Abstract
The number of domestic pigeons Columba livia var. captured by reason of exterminating noxious wildlife was investigated by using the Statistical Data of Wildlife between 1947 and 1974, published by the Forestry Agency and Environment Agency.
Capturing of the domestic pigeons started from 1962 and until 1967, the number of the captured bird was few, and the area where the extermination was enforced was quite limited. However, after 1968, the number of captured birds increased immensely, and every year, the areas of the enforcement of the extermination widened, and now, the capturing of the domestic pigeon is undertaken throughout the country.
Also, the density of the exterminated domestic pigeons (accumulative number of the captured domestic pigeons/areas by Prefectures) was calculated in order to compare the number of the captured domestic pigeons by Prefectures. From this calculation, it was revealed that Aichi (10.23 birds/km2), Tokyo (6.32 birds/km2), Kanagawa (5.78 birds/km2), Saga, Shiga, Osaka, Nagasaki, Mie and Shizuoka Prefecture were all areas of high density where the density of the exterminated domestic pigeons was over 0.10 birds/km2. From this result, it can be presumed that the geographical distribution of these nine prefectures correspond with the industrial areas of our country. The accumulative number of the captured domestic pigeons in these nine prefectures amount to more than of the whole number of the captured birds.
