Pigeon Petition

British artist Tom Charter, the “Pigeon Picasso,” has always admired the common city bird, which serves as the muse for his body of illustrations and designs. When the Bank of England announced that the public can vote for the wildlife that will appear on its new series of bank notes, Charter says, “I saw people were talking about the beautiful birds like the robin or raven, but thought, hang on a minute—there’s a bird that lives with us every single day. They’re urban wildlife. They still deserve a spot as well.”

The 29-year-old creative believes that pigeons’ contributions during World War II alone is reason enough to honor the bird on the nation’s paper currency. During the war, carrier pigeons delivered vital messages and saved numerous lives. From 1943 to 1949, 32 pigeons were awarded the Dickin Medal, the highest recognition bestowed upon animals for gallantry in times of conflict. The medal bears the inscription WE ALSO SERVE. 

Charter describes the feathered friends as a “national treasure” that have been wrongfully branded as “vermin” despite their valiant efforts 80 years ago. “I have loved pigeons for a very long time. They’re around us every day and just have little characters about them,” Charter says. “They’re just really misunderstood birds and get quite a bad name, and I want to change that.”

The current £20 note features artist J.M.W. Turner on the back and a portrait of King Charles III on the front. Charter has launched a petition calling for the pigeon’s placement on the new £20 note, racking up 6,700 signatures in a week. “The support for the petition has been amazing. It just shows they’re a really underappreciated bird,” he says. “It’s a way to celebrate the pigeon and what the pigeon has done for us all.”