For The Birds

For the Birds is a visual love letter to the sovereign bird of NYC. Known as a rock dove, the stout bird with small head has become a key icon of the city, and for good reason. Having been recorded as far back as the 1600’s in New York, many city slickers used to keep pigeon coops on rooftops to raise them for racing, carrier services, and even just companionship. Despite the pigeon to human kinship bond, they’ve really gotten a bad wrap in recent years. Referred to as “rats with wings” from 1966 and on, the shift from cherished friend to pesty foe is only relatively new, less than a hundred years or so according to The National Audubon Society. What caused this shift, and why? Did the rats fund the anti pigeon campaign? Who was defending the pigeons themselves? I’ve always watched pigeons whenever they’re around, but in photographing them, discovered what individual personalities they have. What does New York City look like to pigeons themselves? For the Birds as a phrase generally means “worthless, trivial, not to be taken seriously, and no good.” In h’ommage of their tenacious spirit, I can’t imagine a more fitting series name. They are quirky, and funny, have boisterous personality, and are perfectly New York.