral pigeon excreta to be more acidic than the rock dove excreta. This higher acidity is due in part to diet, but also to potential increases in faecal and/or uric acid volumes due to the low quality of humanbased diets. Again, this area of interest is highly data deficient due to the few number of studies and unspecified dietary intake before pH measurement. Implications of the review. Humans are increasingly concerned about pigeon populations (and presumably their accumulated faeces) in the urban space, and control comprises a large part of the interaction between humans and feral pigeons. This review provides a greater understanding of feral pigeons and the true effects of their excreta. INTRODUCTION ABSTRACTColumba livia; pH; Foraging; Diet; Excreta KEYWORDS

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Urban Pigeonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dietary habits of urban pigeons (Columba livia) and implications of excreta pH – a review

Spennemann¹,

Watson²

2017

European Journal of Ecology

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“…, Senar et al. ). To maintain avian biodiversity, being able to predict which species will struggle or persist in human‐impacted environments will help focus conservation efforts (see Sih for a conceptual overview of behavioral changes in response to HIREC).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Does a long‐term shift in Wood Stork diet foreshadow adaptability to human‐induced rapid environmental change?

Klassen

Gawlik

2018

J. Field Ornithol.

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To preserve biodiversity, identifying at‐risk populations and developing conservation plans to mitigate the effects of human‐induced rapid environmental change (HIREC) are essential. Changes in diet, especially for food‐limited species, can aid in detecting populations being impacted by HIREC, and characterizing the quality, abundance, and temporal and spatial consistency of newly consumed food items may provide insight concerning the likelihood of a species persisting in a changing environment. We used Wood Storks (Mycteria americana) nesting in the Florida Everglades as a model system to study the possible effects of HIREC on a food‐limited population. We compared the diets of Wood Storks in 2013 and 2014 with those reported during the 1970s before major anthropogenic activities affected the Everglades system and prey availability. Wood Storks in our study consumed more large‐bodied sunfish species (Lepomis spp.), fewer native marsh fishes, and more non‐native fish species than during the 1970s. Large sunfish and non‐native fish are relatively rare in the drying pools of Everglades marshes where storks traditionally forage, suggesting that Wood Storks may be using novel foraging habitats such as created wetlands (i.e., canals and stormwater ponds). Although created wetlands have long hydroperiods conducive to maintaining large‐bodied fishes and could provide alternative foraging habitat when prey availability is reduced in natural marshes, additional studies are needed to determine the extent to which these wetlands are used by Wood Storks and, importantly, the quality of prey items potentially available to foraging Wood Storks in created wetlands.

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“…Feral pigeons ( Columba livia ) are an important risk for human health, and a nuisance in building conservation in many cities. Senar et al showed how educating the public on reducing the food availability to birds resulted in a 40% reduction in the population size of pigeons . The common myna ( Acridotheres tristis ) is a serious threat to the conservation of native endemic avifauna in many islands.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Vertebrate pest management: research for science-based solutions

2017

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Reducing the availability of food to control feral pigeons: changes in population size and composition

Abstract: Results show the effectiveness of public information to manage feral pigeon populations in a large city, and that control operations can exert important selection pressure on the population, leading to changes in population composition. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Cited by 26 publications

References 20 publications

Dietary habits of urban pigeons (Columba livia) and implications of excreta pH – a review

Dietary habits of urban pigeons (Columba livia) and implications of excreta pH – a review

Does a long‐term shift in Wood Stork diet foreshadow adaptability to human‐induced rapid environmental change?

Vertebrate pest management: research for science-based solutions

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