by: Advika Anand
Graphics Editor

Sky rats, chicken birds, flying ashtrays, otherwise known by most as pigeons, are the world’s most failed domesticated species. Yes, these small birds are somehow always in your path, and yes, they do tend to expel their waste atop your head, but they are vital elements to our community, and dare I say that we as a society would not be the same without the incorporation of pigeons. If you are confused, do not fret, I will explain.

For anyone that does not go outside or touch grass, pigeons are found worldwide but primarily live in urban areas and are most commonly associated with New York City. The Big Apple. A bustling metropolis of opportunities, diversity, and…pigeons. Yep, the rat-birds squawking on sidewalks, dropping feces on tourists in Times Square, and constantly getting underfoot only slightly diminish the magic of the city. Visitors and locals alike refer to pigeons as a NYC staple and a perennial pain in the butt. However, these poor pigeons get undeserved hate. They should not shoulder the burden of all rodents, solely because rich Upper Eastsiders get scat on their Louboutin pumps. They are just trying to live their unassuming lives, feeding on scraps that would otherwise end up wasted. We should be grateful for the unpaid, innocent cleaners of our public spaces, especially in a city filled with an interminable amount of food. Their work is so important that pigeons even have their own holiday: National Pigeon Appreciation Day is June 13th. We should all do our part and promote the celebration of this important species.

Pigeons are obviously found in more places than NYC, yet still treated like the vermin of the sky. In fact, Pigeon Point Lighthouse in San Mateo is named after a clipper ship named Carrier Pigeon Boat that wrecked on the shore. Although this may not be an actual pigeon, I like to think they drew inspiration from the picture of pigeons. On a more serious note, if you are passionate and interested in pigeon watching, Parque de las Palomas in Puerto Rico is a great location to purchase birdseed and feed thousands of pigeons in a designated area.

A slightly more niche reason to love pigeons: Mister Pigeon in Miraculous Ladybug. If you do not know about this character or Miraculous Ladybug, first of all: what are you doing with your life? Alas, I will explain. Miraculous Ladybug is a childrens’ (though I would argue that it’s a show for all ages) television show set in Paris that centers around superheroes fighting a major super villain: Hawk Moth. Hawk Moth feeds off of people’s extreme emotions and “akumatizes” them—essentially turning them into one of his sidekicks. One in particular stands out: Mister Pigeon, who, in his akumatized form, gains the ability to communicate with birds and plans to turn Paris into a nature reserve for his bird friends. We should all be more like Mr. Pigeon and give pigeons the love they so deserve. Maybe don’t go so far as to dedicate an entire city to them, but this goes to show the level of pigeon fans out there in the world—real or not.