Bird Ownership Research Articles

Pigeon racing in South Africa: Exploring the socio-economic nature and extent of this 'unknown sport'

This research addresses the paucity of academic exploration into pigeon racing, a globally recognized sport with limited scholarly attention. While prior studies focused on ornithology and medicine, this paper pioneers a comprehensive examination from a geographical perspective. Employing a quantitative methodology, the study surveyed 712 members of the South African National Pigeon Organization (SANPO), providing a nuanced understanding of demographics, organizational structures, subjective values, and economic impacts within pigeon racing. The study's findings reveal the dominance of males in the sport, its multi-generational nature, and widespread participation across diverse income groups. SANPO, with 3,540 members, emerges as a crucial entity in the sport's landscape. The paper categorizes fanciers into small, medium, and large groups based on bird ownership, presenting insights into their socio-demographic context and motivations. Pigeon-related activities are explored, emphasizing the sport's familial and youth development aspects. The economic analysis highlights the industry's substantial job creation and estimates its total economic worth between R528,968,608 and R1,620,390,112. By shedding light on this understudied sport, the research aims to stimulate further academic exploration and provide a foundation for informed discussions on the cultural, economic, and social aspects of pigeon racing.

Bird ownership and pulmonary outcomes apart from hypersensitivity pneumonitis in European older adults

BackgroundExposure to birds has been linked with several lung pathologies and especially hypersensitivity pneumonitis, but discordant literature exist on the potential effects of this exposure on other respiratory pathologies. AimThis study aims to examine the associations between bird ownership and asthma, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in older European adults. MethodsA total of 28,109 participants from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe were employed and analyzed with multivariate logistic regressions. ResultsNo association was found with asthma or lung cancer. Bird ownership increased the odds for COPD diagnosis (OR=1.30; 95 % CI: 1.12–1.51) and more so in males (OR=1.53; 95 % CI: 1.25–1.87) after adjustment for demographic, respiratory, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors. Male bird owners who smoke had an even more increased risk compared to non-smokers, as did those who lived in multi-person households compared to those living alone.Conclusion: Bird ownership may be positively associated with COPD in older European males.

Pet ownership and survival of European older adults

With pet ownership on the rise, millions of individuals are exposed to this environmental exposure. Although the subject has been largely studied, more evidence is needed to clarify the potential association of pet ownership with human health. The aim of this research is to study the potential association of pet exposure (any pet, cat, dog, bird, fish) with all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality of older (ge 50 years) European residents. To this end, a total of 23,274 participants from the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) were employed (median follow-up 119 months). All-cause mortality (5163 events), as well as cardiovascular (CVD) (1832 events), and cancer mortality (1346 events) were examined using Cox Proportional Hazards models for their relation with pet exposure at baseline. Stratified analyses were also performed by gender and for single or multi-person households. No significant association was observed for any of the pets with all-cause mortality on the whole sample and the fully adjusted models. In stratified analyses, bird exposure significantly increased the risk of all-cause mortality in women [Hazard Ratio (text {HR})=1.23; 95% CI 1.04–1.44] as well as women living alone (text {HR}=1.38; 95% CI 1.02–1.85). Cause-specific models revealed an increased risk of death for women bird owners for causes other than cancer and CVD (text {HR}=1.40; 95% CI 1.05–1.99). In conclusion, bird ownership may be negatively associated with survival of older women in Europe.

Household Bird Ownership is Associated with Respiratory Illness among Young Children in Urban Bangladesh (CHoBI7 Program).

There is limited evidence on the association between animal ownership and respiratory illness among young children in low- and middle-income countries. In this study, we examined the association between animal ownership and respiratory illness among children younger than 5 years of age enrolled in a prospective cohort study in urban Bangladesh. This prospective cohort study enrolled 884 participants younger than 5 years of age in Dhaka, Bangladesh. At baseline, trained research assistants administered caregivers of children younger than 5 years of age a questionnaire on household animal ownership. Animal ownership was defined as owning chickens, birds other than chickens, cats, and dogs. Respiratory surveillance was conducted monthly for children based on caregiver-reported coughing, rapid breathing, and difficulty breathing in the past 2 weeks during the 12-month study period. At baseline, 48% of children (424 of 884) had reports of coughing, 5% (40 of 884) had difficulty breathing, 3% (25 of 884) had rapid breathing, and 49% (431 of 884) had reports of any of these three respiratory symptoms. Seventeen percent of children (151 of 884) resided in a household that owned an animal. Children residing in households reporting bird ownership had a significantly greater odds of coughing (odds ratio, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.02-1.28) and any of the three respiratory symptoms in the past 2 weeks (odds ratio, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.02-1.28). Household bird ownership was associated with respiratory illness in young children. These findings suggest that interventions aiming to reduce young children's exposure to domestic animals should extend to include birds other than chickens.

