IDA Offers $2,500 Reward to Nab New York City Pigeon Netters

New York, N.Y.—International animal protection organization In Defense of Animals (IDA) is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for illegally netting, capturing, and killing pigeons in New York City.

"Reports of large numbers of pigeons being netted in New York City have grown over the last year, " said IDA's East Coast Director, Valerie Sicignano. "IDA is offering a $2,500 reward in the hope of turning up evidence that will identify the offender(s). We suspect that the majority of birds are being transported out of state for canned hunts in a neighboring state, and that a smaller number may be used for human consumption. Emails mentioning a concern about bird flu are false -- Pigeons do not transmit bird flu. If the Avian Flu does reach New York, New Yorkers will have to be concerned about catching it from other humans -- not from the birds," added Sicignano.

IDA is grateful to "Bob" (Bird-Operations-Busted) for providing us with the documents "Tips on Preventing Bird Nettings" and a "Bird Netting Sightings Report," and to the New York Bird Club for alerting us to the growing number of nettings going on around the city.

To Report a Bird Netting in New York City:

  1. Fill out the form entitled "Bird Netting Sightings Report."

  2. Call New York City Humane Law Enforcement at (212) 876-7700, ext. 4450 and file a report using the information you gathered on the form.

  3. Next, Call NYS-DEC District 2 at (718) 482-4885 and file a second report using the information that you gathered on the form.

  4. To register for the reward offered by IDA, mail a photocopy of your completed form to: Valerie Sicignano, In Defense of Animals, 3010 Kerner Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94902.

New Yorkers Love Pigeons!

The response from people who are concerned about pigeon poaching in NYC has been overwhelming! New Yorkers love these birds and we're not surprised, given that the city even has a "Pigeon Registry" where people can name a pigeon after someone just like the Star Registries where you can name a star after someone.

To Name a Pigeon After Someone You Love:

Visit the Pigeon Registry started by Kerry Lea, IDA volunteer and Director of the world famous Veg Kids, at www.thepigeonregistry.com.

Recommended Reading:

PIGEONS: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird, by Andrew Blechman. To learn more about the book and order a copy, go to www.andrewblechman.com.

New York Bird Club Event:

"Surviving the Next Pandemic: Bird Flu and Other Emerging Infectious Diseases," a presentation by Dr. Michael Greger, M.D., Director Public Health and Animal Agriculture, The Humane Society of the United States, will be given on Sunday September, 16th starting at 1:00pm., , IDA East Coast Director Valerie Sicignano will introduce the talk. For more information, go to www.manhattanbirdclub.com.

Tips and ways to prevent and report bird netting

Bird netting sightings report