Back in Boston in the 1980s nesting baxes for peregrine falcons were installed on the roof tops of office buildings.
From my office on the 20+th floor I would at times be treated to a view of a falcon nose diving and capturing a hapless pigeon. Over time, the result was more peregrine falcons and fewer pigeons.
A problem was that Bostonians did not like seeing a hapless pigeon being torn apart by a falcon.
“A problem was that Bostonians did not like seeing a hapless pigeon being torn apart by a falcon.”
I went to Suffolk Univ. I delighted in seeing pigeons dieing. In fact, I would celebrate with a pitcher of mudslides at the Red Hat.
Here in Chicago we appreciate that about the falcon. That's why, in 1999, the Peregrine Falcon was named the first ever Official Bird of the City of Chicago.
Years ago, I was in Nashville on business, and the local office asked where we were staying. We told them the old railroad station (refurbished into a hotel at the time), and they needled us "you're not worried about the pigeon disease?"
Turns out that pre-renovations, the station was "open air" through decay, and the pigeons took it over.
Apparently the birds carry some sort of respiratory disease (I looked it up, but have long since forgotten the details).
I do remember that having a bird in your house increases your risk of lung cancer by 800%.