Current pet ownership modifies the adverse association between long-term ambient air pollution exposure and childhood asthma.

BackgroundRecent studies suggest that household endotoxin and allergens can modify the impact of air pollutants on development of asthma; however, epidemiological evidence is limited and conflicting.ObjectivesTo investigate whether pet ownership modified the association between ambient air pollution and asthma in children.MethodsWe conducted a population‐based cross‐sectional study, the Seven Northeast Cities Study in China and recruited a total of 59,754 children from 94 schools during 2012–2013. Long‐term air pollutant concentrations, including airborne particulate matter with a diameter of 1 μm or less (PM1), PM2.5, PM10, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from 2009 to 2012 were estimated using a random forest model. We collected information of respiratory health in children using the Epidemiologic Standardization Project Questionnaire of the American Thoracic Society (ATS‐DLD‐78‐A). Regression models were used to evaluate associations between pet ownership and air pollution on asthma after adjusting for potential covariates.ResultsExposure to increasing levels of air pollutants was associated with higher prevalence of asthma, but associations were significantly attenuated in children who owned pets. For example, compared to children without pets, those who owned pets did not have an increased risk of symptoms of asthma (odds ratio, 1.01, 95% confidence interval: 0.78, 1.30), wheeze (0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.76, 1.21), and cough (1.01, 95% CI: 0.87, 1.18) for each 10 µg/m3 increase in PM1 (P ‐int < 0.05). Similar trends were observed for other air pollutants. Dog and bird ownership decreased the associations of asthma and cough with air pollutant exposure. The main findings were consistent with a series of sensitivity analyses.ConclusionCurrent pet ownership may reduce the adverse impact of long‐term air pollution on childhood asthma. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm this finding which could have important implications for public health.

The Social and Cultural Importance of Keeping Wild Birds as Pets in an Ethnic Community in Guiyang City, China

Living with companion animals is widespread around the world. Wild birds are becoming increasingly popular as pets, potentially threatening the survival of many species of birds. Although keeping wild birds is illegal without permits in China it is a common practice. We conducted a study in an ethnic village in a suburban district of Guiyang city, China, to gain insights into the underlying motivations for this practice that can be used in the design of effective conservation strategies. Wild-caught birds were kept by 67.2% of village households. We interviewed 52 owners who kept a total of 269 wild birds. The popularity of wild birds as pets varies among species. We found that most keepers are middle-aged and elderly, so while enjoyment of bird fighting is a commonly cited motivation, we conclude that companionship is also important. We observed a significant correlation between the duration of bird ownership and age of the owners. Nearly half of our informants support the ban of bird-keeping, whereas the remainder expressed strong disagreement. Most informants dislike captive-bred birds because of concerns about their fighting ability, but bird-watching is popular. Our study highlights the urgent need for raising conservation awareness due to mistaken perceptions of the adverse effects of bird-keeping. Importantly, we argue that greater attention to the social requirements of the elderly might encourage bird watching in place of bird keeping. Our results also highlight the importance of incorporating the views of different stakeholders in the design and implementation of conservation management strategies.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of consumer demand driving the Asian Songbird Crisis

Many South-East Asian bird species are in rapid decline due to offtake for the cage-bird trade, a phenomenon driven largely by consumption in Indonesia and labelled the ‘Asian Songbird Crisis’. Interventions aimed at reducing this offtake require an understanding of the spatial and temporal dynamics of the trade. We surveyed the bird-keeping habits of over 3000 households from 92 urban and rural communities across six provinces on Java, Indonesia, and compared prevalence and patterns of bird-keeping with those from surveys undertaken a decade ago. We estimate that one-third of Java's 36 million households keep 66–84 million cage-birds. Despite over half of all birds owned being non-native species, predominantly lovebirds (Agapornis spp.), the majority of bird-keepers (76%) owned native species. Ownership levels were significantly higher in urban than rural areas, and were particularly high in the eastern provinces of the island. Overall levels of bird ownership have increased over the past decade, and species composition has changed. Notably, lovebirds showed a seven-fold increase in popularity while ownership of genera including groups with globally threatened species such as leafbirds (Chloropsis spp.) and white-eyes (Zosterops spp.) also rose sharply. The volume of some locally threatened birds estimated to be in ownership (e.g., >3 million White-rumped Shama Kittacincla malabarica) cannot have been supplied from Java's forests and research on supply from other islands and Java's growing commercial breeding industry is a priority. Determining temporal and spatial patterns of ownership is a crucial first step towards finding solutions to this persistent, pervasive and adaptive threat to the regional avifauna.

