Does anyone know what has happened to all the Pigeons? Did they commit a grievous crime resulting in extermination? Have they been poisoned? If so, then doesn t that create a deathly threat to the many Eagles that live on the Yellowstone and the Tongue? Or is it okay to poison our National Bird along with them? I miss them! All creatures were created by God for their innocence. In other words, they do not connive to intentionally do harm, as we humans are capable of. I m really very curious to know the answer to this, if anyone can please tell me. Thank you!

To quote the Miles City Star...a segment under, "Pigeon Control, Public Works Discussed" by Amorette Allison.....(Tuesday's Miles City Council Meeting).

"Police Chief Doug Colombik took the floor to explain that the city is drafting an ordinance that will allow the city police to shoot the pigeons, although there has been considerable controversy on this method of control."

This followed Sylvester Augustyn asking about the city efforts to control pigeons, which are causing problems at the Historic Miles City Academy, formerly the Ursuline Convent.

I think the Star has been very good in keeping us posted on the Pigeon problem/situation.

Nannette Morgan wrote:

In other words, they do not connive to intentionally do harm, as we humans are capable of.

God never had a cat.

Thanks for the information. However, after noticing the entire abcense of a large colony of Pigeons within a block of where I live and noticing several dead carcasses in the underpass, I doubt highly that all of the Pigeons in Miles City, have been shot. Wouldn't t we notice a huge amount of gunshots? Especially, if they ve managed to kill nearly all of them. I for one, believe that there is no way that this many pigeons have been exterminated by bullets! I feel as though the police department has not been honest with us. It's a federal law, I m pretty sure, not to poison animals that can be then consumed after dying, in order to protect our country National bird, the Eagle. Has anyone heard these gunshots? How many police does it take to shoot and kill a very large number of pigeons? How many hours were involved in the pigeon hunt? How on earth, did they manage to kill every pigeon in this town? And in a very short period of time. I think we have been duped. I know where to find pigeon carcasses and I will send one to a laboratory or a willing veterinarian, for forensic pathology to determine the cause of death. If it is poison, a Federal law has been broken. There are simpler ways, eg, high level noise devices, fake owls, etc., that are cheaper and definitely much more HUMANE, to keep Pigeons from certain buildings. How did they kill the babies that were hidden in the nests? I am disgusted by this! SHAME on those who killed these beautiful birds! By the way, they WILL BE BACK.......

Yes He does, He Created them! ;-)

Yes He does have Cats, He Created them.

I for one would be interested n what it is that killed them.

I hope that the pigeons haven't been poisoned. I find that they taste great barbecued.

They died of complications from Type II Diabetes. They would taste delicious.

I haven't noticed the lack of pigeons but then I haven't paid attention. If there is a serious decline in numbers my bet would be that they contracted some virus. People have been trying to eradicate different pests for many years and rarely do they come up with something so effective as nature does to keep populations in check.

If the pigeons are gone it's a good thing IMO.They are a nuisance and they carry diseases. If the city poisoned them... not so good.

Elaine Nichols wrote:

I for one would be interested n what it is that killed them.

Chemtrails

I may be mistaken but I do recall an article in the star about the possibility of using feed with a pigeon birth control in it. Did this come to be or not? Ammorette, you should be able to answer this.

I got my answer. Police Chief Doug Columbik, has given the order to shoot and kill all pigeons on sight. So you guys that want to eat them can drive around and pick up their carcasses. I never have once heard a gun or BB gun shot and I live next to a large colony, but there is not even one bird left. I can t help but believe that there is no marksman good enough to shoot and KILL so many pigeons. I heard that they did suggest the birth control. They owe that to the pigeons after allowing them to breed and populate in the old hospital uncontrolled for so many years. And it would be humane. Shooting them-there is no way that they could possibly not end up wounding most of them as they fly quickly in fear when humans approach. And I for one, do not feel I should be paying for the bullets and the man hours thru my taxes! There are less costlier ways to deter pigeons! As a former friend of my ex-husband and mine, Doug, I am seriously disappointed with your choice to kill pigeons, no matter what way you ve chosen. Do you remember when you asked us to keep your two dogs after the shepherd got washed? We never wanted you to feel badly. They broke into one of the rabbits cages, ACE, my kid s pet, and tore him to pieces. Just as you drove up to pick them up, you asked us,"Did they behave themselves?" I wiped my tears away and smiled at you, as we both replied, "yes, they were just fine". As we were just finishing cleaning up his blood and fur, so that the kids would not see the gore and death of their beloved pet. We did not want to hurt you. Would you please rethink your choice to exterminate the pigeons, created by our God, for His sake, and out of kindness to those who do love all God's creatures? Either that or eat everyone you kill. The code of the hunter, right? God Bless you Doug. You do good work. But this makes me really sad and disappointed. [email protected]

