thedrifter
01-23-07, 08:21 AM
Solving a problem that
January 23,2007
Jacksonville Daily News, NC
Pigeons, swallows and many other birds traditionally like buildings with high ceilings and open rafters that allow easy - and safe - construction of nesting areas. So when flocks of pigeons find a bunch of helicopter hangars like the ones at New River Air Station, they move in - lock, stock and nest. That leaves the Marines dealing with debris, droppings and feathers, which in turn become operational hazards for those mechanized birds also known as choppers. Bird droppings are unsanitary and it's not fun to work in an environment where "presents" from above can arrive without warning. And it's not like birds and the aviation industry haven't had their run-ins. A collision between a bird and an aircraft can have serious, even fatal, results.
Some places, when faced with pigeon invasions, take care of the problem by destroying the birds, but the Marines didn't go that route. Instead, according to the air station's environmental representative, Kirk Kropinack, the Corps has employed a much kinder, gentler means of moving the birds along.
Officials say they've put up netting in at least one hangar to discourage the pigeons from nesting, and plan to do the same with the other hangars. So far, it seems to be working. And the Marines' solution doesn't harm the birds in any way, although it may frustrate them a bit.
For most bird-lovers, pigeons are far from being kings of the sky. Although other feathery friends may inspire more poetic admiration, the common pigeon has a built-in sense of decency that outclasses many its human counterpart: they mate for life, only moving on to another partner when the present one dies, and are exceptional parents. Pigeons are devoted to raising their young until they are grown and ready to face the world on an equal basis.
Pigeons originally emerged from Asia. Before hangars and skyscrapers became handy homes, they nested high above the earth in the nooks and crannies of cliffs. In the wild they prefer their lofty nests well-hidden, although urban pigeons have developed a penchant for hanging around shopping centers, heads bobbing from the roofs.
Flocks of friendly pigeons often haunt big city squares, like Trafalgar in London or St. Mark's in Venice, or parks like Central Park in New York. They're known to beg bits from passers-by, - which is part of their charm - although some cities have made it illegal to feed them.
While the spread of disease is definitely a concern, the birds are a necessary part of the chain of life. It's nice to see the Corps take a humane approach to these feathery creatures, by focusing on stamping out the problem, not the source.
Ellie
January 23,2007
Jacksonville Daily News, NC
Pigeons, swallows and many other birds traditionally like buildings with high ceilings and open rafters that allow easy - and safe - construction of nesting areas. So when flocks of pigeons find a bunch of helicopter hangars like the ones at New River Air Station, they move in - lock, stock and nest. That leaves the Marines dealing with debris, droppings and feathers, which in turn become operational hazards for those mechanized birds also known as choppers. Bird droppings are unsanitary and it's not fun to work in an environment where "presents" from above can arrive without warning. And it's not like birds and the aviation industry haven't had their run-ins. A collision between a bird and an aircraft can have serious, even fatal, results.
Some places, when faced with pigeon invasions, take care of the problem by destroying the birds, but the Marines didn't go that route. Instead, according to the air station's environmental representative, Kirk Kropinack, the Corps has employed a much kinder, gentler means of moving the birds along.
Officials say they've put up netting in at least one hangar to discourage the pigeons from nesting, and plan to do the same with the other hangars. So far, it seems to be working. And the Marines' solution doesn't harm the birds in any way, although it may frustrate them a bit.
For most bird-lovers, pigeons are far from being kings of the sky. Although other feathery friends may inspire more poetic admiration, the common pigeon has a built-in sense of decency that outclasses many its human counterpart: they mate for life, only moving on to another partner when the present one dies, and are exceptional parents. Pigeons are devoted to raising their young until they are grown and ready to face the world on an equal basis.
Pigeons originally emerged from Asia. Before hangars and skyscrapers became handy homes, they nested high above the earth in the nooks and crannies of cliffs. In the wild they prefer their lofty nests well-hidden, although urban pigeons have developed a penchant for hanging around shopping centers, heads bobbing from the roofs.
Flocks of friendly pigeons often haunt big city squares, like Trafalgar in London or St. Mark's in Venice, or parks like Central Park in New York. They're known to beg bits from passers-by, - which is part of their charm - although some cities have made it illegal to feed them.
While the spread of disease is definitely a concern, the birds are a necessary part of the chain of life. It's nice to see the Corps take a humane approach to these feathery creatures, by focusing on stamping out the problem, not the source.
Ellie