David Attenborough’s new Secret Garden documentaries, which focus on the wildlife in our very own backyard, show just how important unremarkable-seeming species like damselflies and urban foxes are to the natural world.

Speaking to HuffPost UK, an ecologist at ecological consultancy firm Arbtech said that it’s time to rethink the role of much-maligned feral pigeons, too.

“Feral pigeons have filled an ecological hole caused by the decline and absence of many other species that cannot survive in an urban environment,” they said.

Given our history of domesticating, then abandoning, the birds, the ecologist added, we owe them more than our current disdain.

Pigeons “have been among the oldest domesticated species by humans, dating back thousands of years,” the spokesperson told us.

Feral species are descendants of the rock dove. That shows in their nesting habits: their wilder relatives “are cliff nesters, nesting in crevices, with poor nest construction, and the feral pigeon likes cities as the ledges and hiding places mimic those cliff top habitats their ancestors used”.

Historically, the ecologist continued, we’ve used pigeons for loads of tasks, including (famously) sending messages.

“Even the ancient Egyptians and Romans used pigeons for this, and we did use them in WW1 and WW2. This ended with 32 pigeons receiving the Dickin medal (like a Victorian cross for animals) for their efforts.

“I even knew a friend’s grandfather who worked at the hospital and sent blood
samples to the lab via pigeon in the 60s and 70s, as it was still faster than getting there in a car.”

But with email, text, and better tech, that demand dramatically decreased.

So, the spokesperson said, “While some still keep pigeons as pets, or more so now for pigeon racing, the majority were just abandoned and left to fend for themselves.

“Being a species domesticated by us for thousands of years, naturally, they still choose to be around humans, showing little fear of us.”

Though they’re “not a favourite,” pigeons are uniquely adapted to urban environments. Because of their years of contact with us, humans don’t really bother them.

They “can assist partially as a clean-up crew, cleaning up our crumbs and mess in the cities that we leave behind,” the ecologist said.

“They also fit into the ecosystem as food sources, with the return of peregrine falcons, a bird of prey almost made extinct in the UK. Cities are a favourite site for this bird.

“One reason is the abundance of feral pigeons. They can also be a food source for hawks and even foxes, who are able to sneak up on them.”

That’s not to say they pose no risk to humans: think of “dropping build-up and
nesting material build-up carrying disease,” said the expert.

But the city isn’t always kind to its winged residents, either.

Problems “such as entanglement in nets, thin pieces wrapping around their legs,
eventually causing them to lose toes or feet,” which “can even be caused by something as thin as human hair,” are common.

“They can also receive infections due to the harsh urban environment, getting tiny scratches, which can lead to swollen or necrotic feet.”

The ecologist said the following steps can help:

1. Remove all hazards that could entangle or cut pigeons. “Don’t put out human hair thinking it is a good nesting material; it’s a risk to all birds with
   entanglement.”
2. Capture distressed pigeons with gloved hands, put them in a dark box, and bring them to a vet or wildlife centre. “If the bird has been caught by a cat, even if there are no physical injuries, you must still get it to a rescue, as cat saliva is very dangerous, with the bacteria it contains and can often lead to the bird’s death from just being in contact with a cat’s mouth.”
3. Don’t put out too much food. This “will just encourage more pigeons to gather in one location, leading to more dropping and build up, which can lead to complaints and methods to remove or disperse birds”.
4. Provide a clean water source. “A shallow dish of water can be a lifeline in a concrete city and can help the birds keep clean.”
5. Keep cats indoors, especially during nesting season. “Cats are a non-native introduced predator that has a large impact on bird species. Recently fledged pigeons often don’t fly to begin with, and on the ground, they are very vulnerable.”