Thanks Jeri Dalbec- I don t buy the Star or any other newspaper. So I appreciate MC.com where I can get the answers from people like you. And as far as the sarcastic answers, I don t bother to read past the name. So don t waste your time. You don t bother me.

Nannette-- can you please provide information and cost on all of these "less costly" deterrent options?

(The reason I am asking for this information-- pigeons have been doing damage to historical buildings in this town for years, and ALL of the "deterrent" options the City and different controlling Boards extensively researched were seriously cost prohibitive. I am VERY interested in your "low cost" and claimed "effective" options.)

You guys need to bring in some sharp shinned hawks. They do an excellent job on pigeons in Helena. It brings me great pleasure to walk the streets of downtown Helena and see dead pigeons with their breasts ripped out.

When we solve the problem, we have to let all the major cities in the world know because this problem hasn't been solved in thousands of years of urban living.

There are times....when I am ashamed of being a human.

Speaking of low cost methods, perhaps we could buy the each of the pigeons a Baltimore catechism and teach them the rhythm method or to practice abstinence.

From the Tom Lehrer song book: POISONING PIGEONS IN THE PARK. "It's not against anyone's religion to go out and murder the pigeons."

"All the world seems in tune on a spring afternoon when I'm poisoning pigeons in the park. Every Sunday you'll see my sweetheart and me as we're poisoning pigeons in the park."

I LOVE Tom Lehrer!!!

In this world, there is the "Secret Language of Signs"...so, I looked up Pigeons and what they could mean to Miles City...WELL..read as follows:

PIGEONS - Three pigeons means guests are coming. Six pigeons flying means falling in love or being kissed. Seven pigeons flying means a letter or a good message. Many, many pigeons together means a wedding is coming.

AND...CROWS - (Just in case)..The crow is not a bad sign. He is good luck and the cleaner of the world.

AND FINALLY - There is Karmic Retribution...just sayin'!

What does 50 pigeons s--ttin' all over the place mean?

It means the cops in Miles City are crappy shots.

FH

Tom and Frank..you are obviously not into Pigeon lore. You have made my day..I cannot quit laughing. A person tries to give the Pigeons a little reprieve and you can see what happens:-)

Other possibilities for the pigeons demise: West Nile Virus; rice as thrown at weddings; A mixture of cement and oatmeal Set out for the mice.
" When those birdies see us, they run and hide, But they can't resist the peanuts , coated with cyanide. So some day if you're free won't you go out with me and we'll poison the pigeons in the park." Sorry, Amorette, You'll have to finish this.

Hannah Nash-the low cost effective anti-pigeons devices are fake owls and hi pitch noise devices. Two large Churches, that I know of use the owls and they are very effective. The hi pitch noise device was used by Bojangles for several months at least, and it also kept the pigeons from roosting near that. What buildings have been 'destroyed' by pigeons? I must ve missed that. I hope you don t blame them for the old hospital s disrepairs. You really think a 'SHOOT ON SIGHT' ordinance is the only answer. I didn t give you the price of these two deterrents I mentioned, because 1) they are obviously inexpensive, and 2) you ll disagree w their effectiveness anyway. Have a good one.

Thanks Jeri Dalbec! Pigeons are not EVIL and deserve respect and kindness, because they are created for their innocence, as are all animals. It s not their fault that humans are not smart enough to share there world and enjoy their beauty. It's better to hate and kill!

