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The Pigeon... More than a park scavenger.

© Greg Davies

Pigeons are a unique animal. They have many traits that no other birds, indeed creatures possess.

In fact, they are more like humans than any other animal. Firstly, pigeons are monogamous. They meet, court, marry, set up house and stay together all their lives... just like (some) humans. They work together to build their cosy home... just like humans. Pigeons kiss and they tend their babies lovingly as a couple... just like (some) humans. Sometimes they stray and have sexual liaisons with other pigeons, while still remaining "married" to their partner... just like (some) humans and sometimes they get adventurous and vary the way... ahem... they make love.

Then there are the traits which are completely unique to pigeons. They make milk to feed their young. No, this is not just regurgitated food, but real, honest-to-goodness milk. Furthermore, both male AND female make this milk. No other male creature on earth can do this! Pigeon milk is also one of the richest milks, being some 25 times higher in protein than cows milk. This allows the baby pigeon to double its size and weight every day for the first week of its life. Some pigeons can fly thousands of miles, others can stay in the air for hours on end, others tumble and somersault in flight and still others can do this while standing on the ground. Finally, they have a secret that the most advanced scientists have been unable to unravel. The ability to find their way home from thousands of miles away and do it in double quick time. There have even been decorated pigeon war heroes!

For centuries pigeons have been used for sport, for exhibition, for food and in magic shows. They can be bred in more colours, sizes and plumage variations than any other domestic bird. There are pigeons with muffs, crests, beards, caps, frills, manes, hoods, frill backs, muffed feet, fan tails and combinations of all the above. Some pigeons coo, others trumpet and still others, laugh.

Noah used a pigeon to find land after the great flood. What's that you say? Didn't Noah use a dove? Well, yes he did, but doves and pigeons are exactly the same species so he did in fact, use a pigeon. Pigeons are used as a symbol of peace and wild pigeons give much joy to folks who like to feed them in the park. Finally, pigeons have other advantages as pets. They are fairly easy to keep happy, don't tend to smell like many other animals, are generally disease-free and stay relatively quiet. People around the world keep pigeons in all manner of houses, from multi-storey lofts, to humble dove cotes. Some keep them in their attics, others in their garden sheds. Pigeons are quite easy to keep happy. Give them a roof over their heads, a box to have their babies, somewhere safe from predators and a little food and water and they are contented critters.

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