A Guide to Dealing with New York City Pigeons

Unlike Bert on Sesame Street, I can tell you one thing for sure: I do not like pigeons. In fact, I’m downright terrified of them. After living in New York for 3 years, you would think I would be accustomed to them. I am not.

I’m that person who audibly yelps when I see them at Washington Square Park, or walk on the other side of 56th street to avoid a considerably large group of pigeons. I have embarrassed my boyfriend, sister, and friends while walking down the street in lower Manhattan as I refused to continue with our walk because a group of them was so large and intimidating. Or sometimes, I will run as fast as I can just to get through a group of them unharmed. Will they actually hurt me? Probably not.

And I’m one of those people that tends to be a magnet for them. They’ll routinely fly in front of my face, or poop on me, or just stand in front of me, knowing full well who is in charge.

Now there are several ways of dealing with the pigeons of New York: most New Yorkers choose to ignore them, continuing on with their walk and typical routine as though they don’t exist. Some people, mainly children, the elderly and foreigners, will go up to the pigeons, affectionately trying to feed with them or engage them. While others still, will chase after them and do what they can to scare the New York natives away. Or, you can run through them in fear, sidestep them on the street or duck and cover.

And one day I realized that the pigeons are almost a metaphor for how people in the city deal with our everyday life. Some of us go through it, not taking in what’s seen around us. I think it’s not meant to be callous, but as a way of self-preservation. If you don’t acknowledge what’s around you or take it in, it’s much easier to not be afraid.

Those who run right after life in New York, with full speed, have my utmost admiration. They are fearless, have the gumption to get through anything, and frequently, have a bit of grit too, which goes a long ways.

The more I go through my time in New York City, I’m becoming more comfortable in my approach to the pigeons. I try to not fully ignore anything around me as I soak up the city. You’d think that if I hate pigeons so much, what the hell am I doing living in a city that could potentially have as many birds as they do people. I’ve asked myself the same thing.

For better or worse, the pigeons, rats, and anything else unsavory are part of this city’s eternal character. So while it’s easy to run, be afraid, or laugh out of nervousness, you still have to, at some point, face your fears of the city. Even if you’re running through it, as long as you’re not completely running away, you will fair well. Will you get hurt? Probably not very much. Will you get a rush of adrenaline every time? Almost definitely, which makes it so worth it.

Run towards the pigeons. For the record, I’m not saying I ever will, but it might be fun to try.