The International Pigeon Advocacy Association Conference in Derby, England brought together pigeon lovers, rescuers, and rehabbers to share stories, practical advice, and encouragement. There was pigeon-inspired art and clothing and incredible vegan food. I was able to attend on behalf of Palomacy thanks to the generous donation of air miles from a Board member.

Sometimes this work can be discouraging and frustrating, and spending the weekend with passionate and committed pigeon people from around the world was a tonic. Pigeons have suffered from human contempt for a long time, but we are reaching a tipping point where they may be regarded in a new light.

This conference came together through the hard work of Sue Joyce and a dedicated crew of volunteers. There were so many thought-provoking, informative, and inspiring speakers, it’s hard to narrow it down to just a few highlights! But here goes:

Karolina Richterova and Yuvi Sharma shared methods of humane control of feral flocks, through the use of  “Ausberg Model” lofts. Real eggs are swapped for fakes and the pigeons receive veterinary care. Karolina and Yuvi brought data demonstrating a reduction in disease among the birds in these lofts, in addition to stabilizing population growth, which in turn can limit public hostility for the birds. Did you know there are hero volunteers maintaining lofts for city pigeons not only in Ausberg (Germany), but also in Basel (Switzerland), Brno (Czech Republic), České Budějovice (Czech Republic), and Prague (Czech Republic)? Could your city use one?

Illy and Polly of Rescue Not Retail spoke about the particular plight of pigeons in the “pet” trade: the extreme breeding which deliberately deforms the birds and the harms caused by viewing sentient beings as commerce. Adopt Don’t Shop!

Iris Mackowiak shared her unique, witty, and highly effective approach to matching people with pigeons, in order to find homes for the rescued pigeons who are so badly in need of them.

Ashley Dietrich spoke about how humans perceive animals in specific categories: “production” (animals raised for food, skins, eggs, milk, etc.), “service” (animals used for labor, specialized service, lab animals), “companion” (pets), and “wildlife” (animals who live apart from us). Pigeons have managed to occupy every one of those categories — how do we help change how society views them? Meg Germundson, her sister and fellow rescuer, gave a presentation on the practical approaches for communicating and helping to shape these changing perceptions. How do we harness marketing for rescue work?

Chava Sonnier, of Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue, has many years of experience rescuing wild, feral, and domestic birds. She talked about the differences between those categories, and how wild birds, rescued with an injury or illness, face the stark options of release or euthanasia. Chava discussed the third way open for feral pigeons: adoption. Feral pigeons react to home life with an attitude of “where has this been my whole life?” rather than with nthe panic of a wild bird. Chava also shared the work of Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue, and talked about how to make a home welcoming for pigeons.

Meanwhile, the ongoing heartbreak of inhumane pigeon management was highlighted by some incredible activists: Ems Hanley of Manchester Pigeon Rehab presented “The Wrong Side of the Tracks: Pigeons, the Railway, and the Culls” — a troubling story of official secrecy and nighttime shootings. Kevin Newell of Humane Wildlife Solutions talked about the many birds who become trapped in bird netting in train stations and other public buildings, and the efforts to ban netting as an exclusion method. Netting is a cruel and ineffective tool, which harms the birds in many countries. Anyone who is troubled by its use should tap into the work that these activists are doing. There’s strength in numbers! Check out the work of Protect The Wild, too.

One of the most heartening things about the conference was seeing so many people from rescues all around the world. Clare Kinder talked about the day-to-day life in her sanctuary, Kinder Bird Rescue. Do you have a rescue or sanctuary? Palomacy is expanding our map of Pigeon Friendly Rescues internationally! If you want to be included please email cynthia@pigeonrescue.org.

Jenna Close of Moose’s Flock voiced some hard realities about pigeon racing, which has the highest death rate of any animal “sport” where the death of the animal is not the stated aim. In pigeon racing, birds are bred by the thousands and treated as disposable, and rescuers have been picking up the pieces for decades. Animals should not be sacrificed for the entertainment and greed of people.

Aspen and Hannah, of Philly Pigeon Tours, shared their wildly successful walking tours, highlighting the pigeon flocks of Philadelphia with visitors. They have collected headlines concerning pigeons over the past 150 years, showing changing attitudes and the rise in fear and hostility. They also talked about their personal journey from people who were indifferent to pigeons and raised with the common prejudices against them, to dedicated activists and advocates. Most importantly, they spoke about their hope and optimism for a compassionate future, that the overwhelming rise of negative forces in our world may, one day, appear as just a tiny blip in history.

Could the fun, optimistic, and compassionate spirit of Philly Pigeon Tours be expanded to other cities??

There were many more speakers and workshops! Please visit the conference website to find lots of links and information. And consider joining in next year — in person or by Zoom.

 

A few more pictures from the trip: