The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Pigeon Promiscuity

Pigeon Promiscuity

By J.P. Freire on 8.13.08 @ 1:21PM

Megan McArdle wonders:

I just heard a Hollywood city planner talking about this program to distribute birth control to their pigeons. Apparently, the program is a roaring success—the pigeon population appears to have plummeted to less than 10% of its previous level. Does this mean that we’ll soon see cityscapes denuded of pigeons?

Here’s the thing. Distributing birth control to pigeons across the board ignores the wishes of the pigeon parents. These pigeons, with their small brains, are likely to think birth control is a blank check for reckless behavior — before you know it, they’ll be laying unwanted, unplanned-for eggs.

Every pigeon should be a wanted pigeon.

… And come to think of it: Does this mean that pigeons are taking more precautions than John Edwards?

topics:
Hollywood

About the Author

J.P. Freire is a writer in Washington and a former editor at the Washington Examiner and The American Spectator. You can follow him on Twitter @jpfreire.

http://spectator.org/blog/2008/08/13/pigeon-promiscuity

FLASHBACK TO: 1995

Pope Culture

By George Sim Johnston

A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck

By P.J. O'Rourke

Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
Dames at Sea

By John Corry
In the Absence of Guns

By Mark Steyn

In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
The Metaphysical Martini

By Werner J. Dannhauser
Counting the Costs of Clintonism

By Robert H. Bork

The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
Chuck McHagel

By George Neumayr

It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted

By Douglas Bartholomew
It’s the Best Time of the Year

By Mark Steyn

The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
The Bush Crack-Up

By Brit Hume

Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?