0
$\begingroup$

While reading about what foods are healthy for pigeons, I came across the following paragraph: (Source)

Human interaction and improper feeding of domestic and wild pigeons is believed to be one of the reasons for the birds' decline. While many urban areas claim that pigeon populations are out of control, the truth is that around 59 species are currently threatened by extinction, which is over 20 percent of the pigeon population. Since the 1600s, 10 species of pigeon have become extinct. While habitat loss and over-hunting are partly to blame, bird specialists believe that domestication and improper feeding has weakened the entire species.

There are no sources cited. What does "weakening the entire species" even mean? What evidence is there to support the claim that improper feeding is weakening entire species of pigeons? How would overfeeding by humans lead to extinction? And how would domestication be contributing?

$\endgroup$
7
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ This might be a good question for Skeptics.SE $\endgroup$
    – De Novo
    Jan 10, 2020 at 18:12
  • $\begingroup$ I did wonder whether an ecology question was on topic for this site. But how would I migrate the question? $\endgroup$ Jan 10, 2020 at 19:08
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ The quote is silly. All the declines noted are for species other than Columba livia, the domestic and common wild pigeon. Indeed other species have been lost to habitat loss and hunting, but not to feeding. Feeding and human activity have helped C. livia explode in population, which is not a sign that (entire) species has been weakened. $\endgroup$
    – mgkrebbs
    Jan 10, 2020 at 20:24
  • $\begingroup$ It might also be noted that those extinct pigeon species might well include the dodo: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodo $\endgroup$
    – jamesqf
    Jan 10, 2020 at 20:54
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Yes, ecology questions are on topic here. $\endgroup$ Jan 10, 2020 at 22:05

0

You must log in to answer this question.

Browse other questions tagged .