Now I remember why I never start these conversations on MC.com. I m looking for information and then it turns into a sarcasm festival of something that is important to me. So, haha, you re all really funny, abusive, mean, cold-hearted so and so s. so you ve achieved what you set out to do. Denigrate a simple question and discussion into a stupidity contest. Thanks everyone. The book is closed. No winners here.

Well, there are no winners, but the obvious conclusion that can be drawn from a quick read of this thread is that you are a loser, Nanette. I hope you can come to grips to that.

Pigeons are not EVIL and deserve respect and kindness, because they are created for their innocence, as are all animals. It s not their fault that humans are not smart enough to share there world and enjoy their beauty.

I've got a lot of serious questions about this, like "why doesn't the creator of the pigeon take better care of the creation" ... but it is clear that you are hypersensitive to apparent conflict... Sooooooo, like a tumbleweed I will refrain, because that is how I roll.

Pigeon Pie


ingredients
serves 5 - 6
5 fl oz (150 ml) red wine
2 tablespoons (30 ml) port
6 juniper berries, crushed
2 tablespoons (30 ml) vegetable oil
4 pigeons
1 oz (25 g) butter
1 tbsp (15 ml) vegetable oil
1 onion, finely chopped
4 rashers streaky bacon, rinds removed, chopped
12 oz (350 g) chuck steak, trimmed and cut into 1 inch (2.5 cm) cubes
6 oz (175 g) flat mushrooms, thickly sliced
few sprigs of parsley, chopped
1/2 tsp dried thyme
12 oz (350 g) shortcrust pastry
method
1. Mix together wine, port, juniper berries and oil for the marinade and season with freshly ground black pepper. Remove breasts from the pigeons and cut into large pieces. Put into a non-metallic dish, pour over the marinade, cover. Leave in fridge overnight.

2. Melt the butter and oil in a frying pan, add the onion and bacon and fry gently for 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, reserve.

3. Remove pigeon from the marinade, drain. Reserve marinade. Increase heat and fry the pigeon and the steak in batches, sealing on all sides.

4. Put the pigeon, steak, onion and bacon into a 2 pint (1.25 litre) pie dish and top with the mushrooms. Sprinkle with herbs, pour over the reserved marinade.

5. Roll out the pastry to 1/4 inch (5 mm) thick, put a pie funnel into the dish. Cut a 1/2 inch (1 cm) strip of pastry and place around the edge of the dish. Brush with water and top with the remaining pastry. Use the pastry trimmings to decorate the top of the pie.

6. Bake at Mark 4 (180°C) 350°F for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to Mark 2 (150°C) 300°F and cook for a further 1 1/2 hours. Cover the pastry with foil if it browns too much during cooking.

Yup, you can eat just about anything if you cook it right. Or are hungry enough. I think we discussed once before, perhaps jokingly, how a MC eatery could make a name for itself AND solve the problem. Or it could become an annual cooking competition that puts your town on the map. You never know...

Free range squab. Delicious.

Your response got a little rude/curt toward the end there, especially worrisome since my initial inquiry was very polite and positive.

As for owls and the high pitched noise generators-- they only work for a few weeks because the birds acclimate to the noise and are not fooled by the owl. Study after study has proved that these two methods are ineffective. Yes, they are cheap, but we would out be removing a poop covered plastic owl from the facility after a couple of weeks (if not sooner).

As for what buildings are being destroyed-- in your spare time, check out the back of the Miles City Public Library. That gorgeous 1902 facility has a huge problem with roosting pigeons year round. They are breaking the window ledges off the original glass windows, pooping all down the original brick, their feces attracts flies and other vermin, their nests are prying gutters and other fixtures off. And the library isn't the only historic Miles City building negatively affected by the pigeons. It isn't just "unsightly", it is actual damage. Expensive damage.

I haven't noticed a shortage of pigeons. Drive under the underpass

All that's needed is for a pair to survive and the next spring they will fully recover the little blip in their population.