Feeding pigeons in Delhi may soon be a thing of the past. Here’s why

Popular pigeon-feeding spots can be found across Delhi — from the walled city areas of Chandni Chowk, Mori Gate, and Kashmere Gate, Paharganj, Jama Masjid, and India Gate.

Concentrated areas of pigeon droppings can become breeding grounds for pathogens like Salmonella, E. Coli, Influenza, Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, and can exacerbate respiratory conditions like asthma.

Warning of potential health risks, Dr Vikas Maurya, a pulmonologist at Fortis Hospital said, “Pigeon droppings can cause numerous diseases, but certain fungal infections are particularly concerning, especially in Delhi, where the pigeon population has surged due to unnecessary feeding”.

Earlier this year, an 11-year-old boy from East Delhi developed a life-threatening allergic reaction after extended contact with the bird’s excrement. “Pigeon droppings contain allergens or antigens that, when inhaled, reach the lungs and can trigger severe allergic reactions, including bronchitis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis — a serious condition that can cause lung fibrosis if it becomes chronic”, he said. With an overpopulation of pigeons, these allergens and infective organisms often become airborne.

“In fact, hypersensitivity pneumonitis is the leading cause of interstitial lung diseases and scarring in India,” he added, further highlighting that excessive population of a species can lead to suppression of other species, disrupting ecological balance.

Pigeons come close to our windows and leave droppings on cars. “When they are this near, invisible allergenic particles, which are especially harmful to those with sensitive lungs, are inhaled. Symptoms in affected patients are severe — persistent cough, breathlessness, and critically low oxygen levels that can fall below 90 in cases of high exposure. This can lead to drug and oxygen dependency, ultimately shortening life expectancy,” said Dr Maurya who has put up a small poster that reads ‘Don’t Feed the Pigeons’ in his OPD.

According to an MCD official, the issue is not that these pigeons exist; there is no risk if one or two fly over your head. “However, when pigeons are gathered in one area and their droppings accumulate there, it puts people who come to feed the birds — many of whom are elderly and frequent visitors — as well as those who are selling dana (feed) nearby and passersby at risk. Avoiding that danger is the goal,” said the official from MCD’s public health department.

For several people, feeding pigeons is a religious act; others believe that it brings good luck and fortune.
According to historian Sohail Hashmi, feeding pigeons in public spaces is a more recent phenomenon. “I don’t remember pigeons being fed at roundabouts during my childhood… Historically, pigeons were popular pets among the rich and elite because they served as letter-carriers. Many people took to collecting different breeds, and pigeon selling became a profession. The affluent would buy breeds that could perform stunts, like somersaulting, and feed them on their terraces. Over time, religious beliefs led people to feed pigeons at roundabouts, which gradually turned into dedicated feeding points,” he says.

“…Many European countries had started a whole campaign against these pigeons where they are generally referred to as the rats of the sky,” Hashmi added.