Seadogs and Their Parrots: The reality of ‘Pretty Polly’

The relationship between sailors and tropical birds is often ignored because of its association with swashbuckling pirates and their winged sidekicks. Links to pirates in popular culture such as Treasure Island's Long John Silver and Captain Flint have led to many misconceptions about the social functions of avian pets in the seafaring community. The transportation of parrots from exotic locations into western culture provides a unique opportunity to study the seamen involved in this exchange and lends insight into how this group fit into the larger social paradigm of European and American culture. Focusing on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, this analysis draws on evidence from primary accounts, newspapers, legal documents, artwork, and archaeology to identify the social functions of bird ownership among sailors.

Understanding consumer preferences and demography in order to reduce the domestic trade in wild-caught birds

The wildlife trade is now one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, and birds are among the most commonly traded groups worldwide. The demand for pet birds is especially high in Indonesia, a country with many exploited, imperiled bird species. Finding solutions to the threat that trade poses for birds, and wildlife in general, requires an understanding of its socioeconomic dimensions. We examined consumer demography and preferences of 762 bird owners in Medan, Sumatra, focusing on the differences among owners of birds taken from the wild versus birds bred in captivity. We found that the vast majority of bird owners have at least one wild-caught bird. However, wild-caught bird ownership is not uniformly distributed across Medan; rather, there are distinct hotspots with high proportions of people with wild-caught birds. The main reasons for owning wild-caught birds are lack of access to and the high cost of captive-bred birds, and a perception that captive-bred birds do not sing as well as wild-caught ones. We conclude that captive-breeding programs could reduce the pressure on wild populations, especially if suppliers are able to produce relatively cheap captive-bred birds. However, the perceived poorer song quality of captive-bred individuals might be a problem for the captive breeding of some species, notably the White-rumped Shama, Copsychus malabaricus. Since many owners of this species compete in bird song competitions, establishing competition categories specifically for captive-bred shamas could promote captive-bred bird ownership. Tackling the problem of the wild bird trade in Indonesia and elsewhere will require consideration of both the economic and the social factors that underlie pet ownership.

Psittacosis associated with pet bird ownership: a concern for public health

Introduction: Psittacosis is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by Chlamydia psittaci and most cases involve avian contact history. In humans, psittacosis induces symptoms ranging from mild ‘flu-like’ symptoms to serious atypical pneumonia. Unless specifically thought of, the diagnosis of psittacosis can be missed and the disease is usually treated as atypical pneumonia. Here, we detail cases of psittacosis related to pet birds. Case presentation: A 16-year-old male was admitted with fever and persistent cough. The patient reported previous treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics that led to limited improvement of his condition, and owning pet birds; thus, psittacosis was suspected. Serum samples from the patient were obtained and tested using a microimmunofluorescence assay, revealing an IgG titre of 64. An epidemiological investigation was conducted in five family members related to the patient; two possessed anti-C. psittaci antibodies (IgG titre = 64 and IgM titre = 20; IgG titre = 128 and IgA titre = 20). Additionally, C. psittaci DNA was detected by PCR carried out on the family's pet birds. Conclusion: Psittacosis probably occurs more often than reported. Individuals with milder cases may not seek medical attention, and physicians may not inquire about bird exposure. There is a need for awareness campaigns directed at health workers and birds owners.

Associations of Pet Ownership with Wheezing and Lung Function in Childhood: Findings from a UK Birth Cohort.

BackgroundAsthma is a heterogeneous condition and differential effects of pet ownership on non-atopic versus atopic asthma have been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate whether pet ownership during pregnancy and early childhood was associated with wheezing from birth to age 7 years and with lung function at age 8 years in a UK population-based birth cohort.MethodsData from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) were used to investigate associations of pet ownership at six time-points from pregnancy to age 7 years with concurrent episodes of wheezing, wheezing trajectories (phenotypes) and lung function at age 8 years using logistic regression models adjusted for child’s sex, maternal history of asthma/atopy, maternal smoking during pregnancy, and family adversity.Results4,706 children had complete data on pet ownership and wheezing. From birth to age 7 years, cat ownership was associated with an overall 6% lower odds of wheezing (OR=0.94 (0.89-0.99)). Rabbit and rodent ownership was associated with 21% (OR=1.21 (1.12-1.31)) and 11% (OR=1.11 (1.02–1.21)) higher odds of wheezing, respectively, with strongest effects evident during infancy. Rabbit and rodent ownership was positively associated with a ‘persistent wheeze’ phenotype. Pet ownership was not associated with lung function at age 8 years, with the exception of positive associations of rodent and bird ownership with better lung function.ConclusionsCat ownership was associated with reduced risk, and rabbit and rodent ownership with increased risk, of wheezing during childhood. The mechanisms behind these differential effects warrant further investigation.

