Like I said, the pigeons are raised in cages -- which would imply they're not the same ones you'd see flying around in New York.
Did you know that pigeons are actually the feral descendants of birds domesticated as a food source thousands of years ago? Their poop was also used as a fertilizer. I, for one, would not mind seeing them back on more menus. Although I've never had pigeon, I hear it's tasty. Much closer to duck than chicken.
Also, the passenger pigeon was hunted to extinction because it was a very popular food.
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/07/does-pigeon-mea/
