BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="ChrisKten" data-source="post: 3657277" data-attributes="member: 69033">I didn't think you that you was suggesting "breath holding" near Pigeons, Paul... I was trying to grab attention before the boring stuff that I was about to type <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />I thought it important to post a more complete description of the health risks, and which species can be affected. More is known about Parrots and Psittacosis than Pigeons and Psittacosis. The danger, as always, is that those with an agenda can latch on to the facts that reinforce their case, while ignoring the rest. (A personal opinion follows) Rather like Ken Livingstone did when he was London Mayor and wanted to save money on the daily clean-up of Trafalgar Square, but realised that people/tourists enjoyed feeding the Pigeons. He was advised to copy the term "Flying Rats" (he wasn't the first to use it) by his media advisers, use it as often as possible, and wait for the "Red Top" Newspapers to pick it up and run with it. It worked, and the term is still used today (as is clearly demonstrated in this thread).I think I'll stop now, standing up for the underdog is a character flaw that I have trouble controlling, and I'm not keen on this thread ending up in Ruffled Feathers.</blockquote>