Meet the animal lovers rescuing pigeons
By Jill Dando News
While often seen as nuisances in Scotland's cities, flapping near sandwiches or startling toddlers, pigeons are getting a helping hand from a dedicated group of volunteers.
A team of animal lovers is working to change the public perception of pigeons while tackling a painful condition known as "stringfoot".
Amanda Sykes founded the Happy Feet group in Glasgow about a year ago, inspired by vegan activists.
Their mission? To free pigeons from discarded string, threads, and other litter that becomes tangled around their feet.
In just 12 months, the team has rescued an estimated 150 pigeons. If left untreated, stringfoot can lead to infection, reduced circulation, and even amputation.
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Sykes explained to BBC Radio Scotland, "The pigeons experience pain and may lose toes and feet, facing lifelong disability if we don't intervene and rescue them."
Catching a pigeon requires patience and technique. "You put down seed and wait," Sykes said. Once caught, the bird's head is gently covered to keep it calm.
"I use a cut-off T-shirt sleeve. Most pigeons become docile when covered," she added. "They're so vulnerable, they just lie still."
The group's Facebook page showcases videos of volunteers carefully cutting away the entangled strings.
Sykes finds the work rewarding: "It's a privilege to care for these birds. We're like a roadside assistance service, but for pigeons."
The team's efforts go beyond bird rescue. They're also changing minds. "People are often surprised that anyone would help creatures some consider 'flying rats,'" Sykes noted. "But we believe humans are responsible for their presence in our cities."
She concluded, "Pigeons have a long history of human use – for food, messages, racing, and even war efforts. Now they're living on our streets, and we have a duty to help them."
