COMMON URBAN BIRD SPECIES AS A SUSTAINABLE AND RENEWABLE FOOD SOURCE
Pigeons- Year round egg laying, with the highest activity occurring in spring and summer. Generally 2 eggs are laid at a time, with incubation lasting from 17-19 days. With the high concentration of pigeons in some areas, the eggs are a reasonable source of renewable food. The squabs are also a good option. Look for nests around building ledges, overhangs, bridges, and any other structure that might resemble a rock face or ledge.
Mourning Dove- The mourning dove egg is quite small, making the squab (non-flying young) the preferred food item. These birds can produce up to six broods a year, with two eggs per brood. Incubation lasts for 2 weeks, and the squabs should be the right size around 11-15 days of age. Look for nests in similar areas as the pigeon, but when necessary the mourning dove can nest on the ground.
English/House Sparrows- The eggs of this bird are far too small to be useful over time, but sparrows are a fragile bird, making them easy to collect. In addition to this, they will readily ravage many different baits: seed, bread, bugs, for example. I have trapped sparrows with stale bread using squirrel traps in the past. These birds are easily trapped in large numbers as well using simple one way traps. With the average female house sparrow laying 25 eggs per summer, you should have little fear of over-use with this bird though the population should be monitored.
European Starling- These birds usually lay around 15 eggs per year in the spring-early summer. One very useful tidbit about this bird is that the female will lay one egg per day until shw lays 4-5. If an egg is lost, she will lay another egg, which is convenient for the survivor. The eggs are small, but can be collected in this fashion to be raised for a future food source or breeding program. The nests can be found in many different holes, commonly found in air conditioner ducts and dryer vents.
Common Grackle- This bird has a bit slower reproductive cycle-laying only 4-6 eggs per year- but this is countered with the fact that you can find them in colonies of up to 200 birds at a time or more. They eat a variety of foods being omnivorous, so their flesh is generally protien rich. The squabs are the best choice of sustainable food with this species, with incubation lasting 2 weeks, and the squabs being ready for collection 10 days after hatching.
