A whimsical street art sculpture in Glasgow, depicting a pigeon reading a newspaper with a tiny traffic cone perched on its head, has become an unlikely symbol for a growing appreciation of the city's most common bird. Created by the anonymous artist known as the Rebel Bear, the piece has resonated with locals and sparked a flurry of public affection for pigeons.
Letters of Admiration for Urban Pigeons
The sculpture coincided with a series of passionate letters published in a national newspaper, where readers defended the much-maligned pigeon. The correspondence was ignited by an earlier opinion piece by Toussaint Douglass, published on 29 December, which argued that pigeons are "working-class heroes" deserving of greater respect.
Ross McQueen, writing from Brussels, shared a personal lockdown story that transformed his view. During the Covid-19 pandemic, a pair of wood pigeons nested on his windowsill. "During lockdown, when the outside world was scary and remote, these wood pigeons cheerfully slapped together a nest and raised two healthy chicks," he recalled. He found profound comfort in watching them nurture multiple broods, noting their dedicated parenting where both birds share incubation and feeding duties.
The Unsung Heroes of Our Cities
McQueen's letter highlighted fascinating traits of the wood pigeon (Columba palumbus). He pointed out that they are believed to mate for life, are the only birds that can drink water without tilting their heads back, and sing their distinctive "coo-coo" song with their beaks closed. "I don't know if they're working class – but they're certainly heroes," he concluded.
Another correspondent, Teresa Rodrigues from Sandford, Devon, echoed the sentiment. She first grew to respect pigeons while living in a bedsit in Lewisham, seeing them as a constant presence of nature. Her admiration has even turned into a creative enterprise; she now makes and sells soft sculptures of pigeons. She also mused that descendants of Mary of Exeter, a celebrated homing pigeon who served during the Second World War, might visit her Devon garden.
A Symbol of Resilience and Character
The Rebel Bear's sculpture, playfully combining Glasgow's iconic traffic cone motif with an everyday pigeon, perfectly captures this spirit of resilient urban character. It serves as a visual tribute to the birds that thrive in our cityscapes, often overlooked or dismissed. Together, the art and the letters make a compelling case for pigeon-watching as a simple, accessible way to reconnect with the natural world on our doorsteps, celebrating the hardy wildlife that shares our urban environment.
