NYC Dinosaur Pigeon Sculpture Reminds Us Of Our Shared Reality, Connection: PETA

May 10, 2025 People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 0 American Culture, Charity, Civil Rights, Equality, Inspiration, Morality and Ethics, Pets and Animals, Staten Islander Exclusive, Staten Islander Videos

Massive Pro-Pigeon Banner Rises Near Highline ‘Dinosaur’ Statue, Courtesy of PETA

Editor’s note: We spoke with Jakob Shaw, manager at PETA, about pigeons and their importance to humans over time, as well as some of the dangers that they face. They are conscious beings who just want to live their lives and care for their families, just as humans do. We asked Mr. Shaw about the medals of honor that pigeons have been awarded, other sculptures around the country and around the world, and their superior flying ability. We also discussed the harms that have been inflicted on pigeons, sparrows, mice, bugs, and other small animals who are non-target animals that get trapped by them. There are currently two bills in the NYS Senate and Assembly that seek to ban these cruel and inhumane devices. People who have mice, which are the supposed target of glue traps, can easily find humane traps to use instead of glue traps. These tend to more accurately trap the target animals rather than anything and everything that happens to wander by. Here are instructions on how to release an animal if you find them still alive on a glue trap.

Soaring above the rest! In a bid to encourage peaceful coexistence between humans and pigeons, PETA is erecting a giant sky-high message just underneath Dinosaur—a wonderful statue of a noble pigeon on the Highline—that points out just some of these birds’ remarkable attributes and abilities and appeals to viewers to show the winged city slickers some respect.

“As PETA’s banner points out, pigeons partner for life and care jointly for their young, and they even undertook daring carrier ops during World War Two,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA urges everyone to remember that pigeons are born and bred New Yorkers who are just trying to eke out an existence, and to please treat them with respect.”

This took place at the overpass underneath the giant pigeon statue located on the High Line at the Spur, at the intersection of 30^th St. and 10^th Ave., New York City

Pigeons have complex inner lives and powerful navigational abilities; can identify individual humans by their facial features; and are able to recognize patterns and predict the best solution to a given problem. PETA urges everyone to refrain from bullying or maligning them, spreading wrong information about disease risk, and using harmful bird repellant sticky caulk that can trap or poison them. Instead, respectfully encourage them to move on by making simple building modifications, such as angled ledges.

PETA unveils banner in front of Dinosaur sculpture on the High Line in Manhattan: Pigeons are great parents, war heroes, smart and resourceful. Respect! Banner Image – Brittainy Newman/Brittainy Newman/ PETA