In an unexpected initiative, Riverside University has launched a pilot program aimed at retraining campus pigeons as “welcoming ambassadors” for new students and visitors.
While the idea began as a lighthearted student proposal, environmental researchers and behavioral specialists joined the project to explore how urban wildlife interacts with human spaces.
Through subtle conditioning—mainly food placement and safe nesting areas—pigeons are encouraged to gather near campus entrances, creating what organizers describe as a “friendly and lively atmosphere.”
Professor Daniel Cho, who supervises the project, noted that the initiative is less about controlling wildlife and more about understanding how humans and animals share urban environments.
Students have responded enthusiastically, often joking that the pigeons are now “part of the orientation team.” The program will be evaluated over the next academic year to assess its impact on campus life.