pigeons have entirely disappeared from downtown Bellevue area. (Seattle, Issaquah: houses, neighborhood)

[travis t]

I have been walking through the Bellevue area almost every day for about 20 years. It just occurred to me the other day that the few pigeons that used to populate downtown are all gone. I used to see them almost every day and sometimes toss them a peanut or two. I wonder what happened to them? They are entirely gone.

Crows, seagulls, and Stellars jays are all still plentiful. I don't like any of them, but I do like the pigeons. It is no accident that the dove, closely related to the pigeon, is associated with peacefulness. No one is ever going to associate the crow or stellars jay with that.

The smaller birds that populate the area seem to be doing fine, such as towhees, juncos, sparrows, and chickadees. Any theories out there on what caused the disappearance of the pigeon from downtown Bellevue?

[flyingsaucermom]

Interesting. This is the first year I have seen them perch on houses far into my Issaquah neighborhood. Homeowners have even complained about them on social media.

You can take them back.

[homestead123]

Probably hawks and falcons making a comeback in your area. They feast on them daily here in NYC.

[CrazyDonkey]

Has downtown construction disrupted their roosting locations - more likely to be in older structures than new construction.

[travis t]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

Has downtown construction disrupted their roosting locations - more likely to be in older structures than new construction.

I was wondering that too. But from what I've read pigeons evolved as cliff-dwellers which is one reason why they thrive in areas with skyscrapers. I wonder if maybe new buildings are being deliberately designed with anti-pigeon features.

[leastprime]

the people who feed them pigeons can no longer afford to live in Bellevue .
Them Pigeons moved to Issh or back to Seattle .

[travis t]

I used to see pigeons in Green Lake Park often when I lived in Seattle 20 years ago. Any Green Lake walkers/joggers out there who can tell me whether the pigeons are still found at Green Lake, or have they disappeared from there too?

[AleeGee]

[B Pigeons have disappeared from downtown Bellevue, but squab is showing up on more menus than ever. [/b]

[flyingsaucermom]

Originally Posted by leastprime

the people who feed them pigeons can no longer afford to live in Bellevue .
Them Pigeons moved to Issh or back to Seattle .

They were around this summer, but I haven't seen them as of late. Mostly I see those Stellar's jays.. I love those birds... For the last several weeks they've been harvesting acorns where I walk a few dogs and I get pelted by their leftovers.

[leastprime]

30% of the World's birds are missing and are presumed gone. Deforestation and climate change is believed to be the cause.
I haven't seen a robin in ages and they are well suited to suburbia. Even in Oregon, I have noticed the loss of robins for some 10 years. Likewise for sparrows.