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Lieutenant Pigeon

From: Katie Burningham
Length: 00:05:00

Feature about the pigeon feeders of Trafalgar Square Read the full description.

Default-piece-image-0 Save the Trafalgar Square Pigeons is a campaign group that was formed to challenge the ban on feeding pigeons in the square. Members of the group meet twice daily to scatter feed for the pigeons. The birds are also cared for by a homeless man called Tony, who introduces himself as ?Lieutenant Pigeon?. This five-minute feature explores the group?s and Tony?s relationship with the birds and the impact that they have on their lives. It seeks to understand their motivation in caring for something that is generally reviled, and to balance the eccentric aspects of their behaviour with feelings and experiences that are common to all, such as: love, companionship and loss.

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Piece Description

Save the Trafalgar Square Pigeons is a campaign group that was formed to challenge the ban on feeding pigeons in the square. Members of the group meet twice daily to scatter feed for the pigeons. The birds are also cared for by a homeless man called Tony, who introduces himself as ?Lieutenant Pigeon?. This five-minute feature explores the group?s and Tony?s relationship with the birds and the impact that they have on their lives. It seeks to understand their motivation in caring for something that is generally reviled, and to balance the eccentric aspects of their behaviour with feelings and experiences that are common to all, such as: love, companionship and loss.

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Review of Lieutenant Pigeon

There is such a nice dynamic between the caring in the older woman's voice and the homeless veteran. His brisk introduction in military speak and the tender way in which he speaks about the pigeons really captivating. This piece paints a nice picture of a scenario that is common to so many cities and yet I am drawn into a world that seems unreal, by the characters who are bigger than real life.