Colin Jerolmack's The Global Pigeon

Introduction: Human-nonhuman encounters are embedded in social practices worldwide; animals play an active role in people’s social worlds and urban cognizance. Colin Jerolmack in “The Global Pigeon” exposes the symbiotic relationship between pigeons, the quintessential city bird, and humans in various ethnographic locales. Unlike the increasingly popular characterization of pigeons as nuisance animals, certain social classifications identify with the species on a more spiritual level. Practices involved with the birds include pigeon feeding in Venice and New York, pigeon racing in South Africa and Turkish tumblers in Berlin. Ultimately, the differing ways in which humans interact with nature illustrates their perceptions of the world and the

environment in which they live.

1. Nature lost argument
Urbanization is often identified as the main cause of our current ecological crisis: humans’ alienation from nature.

As Tim Ingold, a British anthropologist critiques, this common detached relationship with nature may lead to the disrespect and ignorance of our environment. In engaging with our environment, we must act as a constituent part of it, versus an omnipotent outsider. This interpretation is outlined by Colin Jerolmack in “The Global Pigeon”, where he exposes humans’ lost harmony with nature as a modern cultural construction shaped by social conditions. He refers to this sociological and problematic paradigm as “nature lost”. Mutualistic relationships are not limited to the natural world, for a greater link can be drawn between humans and animals. Conventionally, nature is depicted as a closed system, interacting within the biophysical factors included. In broader terms, however, nature is a mutually symbiotic exchange between humans and animals. Rather than a study of animal symbolism and classifications, Jerolmack aims to understand the ways in which animals play an active role in people’s societal realms. Like many urbanized animals, pigeons thrive in cities as they follow human patterns and live off our excess. Urban life makes us anomic and reckless in relation the the environment because the bond to nature has been

cut.

2. Pigeon Feeding
He focuses specifically on the interactions between humans and feral pigeons in public places including New York, London and Venice. Pigeon-feeding is a popular practice seen worldwide and, for some, has enormous long-term benefits. Centering in on a small square in Greenwich Village in New York, Jerolmack found this practice has enabled elderly, homeless, and lonely people to establish a strong sense of relationship with the birds.
3. Rats with Wings
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