I’ve written about a lot wild things concerning community protests and raising awareness for specific events and situations. However, I can’t say I’ve ever written a piece about a pet store that hires people to capture wild pigeons to sell them for various purposes. Fortunately, a New York group of protestors is planning a gathering outside the store to defend their city’s birds.
A post is going viral among New Yorkers, announcing a protest scheduled for April 12 in front of a pet store called Pigeons, located on Broadway. Allegations have emerged that the store, called Pigeons on Broadway, has been capturing wild pigeons to sell to Pennsylvania. While this practice itself might not seem overly concerning, the pigeons are specifically sold to hunting ranges, where they are used as live targets.
“This is so infuriating. These poor creatures. We have let these birds down to terribly.”
The notice rallying protestors states that owner Michael Scott has hired people to net the pigeons. Realistically, there have been various trending videos on social platforms like Instagram that have expressed witnessing this happening. While it didn’t make sense at the time, it appears that activists have pinpointed who is in charge of the entire operation.
The protest is organized by Mother Pigeon, a street performance artist who uses pigeons and other New York wildlife in her performances, and Pigeons for Miles, an avian sanctuary, and is designed to defend the bird, which has become a staple of the city. If you haven’t been to New York City, the pigeon is like what a lizard in Miami or a rabbit in Massachusetts is: an animal you frequently see who has made homes in various nooks and crannies all over. The poster specifically says,
“Join us in demanding an immediate end to this cruel and exploitative ptactive. Bring signs, bring your friends, bring love for the birds.”
Unfortunately, large gatherings like these also tend to be used as hunting grounds for federal agents to raid people for their documentation. While I agree that something needs to be done about the inhumane kidnapping of wild birds for profit, I also do not want anyone to get hurt inadvertently.
