As you can tell, pigeons won the vote. So now comes my challenge in convincing you that they aren't boring. And... go.
OK, so these doves from a purely biological stance are unique in its mating in one particular way. They tend to be monogamous. In a weird way. They attempt to mate with others but stick around with whichever female best convinces the male it is his chicks he is caring for. It's not totally understood how they do it, but displays are likely the answer.
One thing, like it or not, is that they are sure to stick around. Unlike most animals that decline in population around people (because of interrupted or damaged ecosystems or corridors), this one seems to adapt. And adapt well. Though traditionally known to roost on rocks and cliffs (hence its name), it has transferred a sense of a 'cliff' to a building ledge. Similar topography. They also have stopped migration in most places, finding warmth in street vents and heat rising from roads. And because of that, its annual behaviors have become less defined. For example, they mate all year round, versus just specific times of the year. There might be peaks in spring and summer, but there is no significant definition of mating season for them.
Personally, I think this is kind of awesome. Sure they can be annoying and they are everywhere, but it's a reminder that wildlife is actually everywhere, and as much as we want to think of our urban environment as separate from an ecosystem, it's really not. It's just a terribly modified and typically inhospitable one for most species other than ourselves.
On a totally different note, they've also been helpful to people when domesticated. To the point of earning medals of honor during the World Wars. I'm not lying. You remember homing and carrier pigeons, right? They were bred to return home went sent somewhere else. Soldiers would attach messages to its leg and were sent off -- missions people couldn't do since no one is likely to waste a bullet on a pigeon. Not only that, they would use specific pigeons. Cher Ami of France won a prestigious award for heroic contributions to WWI. And the US awarded several pigeons awards during WWII. Homing pigeons have been used since about 1150 CE in Baghdad and were used by Genghis Kahn. Military posts would regularly be decorated with pigeon posts. And you might be familiar with the name "Paul Reuter" who founded the Reuters news agency? He used to deliver headlines in the 19th century using a fleet of piegons. Long story short, they can be credited for saving thousands of human lives and delivering news when headlines may not have been quite so accessible.
Moving to a similar subject, people throughout time have been intrigued by its breeding capabilities. Like dogs, pigeons were bred for specific functions or fanciful fulfillment. Some bred for unique colors, some for body shape and feather ornamentation, some for function (homing pigeons), and some I'm not really sure for what. Dozens of varieties exist, each with a unique cultural context. I've posted a few of them above.
There probably isn't too much terribly fascinating information for you in here, but I think they are a bit more unique and interesting from a human standpoint than one might typically think.
OK, so these doves from a purely biological stance are unique in its mating in one particular way. They tend to be monogamous. In a weird way. They attempt to mate with others but stick around with whichever female best convinces the male it is his chicks he is caring for. It's not totally understood how they do it, but displays are likely the answer.
One thing, like it or not, is that they are sure to stick around. Unlike most animals that decline in population around people (because of interrupted or damaged ecosystems or corridors), this one seems to adapt. And adapt well. Though traditionally known to roost on rocks and cliffs (hence its name), it has transferred a sense of a 'cliff' to a building ledge. Similar topography. They also have stopped migration in most places, finding warmth in street vents and heat rising from roads. And because of that, its annual behaviors have become less defined. For example, they mate all year round, versus just specific times of the year. There might be peaks in spring and summer, but there is no significant definition of mating season for them.
Personally, I think this is kind of awesome. Sure they can be annoying and they are everywhere, but it's a reminder that wildlife is actually everywhere, and as much as we want to think of our urban environment as separate from an ecosystem, it's really not. It's just a terribly modified and typically inhospitable one for most species other than ourselves.
On a totally different note, they've also been helpful to people when domesticated. To the point of earning medals of honor during the World Wars. I'm not lying. You remember homing and carrier pigeons, right? They were bred to return home went sent somewhere else. Soldiers would attach messages to its leg and were sent off -- missions people couldn't do since no one is likely to waste a bullet on a pigeon. Not only that, they would use specific pigeons. Cher Ami of France won a prestigious award for heroic contributions to WWI. And the US awarded several pigeons awards during WWII. Homing pigeons have been used since about 1150 CE in Baghdad and were used by Genghis Kahn. Military posts would regularly be decorated with pigeon posts. And you might be familiar with the name "Paul Reuter" who founded the Reuters news agency? He used to deliver headlines in the 19th century using a fleet of piegons. Long story short, they can be credited for saving thousands of human lives and delivering news when headlines may not have been quite so accessible.
Moving to a similar subject, people throughout time have been intrigued by its breeding capabilities. Like dogs, pigeons were bred for specific functions or fanciful fulfillment. Some bred for unique colors, some for body shape and feather ornamentation, some for function (homing pigeons), and some I'm not really sure for what. Dozens of varieties exist, each with a unique cultural context. I've posted a few of them above.
There probably isn't too much terribly fascinating information for you in here, but I think they are a bit more unique and interesting from a human standpoint than one might typically think.
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