Population of the Columba livia in Yoshkar-Ola and execution of the ecological project "Watch out, ornithosis!"

Abstract

In the manuscript, the authors described the results of the evaluation of the Columba livia population in Yoshkar-Ola (Russia). In the period from 2018 to 2022, the population density of pigeons in the city center increased by 15% and amounted to about 1,000 individuals per km2. The increase in the number of C. livia is not safe for humans. C. livia are most active during the day at permanent locations where they are fed by people. Of the five color morphs, dark-gray prevails. Pigeons belonging to the dark-gray morph are the most adapted to life in urban conditions. As part of the first phase of the project "Watch out, ornithosis!" from the Presidential Grants Foundation of the Russian Federation we conducted a survey of the citizens. As a result of the survey, we identified risk groups of the people due to ignorance about the features of the disease ornithosis. Older people feed pigeons more often and do not know about the diseases that birds carry. Schoolchildren also do not know about ornithosis. The next stage of the project will be the dissemination of preventive information about ornithosis and other diseases carried by pigeons, preventive measures.