Pet birds and risks of respiratory disease in Australia: a review

Exposure to birds has long been associated with disease in humans. Three respiratory diseases (psittacosis, allergic alveolitis and asthma) were reviewed in association with pet bird ownership with the aim to clarify the spectrum of avian-related respiratory illnesses. Nineteen studies were selected for review based on recreational bird exposure in relation to psittacosis, allergic alveolitis and asthma. Literature reveals little consensus on the relationship between pet bird ownership and respiratory illness. Future studies should aim to clarify the spectrum of avian-related illnesses, and to direct the dissemination of public health information to clinicians and members of the public who keep birds as pets.

Addendum to Problems and Benefits of Bird Ownership

Because several recent studies suggested that adults who fed only wild birds would report having different problems and benefits than did pet bird owners who also fed wild birds, and pet bird only owners, the present study added data to clarify such differences. 150 adults were selected so that 50 persons (25 men and 25 women) each were classified into one of three groups: those who only owned pet birds, those who owned pet birds and also fed wild birds, and those who only fed wild birds. There were no significant differences between men and women in any of the three groups, and no significant differences in their responses. The 50 people who fed wild birds only reported having added problems with neighbors' cats, bees, ants, squirrels, blue jays, and other oppressive larger birds, but the 50 pet bird owners who also fed wild birds and the owners of pet birds only reported the same problems with minor differences in type and number of interlopers. Clearly, all bird lovers shared similar characteristics, feelings, and behaviors toward birds and acknowledged the minor differences in attitudes toward the benefits and problems created by the birds' various interactions and behaviors with humans.

Problems and Benefits of Bird Ownership

Because research literature on human and avian interactions is limited, it seemed important to investigate the benefits and liabilities of pet-bird ownership. It was hypothesized that most pet bird owners would have other pet animals in addition to birds, that one-fifth of owners would have owned pet birds during childhood or adolescence, that they would report their birds provided physical and verbal companionship, and that most would admit to their being some real liabilities in owning birds. 50 men and 50 women bird owners were interviewed. Clearly, bird owners were also animal lovers, and their responses supported all the hypotheses. The primary benefits of bird ownership were friendship, companionship, and verbal interactions. The primary liabilities were messiness and noise. Respondents stated good bird owners needed to be patient, affectionate, and sensitively perceptive. These findings should help in training of both children and adults for careful nurturing of birds and other pets.

Association between Cryptosporidium infection and animal exposure in HIV-infected individuals.

Cryptosporidium causes a debilitating illness in immunocompromised individuals, yet the source of sporadic Cryptosporidium infections is unknown. Because early cases of cryptosporidiosis were associated with animals, and pets are a source of companionship to individuals with AIDS, determination of the risk of cryptosporidiosis associated with pets is important. To assess this risk, we conducted a case-control study of HIV-infected individuals with and without cryptosporidiosis. No statistically significant difference in the rate of overall pet ownership, cat ownership, or bird ownership was found between the two groups. Dog ownership reached borderline statistical significance; 15 of 48 (31%) cases owned a dog, compared with 17 of 99 (17%) controls (odds ratio [OR] = 2.19; p = .05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9-5.3). No statistically significant differences between cases and controls were found in the frequency of surface water ingestion, rural exposure, travel history, or contact with diarrheic individuals. Our findings indicate that pets do not represent a major risk factor for acquisition of Cryptosporidium for HIV-infected individuals. Whether dog ownership presents a minimal risk for cryptosporidiosis needs further investigation.

Pet birds and risk of lung cancer in Sweden: a case-control study.

To investigate the association between keeping birds and the risk of lung cancer in Sweden. Case control study based on cases of lung cancer and community controls. Interviews were performed by two nurses specially trained for this project. Three major referral hospitals located in southwest Sweden. All patients aged 75 and under with newly diagnosed lung cancer and of Scandinavian birth who lived in one of 26 municipalities in Gothenburg and Bohus county or Alvsborg county. Potential control subjects matched on county of residence, sex, and closest date of birth were selected from population registries. In the context of a larger case-control study, information on pet birds was obtained from 380 patients with lung cancer (252 men) and 696 controls (433 men). Odds ratios for lung cancer in relation to whether or not pet birds were kept and the duration of keeping pet birds. The adjusted odds ratio for ever versus never exposed to pet birds at home was 0.94 (95% confidence interval 0.64 to 1.39) for men and 1.10 (0.64 to 1.90) for women. There was no evidence of a trend for increased risk of lung cancer with duration of bird ownership. Bird keeping does not seem to confer any excess risk of lung cancer to Swedish men or women.

Risk factors associated with antibodies to leptospires in inner-city residents of Baltimore: a protective role for cats.

Leptospiral antibody prevalence was 16% in residents of Baltimore. Seropositivity was associated with age, gender, race, and bird ownership, reduced the antibody risk associated with age and race from odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of 3.3 (2.0, 5.5) and 3.3 (1.1, 9.3), respectively, to the baseline level. These data establish the high prevalence of leptospiral antibody in Baltimore and suggest a protective role for cats in reducing the risk of human infection.