Pigeon Bird Man NYC is a photo I couldn’t resist. I saw him in Washington Square Park, New York City, June 1st, 2019, when we sat down to enjoy Greenwich Village falafels.

You might think the birds flock around this man just for food, but look closer. The majority are hanging. They like the pigeon bird man, and he likes them.

• A Greenwich Village Walking Tour

His animal-friendly generosity reaches out to passersby. DONATIONS FOR BIRDSEED reads a bag open near his feet.

Washington Square’s Bird Man NYC’s Don’t Miss Nearby

A hundred yards east, you find Colin Huggins with his piano that kills fascists…

Huggins was once a reasonably sane person who accompanied dancers for the Joffrey Ballet.

Indoors.

For a steady paycheck.

But in 2007, at 29, he decided to busk instead, giving up security and boredom for freedom and creativity.

• Is Pigeon Poop Now Out of Control on Roosevelt Island?
• When RIOC Destroys Habitat, Birds Get Lost
• Bird Law Spells Lights Out for City-Owned Buildings in Bid to Save Feathered Friends
• “You can tell a lot about a man…” Cat Art Print
• Habitat Devastation, Two Years Later, in Southpoint Park

It was tough going at first. Chased from Father Demo and Union Squares because complaints poured in about the large crowds, he moved. Penalized for success in 2011, the city fined him over $6K for playing the piano.

But today, he continues, along with the Pigeon Bird Man of NYC, keeping Washington Square Park the most original of Manhattan venues.

Also from the Roosevelt Island Daily News

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  The “Rollercoaster” by the River: Meet the Whimsical Sculpture at Andrew Haswell Green ParkJanuary 2, 2026
  By Ericka O’Connell, Roosevelt Island Daily Friends, if you have ever walked the East River and spotted what looks like a frozen rollercoaster twisting in the sky, you have discovered one of the city’s most playful public artworks. In this…
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  Where to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in NYC: Fun Spots for Our Undecided NeighborsDecember 29, 2025
  By Ericka O’Connell, Roosevelt Island Daily Friends, if you’re still weighing your options for ringing in the new year, you’re in good company. New York City offers more celebrations than any of us could possibly fit into one night, and…
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  One Week In: What the F/M Switch Really Means for Roosevelt Island RidersDecember 16, 2025
  By Ericka O’Connell, Roosevelt Island Daily — The Beat Friends, now that we’ve lived through our first full week of the F/M train switch, many of us are feeling the ripple effects in our daily routines. Some neighbors are adjusting…
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  MTA Fare Changes Are Here: What Roosevelt Island Riders Need to Know Starting January 4, 2026December 9, 2025
  By Ericka O’Connell, Roosevelt Island Daily Good morning, neighbors. As we turn the calendar into the new year, the long-discussed MTA fare changes for 2026 are now officially in effect as of January 4. We first covered this back in October, and today’s…
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  What we’re seeing so far in Zohran Mamdani’s early days at City HallNovember 20, 2025
  By Ericka O’Connell, Roosevelt Island Daily Hi friends—there’s a new face at 1 Centre Street, and as your local correspondent I’ve been watching closely how things are shaping up for Mayor-elect Mamdani’s incoming administration. The story here isn’t just what…

Can the Lawsuit Reach the Stacks in Time?

Residents have spent months asking City and State agencies to show why the Roosevelt Island Steam Plant must be demolished. Meetings produced promises. The CAG produced more process.

Theo Gobblevelt Aug 28, 2026

The underlying record remains largely hidden. Now two residents have taken the question somewhere government cannot manage quite as easily: a courtroom.

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