Pigeons get a bad rap - this New York woman can change that
Mother Pigeon believes people can learn a lot about loyalty and trust by observing the behaviour of these birds.
City dwellers will be quick to air the grievances about pigeons. The birds are seen as a nuisance, and in some cases even as pests, because of their insistence on occupying public spaces in huge flocks. No one likes to be bullied by a bird that will steal your lunch without even hesitating.
In light of their bad reputation, it's difficult to believe that anyone would say something endearing about the birds. But that's exactly what Tina Trachtenburg, aka Mother Pigeon, is doing every day in New York.
Mother Pigeon absolutely adores the birds and enjoys a rapport with them; she believes they are deeply loyal birds. She goes to local parks, dressed up in a dress and a hat that boldly declare her passion for pigeons, and sits among them, feeding them and just generally entertaining herself.
She talks enthusiastically about why pigeons also deserve love with everyone who stops by her bench. Some of these people who Mother Pigeon calls "closeted pigeon lovers" leave with a felt replica of the birds to keep at home. One conversation at a time, Mother Pigeon is changing people's perceptions about the birds.
Mother Pigeon's resemblance to Pigeon Lady from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is not lost on anyone who meets her. The famous movie made the Pigeon Lady seem like a very weird woman to be avoided at all costs, but at a crucial moment, it was she and her pigeons who saved the day.
That is similar to what Mother Pigeon is doing in New York today.
ALSO READ: Goats take over New York railway