Pigeons and people: mortal enemies or lifelong companions? A case study on staff perceptions of the pigeons on the University of South Africa, Muckleneuk campus

Date01 November 2016
Published date01 November 2016
AuthorEP Crom,A. Wilson,Emma Harris
DOIhttp://doi.org/10.1002/pa.1593
Academic Paper
Pigeons and people: mortal enemies or
lifelong companions? A case study on
staff perceptions of the pigeons on the
University of South Africa, Muckleneuk
campus
Emma Harris
1
*,EPdeCrom
2
and A. Wilson
1
1
Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research Unit, Department of Agriculture and Environmental
Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
2
Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
Pigeonshavebeenapartofourlivesforaslongaswecanremember. Some people view them with joy, others disdain.
Regardless of the pe rception, control m easures are often imp lemented against the birds in a bid to reduce their presence
in urban environments without considering the views of members of the public in the process. Complaints about pigeon
activity are, typically, given more attention than praise for these birds. However, people who are pro-pigeons are often
not provided with the forum to express their views of the birds. This study explored the perceptions of staff with regard
to the pigeons inhabiting the University of South Africas Muckleneuk campus. Two hundred and forty-six participants
provided their opinions on the pigeons, their related activities and the perceived impact on staff on the campus. Recognising
that both people and urban wildlife play a role of cause-and-effect in humanwildlife conicts can contribute to
understanding peoplesrelationships and perceptions of animals which transgress the boundaries between urbanisation
and nature. By considering peoplesperceptions, attitudes and behaviours towards urban wildlife, management strategies
can be signicantly informed in the process of mitigating conict. The study has shown that the negative perception of
pigeons, which was assumed to be the position of all the people affected by the pigeons at the University of South Aricas
Muckleneuk campus, is in fact incorrect. Participants would rather encourage the nesting and breeding activities of the
pigeons on campus, as they felt that the humanpigeon interactions and the viewing of squabs in nests contributed
positively to their work environment. Pigeon control strategies should therefore not solely be on the biological aspect of
a perceived pigeon problem, but should also include the human association. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
INTRODUCTION
Urban environments house more than half of the
worlds population (United Nations, 2014). While
only constituting a relatively small percentage of
the worlds surface, its effects are far reaching and
disproportionate to its size. Despite the negative
and often detrimental impacts on the natural envi-
ronment, urban environments have the potential to
contribute to biodiversity (Pickett, Cadenasso,
Grove, Boone, Irwin, Groffman, Kaushal, Marshall,
Mcgrath, Nilon, Pouyat, Szlavecz, Troy, & Warren,
2011). Modied habitats, shelter, abundant food re-
sources, permanent water availability and reduced
predator presence are synonymous with city envi-
ronments. These factors enable certain species to
*Correspondence to: Emma Harris, Applied Behavioural Ecology
and Ecosystem Research Unit, Department of Agriculture and
Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Private Bag
X6, Florida, 1710, RSA.
E-mail: emmaharris09@gmail.com
Journal of Public Affairs
Volume 16 Number 4 pp 331340 (2016)
Published online 12 January 2016 in Wiley Online Library
(www.wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/pa.1593
Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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