Pigeons Are Mancs Too: Why Manchester’s Birds Deserve Respect

A new pigeon has landed in the city as Mancunians flock outdoors to enjoy the warm weather. A bold new billboard from PETA has popped up at 144 Cheetham Hill Road (M8 8PZ), reminding locals that pigeons are part of the northern city.

The message? “It Isn’t Just Manchester.” The billboard urges locals to show pigeons some courtesy. These birds partner for life, are devoted parents, and are excellent multitaskers, just like other proud Mancs.

Pigeons are simply trying to eke out an existence for themselves and their families, just like their fellow Mancunians. Our message to Mancs and everyone else is, please treat these brave, brainy birds with the same kindness and respect you’d give to any other neighbour.

Smarter Than You Think

Think pigeons are simple? Think again. They:

Recognise individual human faces
Navigate complex environments with ease
Solve problems and spot patterns
Form lifelong bonds and raise their young with care

And let’s not forget their heroism. Pigeons have earned more Dickin Medals (the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross) than any other species, saving lives during WWII and beyond.

Kindness Over Cruelty

PETA urges everyone to refrain from bullying or maligning pigeons and using harmful bird repellents that can trap or poison them. Instead, building owners can respectfully encourage pigeons to move on by making simple building modifications, such as angled ledges.

Take Action: Stop Pigeon Racing

It’s not just Manchester’s pigeons who deserve kindness. Thousands are taken to France or Spain and forced to race hundreds of miles back to the UK. Many never make it home, as they perish from exhaustion, storms, drowning, or are killed by ‘fanciers’ for not flying fast enough. These intelligent, loyal birds deserve better.

Urge the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to stop pigeons suffering in cruel cross-Channel races.