Doin' the Pigeon

As a child, it didn't really strike me as odd that Bert kept a pigeon coop on the top of his apartment building on Sesame Street. In some ways, it seemed like a neat way to keep lots of pets all at once. Now that I am an adult, I find the Serbian fascination with pigeons to be disturbing. Little more than rats with wings, I see no need to feed them on street corners or in parks. Especially when they travel in sizable packs that could easily take over the city if only they could organize themselves. After getting pooped on the other day, I fear that their work has already begun. 

Yet, these winged creatures appear to be an integral part of the older population's social life. Common thought patterns include, "It's a sunny/rainy/cold/gray day, I'll go to the park and throw bread at the birds!" Or, "I'm on my way home from the store and have this nice loaf of bread. There's no way I can eat it all. I'll throw half of it on the sidewalk for my friends." But it's not just the older folks. Most disturbing of all is that we have a real-life Bert and Ernie situation across the street. 

Bert visits his pigeons almost every day. One day Ernie came with him. The birds come and go as they please. Some days there are just a few. Other days the coop is overflowing. I have so many questions for Bert. Why does he keep the pigeons? Does he live there? What is he going to do with all those birds? Is it smelly? Does he have to clean up after them? Are there health-risks associated with keeping all those birds there? What is he giving them that makes them come back all the time? 

Perhaps you are thinking that I need to get a hobby. And stop staring out my window. Maybe I will. But it won't be feeding the birds.