In NYC, ‘Sky Puppies’ Share Our Streets, Need Care, Respect: Pigeons Are People Too

Peck-Tacular ‘Pigeon Summer’ Soars Through New York, Courtesy of PETA

Editor’s note: Readers may remember our coverage of a previous pigeon honoring billboard by PETA,  where we’re reminded that it isn’t just MANhattan, but we share it with other beings as well (pigeons, rats, mice, insects, etc). Shortly thereafter, we had a conversation with a pigeon expert about the value and importance of pigeons, and how much they’ve benefits humans, intentionally or unintentionally.  

From PETA: The digital billboards will be running from 6/2/25 until 6/29/25.

Digital billboard. Image Credit – PETA

New York — 2024 was brat summer—will 2025 be pigeon summer? In spirited anticipation of Pigeon Appreciation Day on June 13, and in response to reports of poachers trapping pigeons in city parks to sell to hunters to use as target practice, PETA is taking over street corners and airwaves across the city to encourage respect for these born-and-bred New Yorkers.

A PETA message appearing on over a dozen kiosks—including near Dinosaur, the pigeon statue on the High Line, and Tompkins Square Park, where an alleged pigeon poacher was arrested—shows a pigeon with a dog’s head and the words, “Pigeons Are Just Sky Puppies. Please, Respect Us Both.” New Yorkers can also catch PETA’s radio spot featuring a cheeky adaptation of an original song written and composed by Tony Award-winners Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and sung by the late Broadway and TV icon Georgia Engel, who shares fun facts like “Did you know a pigeon is a dove—and nothing comes between two pigeons when they fall in love!”

“Pigeons are intelligent and friendly individuals who partner for life, are devoted parents, and deserve our respect,” says PETA Director Ashley Byrne. “PETA’s Pigeon Summer reminds everyone that pigeons are simply trying to provide a good life for themselves and their families, just like every other New Yorker.”

Most pigeons in New York today are descended from birds who arrived alongside human settlers hundreds of years ago. They have complex inner lives and powerful navigational abilities, and can identify individual humans by their facial features. PETA urges everyone to leave pigeons in peace—and encourages building owners to respectfully encourage pigeons to move on by making simple building modifications, such as angled ledges, instead of using harmful sticky caulk that can trap or poison birds.

PETA’s previous Pigeon Summer efforts include a giant pro-pigeon billboard in Times Square and a pro-pigeon banner in front of Dinosaur. PETA’s new messages appear on the following digital kiosks:

• Times Square: 53^rd and 8^th, 48^th and Broadway, 48^th and 7^th
• 5^th Avenue at 19^th, 31^st, 48^th, 54^th, and 115^th
• Tompkins Square Park: St. Marks and 1^st, and 11^th and 1^st
• Dinosaur: 10^th and Dyer with 30^th
• And two bonus locations (coming soon!)

PETA’s radio spot can be heard on WLTW-FM, WOR-AM, WINS-FM, and 1010WINS.

Banner Image:  Digital billboard. Image Credit – PETA