Pigeon History

01-30-2007, 05:23 PM

Pigeon History
Pigeons have been on this earth at least 20 million years. That is longer than humans! Scientists know this from fossils, which are remains of bones that have been preserved in rock. The original pigeons lived among cliffs and rocky ledges in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. These pigeons are known as Rock Doves, and they still exist today. All Rock Doves are the same blue-bar color morphs. About 5,000 to 10,000 years ago, humans began to capture and raise pigeons. Some they raised for food, some for racing, and some to carry messages. People also raised pigeons for their beautiful feathers. Over many generations, this is how pigeons acquired such a wide range of color morphs. The first pigeons in North America were brought over by people from Europe who settled in Canada in the early 1600s. Pigeons that escaped from settlers formed the wild flocks you see in cities today. These wild birds live among city buildings, bridges, and other man-made structures in the same way their ancestors used to live among cliffs and rocky ledges.
Scientists know that long ago, wild pigeons came in only one color morph, blue-black and gray. Then people captured pigeons and bred them. Over time this breeding produced many different color types of pigeons. Today's wild city pigeons are descendants of these captured pigeons.
When the first Olympic games were held in Greece in 776 BC, how did people find out who the winners were? Pigeons carried the news! Julius Caesar, the emperor of Rome more than 2,000 years ago, used birds to send messages back home from battle. Pigeons were used as war messengers as recently as in World War II. In fact, until the invention of the telegraph in 1836 and the telephone in 1875, the fastest way to send any kind of news was by pigeon.
Pigeons are still sometimes used as messengers. For example, medical workers on an island in France put blood samples into the tiny pockets of a vest worn by a pigeon. The pigeon then flies the blood samples to the mainland. In many parts of the world, news photographers use pigeons. When they can't leave their spot or don't want to get caught in traffic, they attach their rolls of film to a pigeon. The pigeon carries the film to a developer in time for the next issue of a newspaper or magazine.
Nobody knows for sure how pigeons are able to find their way back home from hundreds of miles away. Scientists think that pigeons can detect the Earth's magnetic fields. This means that their brains work like a compass to figure out North, South, East, and West. Scientists also think that pigeons can tell direction by looking at the position of the sun in the sky.

