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U.S. NEWS Friday 29 March 2019

$ 10

Taxpayers are asked to support falcons, fight pigeon poop

By BOB SALSBERG that can attain speeds of
BOSTON (AP) — Along with 240 mph (385 kmh) in high-
all the usual declarations elevation dives, no match
and deductions, Massa- for the slower and less agile
chusetts residents have pigeon, which just so hap-
been asked to keep some- pens to be one of the per-
thing else in mind this tax egrine's favorite feasts.
season: pigeon droppings. Peregrine falcons disap-
In an unusual and at times peared from Massachu-
stomach-turning appeal, setts in the mid-1950s
the state agency Mass- and soon after the entire
Wildlife proposed that one eastern U.S., their demise
way to fight back against largely blamed on the pes-
the sticky messes befouling ticide DDT, according to
cars and damaging bridg- the state's Natural Heritage
es is for taxpayers to check and Endangered Species
a box on their tax forms to Program.
support the state's endan- After the chemical was
gered species program. banned, efforts picked up
How so? Peregrine falcons to reintroduce the raptor,
are among the program's sometimes confused with
beneficiaries, and they more common varieties of
prey on pigeons. hawk. In this March 13, 2018 file photo, pigeons sit on a fence at Hancock Shaker Village, in Pittsfield,
"Hate pigeon poop? Save To the surprise of some or- Mass.
peregrine falcons," begins nithologists, many of the Associated Press
the message on the agen- newcomers eschewed
cy's website and in a re- their former rural habitats the peregrine falcon is eas- State transportation en- habitat, and the falcons
cent newsletter. It goes on and became city dwell- ily among the most "charis- gineers have noticed a kind of provide the pest
to picture a typical motor- ers. Instead of on cliffs, they matic," said David Paulson, reduction in the pigeon management, for lack of a
ist driving home from work began nesting on tall build- senior endangered species population on bridges with better term."
over one of the state's ma- ing ledges and bridges in biologist for MassWildlife. nesting falcons, officials Officials hope drivers when
jor bridges. urban areas where food Contributions to the fund said. Fewer pigeons means completing their tax forms
"You're thinking about din- sources — pigeons, espe- have been increasing but less waste building up on will also see the peregrine
ner as you wait in traffic cially — were more plenti- remain well below lev- bridge surfaces, rusting the as a feathered friend that
when — PLOP! — some- ful. els needed, according steel and increasing the can make an unwanted
thing white and black falls To help the falcons along, to state officials and wild- costs for maintenance and splattering a bit less likely.
onto your windshield," the state officials and volun- life experts. About 23,000 bridge replacement. The falcons "are never go-
post continues. teers placed nesting boxes taxpayers gave $312,000 "It's almost like a symbiotic ing to eliminate (pigeons),
Next comes a scientific in strategic locations such through the tax check-off relationship," Paulson said. but they can help to man-
breakdown of the bird as the Custom House Tow- in 2017, the last full year for "The structure provides the age them," Paulson said. q
droppings that includes an er in Boston, the 28-story which figures were avail-
explanation — for inquiring W.E.B. Du Bois Library at the able, compared with the
minds that need to know University of Massachusetts- $178,000 provided by ap-
— of the precise difference Amherst and the heavily proximately 18,000 taxpay-
between the dark and traveled Tobin Bridge span- ers in 2013.
white portions. ning the Mystic River. It's not just bird lovers and
And then, lest the reader "Falcon cams" were even conservationists embracing
believe it's all no more installed to offer a continu- the slow but steady revival
than a yucky nuisance, ous livestream of peregrine of the peregrine falcons.
this warning: "This paste- comings and goings.
like substance is so acidic The restoration effort is par-
and corrosive, that it can tially funded by voluntarily
damage your car's paint donations from taxpayers,
job. And you guessed it, who can choose to contrib-
groups of birds all going to ute to "endangered wildlife
the bathroom in the same conservation" on their state
place can make man- returns. The money supports
made structures like bridg- more than 400 threatened
es deteriorate faster." or endangered plants and
Enter the peregrine falcon, animals, from bog turtles
a magnificent predator to timber rattlesnakes, but