Why Columbus doesn't have a pigeon problem: They're dinner
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Pigeons on a street sign in New York City. Photo: Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images
If you've ever wondered about Columbus' apparent lack of pigeons, here's a fun fact: They're here. They're just getting eaten.
Why it matters: Pigeons have become an unofficial mascot of major American cities.
- But our clear downtown skies are actually another bird's success story — a thriving population of once-endangered peregrine falcons is keeping pigeons in check, experts tell Axios.
How it works: Feral pigeons aren't native to the U.S. They descend from domesticated rock doves that early European settlers brought across the pond.
- Some escaped, and the scrappy scavengers adapted to urban life.
- They nest on tall buildings that resemble their native cliffs. But so do peregrines.
Flashback: Peregrine falcons nearly went extinct due to pesticide use. In the '90s, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources reintroduced breeding pairs and nest boxes in cities like Columbus.
- The predators came off the threatened list in 2015 and now they're thriving here.
The evidence: "Our team routinely cleans up pigeon parts," Ben Barker, Capital Crossroads and Discovery Special Improvement Districts operations manager, tells Axios over email.
- "They hunt/dive at extreme speeds and completely decimate the pigeons."
Between the lines: Pigeons poop — a lot, about every 30 minutes — and the droppings can spread disease and corrode buildings. So them being on the menu isn't necessarily a bad thing.
The intrigue: New York City's famous, abnormally large pigeon population has likely skewed what people perceive as normal, OSU avian ecologist Christopher Tonra tells Axios.
- Local sightings are recorded often on eBird.
- Hot spots include power lines near highways, bridges across the Olentangy River, and Ohio Stadium, Tonra says.
Yes, but: There are peregrines nesting at the 'Shoe, too.
- Tonra jokes it would be a dream to "see a peregrine take out a pigeon during a game," but it hasn't happened yet.
💭 Alissa's thought bubble: I spotted a pigeon inside the D.C. airport last month, which inspired this story. I thought it was a rare sighting — but it's more common than you'd expect.
Go deeper: The story of Pete, the Ohio Senate pigeon