Coexistence to Crisis: A city held hostage by pigeons

Pigeon explosion: Why Mumbai is overrun

The unchecked rise in Mumbai’s pigeon population, fuelled by rapid urbanisation and human intervention, is posing a growing challenge to the city’s biodiversity

Experts warn that while pigeons have seamlessly adapted to urban life, their increasing numbers are disrupting the ecological balance and outcompeting native bird species.

“Urban environments create a highly conducive habitat for pigeons due to a confluence of factors,” says Bharat Bhushan, honorary secretary of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). “Beyond deliberate feeding, cities offer a consistent, readily accessible food supply from discarded human food scraps, spilled grains, and other refuse. Buildings provide ample shelter in various structural elements, including ledges, crevices, ducts, and abandoned spaces, offering protection from predators.”

Unlike wild birds that face natural threats, Mumbai’s pigeons have no significant predators to regulate their numbers. Their year-round breeding cycle, combined with a safe urban environment, allows them to multiply rapidly. This overpopulation is pushing native species like bulbuls, sparrows, and mynas out of their habitats. “The substantial increase in pigeon populations within urban environments can result in competitive exclusion, where pigeons aggressively outcompete native bird species for essential resources like food, nesting sites, and even territory,” Bhushan said.

The dominance of pigeons affects not just food availability but also breeding patterns of other birds. “The sheer number of pigeons can overwhelm available food sources, leaving less for other birds, and their dominance can prevent other species from successfully breeding in preferred locations,” Bhushan added.
Even natural predators like kites and falcons are too few to control the overwhelming pigeon population. While several factors contribute to this rise, one of the most overlooked is the widespread practice of mercy feeding.

Mercy feeding a major problem

Mercy feeding, the practice of feeding pigeons in public spaces, has become a deeply rooted tradition in Mumbai. Many citizens consider it an act of kindness, often influenced by religious beliefs and cultural sentiments. However, experts argue that uncontrolled mercy feeding does more harm than good to the birds.

“Urban pigeon feeding, though seemingly kind, fuels overpopulation, creating unsanitary conditions. Artificially inflated populations disrupt local ecosystems and strain city resources,” said Praveen Singh Pardeshi, president, BNHS.

Pigeons in cities survive largely on food provided by people rather than natural sources. Large gatherings of pigeons at feeding spots lead to overpopulation, dependency, and unnatural changes in their behaviour. Unlike wild birds that forage for food, pigeons in Mumbai are thriving on easy food availability. Public spaces such as Girgaum Chowpatty, Marine Drive, and various railway stations have turned into feeding hotspots. While feeding pigeons might seem like a harmless act, it encourages them to flock in large numbers. This continues even as the authorities and conservationists advise to limit mercy feeding in a bid to maintain a balanced urban ecosystem.
A PETA study on pigeon behaviour found that pigeons breed in direct proportion to the availability of food. Simply put, the more they are fed, the more they reproduce.

To address this, awareness campaigns are gaining traction. BNHS, in collaboration with the JSW Foundation, recently launched a documentary titled Mercy Feeding: Pigeon Menace in Urban Areas, highlighting the consequences of excessive feeding. “Feeding pigeons in our cities may seem kind, but it creates serious issues for all of us. Overcrowding disrupts the balance of nature. True care means protecting both people and wildlife,” said Sangita Jindal, chairperson of the JSW Foundation.

Pigeon droppings, feathers, and nesting material carry harmful pathogens, including bacteria, viruses and fungi that can cause severe respiratory and systemic illnesses

When pigeons become a public health concern

Pigeon droppings, feathers, and nesting material carry harmful pathogens, including bacteria, viruses and fungi that can cause severe respiratory and systemic illnesses. In densely populated areas where humans and pigeons coexist, the health risks are amplified.

One of the most concerning conditions linked to pigeons is Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (HP), a severe lung disease triggered by prolonged exposure to airborne fungal spores found in dried pigeon droppings. “Both pigeon droppings and feathers affect human health, affecting the lungs the most, resulting in acute, sub-acute, or chronic illness called Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (HP),” said Dr Sundeep Mestri, Pulmonologist, MGM New Bombay Hospital.
The disease starts with a dry cough and lung irritation, eventually leading to permanent lung damage if exposure continues. “In our own experience, Mumbai is witnessing a rise in HP patients, and there are many direct cases where patients share their exposure with pigeons resulting in the cause,” said Dr Lancelot Pinto, Consultant Pulmonologist and Epidemiologist, Hinduja Hospital.

HP has now become the leading interstitial lung disease (ILD) in India, with ongoing studies by Hinduja Hospital confirming a direct link to pigeon exposure. “The blood tests are positive for pigeon antigens, indicating that patients are generating antibody responses to them,” Pinto added.

Beyond HP, pigeons also spread Cryptococcosis, a fungal infection that can cause neurological issues in immunocompromised individuals, Histoplasmosis, which leads to lung infections, and Psittacosis, a bacterial infection that mimics pneumonia.

The hidden costs of pigeons

Beyond health hazards, pigeons are notorious for the destruction they leave in their wake. Their highly acidic droppings corrode concrete, metal, and stone, causing long-term damage to historical landmarks, residential buildings, and public infrastructure. Mumbai’s humid climate exacerbates the problem, as damp conditions help pigeon droppings stick to surfaces, accelerating decay.

Mumbai’s heritage sites, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and old colonial-era buildings, suffer from the continuous charge of pigeon droppings. The acidic excreta eat away at stone facades, leading to significant maintenance costs. Even residential buildings face a similar fate, with balconies, air conditioning units, and window sills covered in layers of droppings that harden over time, making cleaning an arduous and expensive task.
To combat the issue, property owners install bird-proofing measures like spikes and nets, but these require constant upkeep, adding to the financial burden. Public spaces and markets face an additional challenge—pigeon feeding sites attract rats and other pests, worsening sanitation and increasing the risk of other disease outbreaks.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has the authority to fine individuals ₹500 for feeding birds or animals in non-designated areas under the 2006 civic cleanliness and sanitation bylaws, framed under Section 461(ee) of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888. Similarly, the Thane Municipal Corporation introduced fines for pigeon feeding last year.

According to a BMC official, BMC does not have any separate bylaws specific to pigeons; they take action based on the SWM bylaws, which empower them to impose a fine for feeding any animals or birds. However, there is a need for implementation of stricter laws to free the city from the persistent crisis.

Finding a balanced solution

Mumbai’s attempts to control its surging pigeon population have largely failed, as conventional methods proved ineffective. Trapping and relocation do not work, as pigeons instinctively return to their nesting sites. Poisoning is inhumane and often illegal, while deterrents like spikes and nets require constant upkeep.
Before any large-scale intervention, experts emphasize the need to stop feeding pigeons. Nature conservationist Stalin D states, “This is a manmade problem and not natural. At least to start with, there has to be a strict ban on the feeding of pigeons at non-designated spots. Their food issue is taken care of, and the only task they have on hand is to reproduce.”

Globally, cities like London and Barcelona have experimented with pigeon contraceptives—special grains that prevent egg fertilization. Such solutions could help Mumbai, but success depends on public cooperation. Uncontrolled feeding continues to fuel pigeon breeding, rendering control measures ineffective. “Birth control pills can also be given under scientific supervision,” Stalin added.

Experts suggest a multi-pronged approach – public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on the risks posed by pigeons, regulated feeding zones to prevent overpopulation, and architectural changes like sloped surfaces to deter nesting. Additionally, introducing pigeon contraceptive programs and improving waste management can limit their food supply.