Feeding the pigeons in Trafalgar Square
(c. 1971)
I.
Six days later and still the row rumbles on about the Ramadan prayer event held in London's Trafalgar Square; a public gathering described by shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy as a provocative act of domination - prompting others to decry his remarks as Islamophobic and call for his head (figuratively speaking).
I really don't want to comment on this matter, as I find it both depressing and tedious.
However, as an anti-theist, I would quite happily ban all large-scale outdoor religious events; be they Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, or Sikh. I don't even like to see neo-pagans and old hippies gathered at Stonehenge for the solstice celebrations, to be perfectly honest.
And, as an ornithophile, I would be delighted to see Trafalgar Square cleared of all believers, worshippers, devotees, etc. and made home once more to the thousands of pigeons who lived there for well over a century before Ken Livingstone decided they were a public nuisance and threat to human health (more on this shortly).
II.
Feeding the pigeons in Trafalgar Square with seed bought from licensed vendors was an extremely popular thing to do in post-War decades; bringing joy and amusement to people of all ages and backgrounds, be they locals or tourists.
The birds were remarkably friendly and would perch on people, lions, and statues alike. Being pictured with a pigeon on one's head was an experience captured in countless family photos - such as the one above, taken in the early '70s when I was a nipper and wearing my turquoise Fred Perry T-shirt and blue corduroy trousers held up with a classic snake belt.
Readers might also note how, in the photo, the man, woman and young girl observing the scene are all smiling; a facial expression formed by flexing muscles at the sides of the mouth in order to signal happiness that is rarely seen in the UK today.
III.
As mentioned, the toxic transition from popular attraction to pest problem happened under Mayor Ken Livingstone, who famously branded the birds rats with wings and argued that their removal would result in a more pleasant environment.
The last licensed birdseed vendor was forced to stop trading after his license was revoked in 2001, terminating a tradition that had begun soon after the Square was completed and birds began flocking to it in 1844. Two years later feeding pigeons was officially banned in the main square to prevent damage to monuments and this ban was then extended to the North Terrace (near the National Gallery) in 2007, when fines for feeding the birds were increased from £50 to £500.
There was some organised opposition to this, but, sadly, the writing was on the wall for our feathered friends and Red Ken was indifferent to the fact that suddenly removing a regular and abundant food source to 4000 birds would result in many of them starving to death. Today, Trafalgar Square is kept pigeon-free by the use of hawks patrolling the area to scare away any remaining birds that might wish to return to a once happy home and place of safety.
IV.
In conclusion ...
The pigeon is a bird that links us to our past as Londoners; its association with the capital spans centuries and serves as a genuine symbol of a shared, non-sectarian history. As for the potential health risks they pose, I suspect these are greatly exaggerated to justify a sterile, overly controlled urban environment and, frankly, the preservation of imposing stone monuments is a secondary concern to me:
"We have reached the stage where we are weary of huge stone erections, and we begin to realise that it is better to keep life fluid and changing, than try to hold it down in heavy monuments." [1]
Only people of a malignant spirit - like Ken Livingstone - would wish harm upon birds, or believe - like the current Mayor Sadiq Khan - that the cry of Allahu Akbar is preferable to the gentle cooing of a rock dove ...
Notes
[1] D. H. Lawrence, 'Tarquinia', in Sketches of Etruscan Places and Other Italian Essays, ed. Simonetta de Filippis (Cambridge University Press, 1992), p. 32.
