Bengaluru: Feeding pigeons on weekends at the Vidhana Soudha was once a favourite pass time for Bengalureans. Now, the city dwellers are trying to shoo these birds away from their homes. Labelled as the ‘flying rats’ of the city, the pigeon population has increased in the past few years, causing menace in the city. They are no longer wanted as pets. It has come to the notice of common man that these birds are now driving away other birds. Some industrialists stated that people living in high rise buildings suffer the worst.  

They are invading home spaces and balconies by building their nests; balcony gardens and railings are covered in pigeon droppings. Above all the bird carries infectious diseases like avian influenza and castle fever through their droppings, say wildlife experts. They even cause rare infections that are communicable from birds to humans.

Wildlife experts warn that pigeon droppings contain bacteria and fungus, which can cause fatal lung disorders, extreme allergic reactions, and pulmonary diseases such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, hypersensitive lung disease and depravity of oxygen in blood. The infection passed on by these birds is so strong that people who suffer have a hard time recovering from the diseases despite the doses of antibiotics, they say.

After umpteen complaints from the city residents, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is planning to hold a meeting with wildlife experts, bird lovers, health experts and concerned citizens to reach an ecologically viable solution to the issue.