Because pigeons have better eyesight than humans, they have been used to help in search-and-rescue missions. Pigeons have been trained to spot the orange life jackets of people lost at sea. The pigeons are carried by helicopter over the ocean. When they spot a life jacket, they peck a keyboard, which sets off a light. Then the helicopter moves closer and more slowly over the waves until the humans are able to see the life jacket.
In World War I, a pigeon saved the lives of many soldiers in the "Lost Battalion" of New York's 77th Division of the U.S. Army. This pigeon was Cher Ami. His name means "dear friend" in French.
During a battle in France, the American soldiers found themselves surrounded by the enemy. Then they found themselves being fired on by their own side! They tried sending a message to their fellow troops by pigeon. The first message said, "Many wounded. We cannot evacuate." The pigeon carrying the message was shot down. They sent out a second bird with the message, "Men are suffering. Can support be sent?" That pigeon too was shot down.
One homing pigeon was left-Cher Ami. His message was, "Our artillery is dropping a barrage on us. For heaven's sake, stop it!" The men of the Lost Battalion saw Cher Ami fly up-and then saw him shot down. Yet soon Cher Ami was airborne again. Hopes soared. Cher Ami's leg was shot off and he was hit by another bullet. Still, this bird kept flying. Cher Ami finally got through. The shooting stopped, and many lives were saved.
At the end of the war, Cher Ami and more than 40 other pigeons were honored for their brave service. They were well cared for until they died. Today Cher Ami's body can be seen in Washington, D.C. at the Smithsonian Institution.
How big are pigeons?
From bill to tail, the average pigeon is about 13 inches. Males are bigger than females. The average pigeon weighs a little less than a pound.
Do pigeons come in more than seven color morphs?
Yes! There may be as many as 28 different color morphs. Project PigeonWatch only uses seven of the most common morphs, to make counting easier.
What color are pigeon eyes?
Adult pigeons have orange or red-orange eyes. Young pigeons under eight months old have brown or gray-brown eyes.
What color are pigeon legs and feet?
Many pigeons have red legs and feet but the color can range from pink to gray-black. Their claws are usually gray-black. On red or white pigeons, the claws are sometimes white. Some pigeons wear "stockings," which are feathers that cover their legs and feet.
How well do pigeons see?
Pigeons have very good eyes. They can see colors. They also can see ultraviolet light, which human beings cannot see.
What do pigeons eat?
Just about anything! Pigeons are not fussy eaters. They have only 37 taste buds, while you have 9,000.
How do pigeons drink?
Pigeons suck up water by using their beaks like straws. This is different from most birds. Most birds take sips of water and then throw their heads back to let the water trickle down their throats.
What sounds do pigeons make?
Pigeons make lots of different sounds. Their main sound is used by males to attract mates or defend their territories: coo roo-c'too-coo. The call they make from their nest is oh-oo-oor. A pigeon call of alarm is oorhh! Baby pigeons make sounds by snapping their beaks or hissing. After mating, male birds make loud noises by clapping their wings together.
How do pigeons raise their babies?
Pigeons make nests of small twigs or stems which the males bring to the females one piece at a time. The nests are usually well-hidden, such as on high ledges, under bridges, or in empty buildings. Pigeons usually lay two white eggs. The parents take turns keeping the eggs warm. Males usually stay on the nest during the day and the females stay on the nest at night. Eggs take about 18 days to hatch. Both parents produce a special milk which they feed, beak to beak, to their young during the first week. Scientists think that once pigeons mate, they stay together for life.
Do pigeons have any enemies?
Hawks and other large animal-eating birds (birds of prey) catch and eat pigeons. The Peregrine Falcon is a bird of prey that lives in some cities and feeds on pigeons. In many cities, however, pigeons have no enemies other than Mankind.
How fast and far can pigeons fly?
Pigeons can fly 40 to 70 miles per hour. Most city pigeons stay close to home, flying less than 12 miles in a day. However, their wing muscles are strong and they can fly much further if necessary. Some pigeons have traveled 600 miles in a day!
How long do pigeons live?
Pigeons can live about five years in the wild. They sometimes live for more than 15 years when raised by people.
The Courtship
bowing
The male puffs out his neck feathers. He lowers his head and bows several times while he circles a female.
tail-dragging
The male spreads his tail and runs after the female, dragging his tail on the ground.
driving
The male runs close behind a female, to move her away from other males.
billing
The female puts her bill (beak) inside the male's bill. Then the two birds move together in rhythm, bobbing their heads up and down. Billing happens just before mating
mating
The female bends down and the male climbs on top of her. He will flap his wings to keep his balance. The male stays on the female for a few seconds.
Rock Dove:the common name for the original pigeon
Columba livia: the scientific name for pigeon

ornithology: the study of birds

iridescence: the rainbow-like shine found on the neck feathers of some pigeons

hackle: the neck feathers of a bird

hen: an adult female pigeon

cock: an adult male pigeon

hatchling: a pigeon that has just come out of its egg (hatched)

squab: a young pigeon from 1 to 30 days old

peeper or squeaker: a young bird that is learning to eat

fledgling: a bird that is learning to fly or has just taken a first flight

juvenile: a bird out of the nest and flying but less than eight months old

data: pieces of information

morph: a physical feature that is inherited

assortative mating:when males and females pair up based on their color morphs
morph
blue-bar
This bird has two black or dark gray stripes or "bars" on each light-gray wing. It has a dark-gray body and shiny, rainbow-like neck feathers.
red-bar
This bird has two red stripes or "bars" on each light-gray wing. It also has a rusty-red or brown shade to
its body.
spread
This bird has one dark color spread all over its body.
red
This bird has a rusty-red or brown shade to its body and light-gray bars on its wings.
checker
This bird looks a little like a checkerboard. Its wing feathers have checks of light and dark.
pied white
This bird has white as well as other colors on its body. The "pied white flight" has white wing feathers, which are easy to see when the bird is flying.
pied splash
The "pied splash" pigeon has one or more spots of white.
white
This bird is solid white. This color morph is what some people call a dove of peace.
BrokenWing