pigeons

=Pigeons=

Pigeons have been the most loved and the most reviled birds in our history. Pigeons are member of the Columbidae family which has 310 different species. The pigeon has been a valuable food source for many people, the source of scientific studies and the hero of wars saving many lives; nonetheless, for all the good they have done pigeons are not loved by everyone. There are live shot clubs, extermination teams, and many cities have outlawed feeding them in parks and other public places. An interesting book on this complex dichotomy of the human/pigeon relationship is available from Amazon: Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird.

The year 2014 marked the centenary of one of the most unbelievable ends to a species known as the Passenger Pigeon. The story of the end of the Passenger Pigeon came to an end when "Martha" the last bird died in captivity in 1914 in the Chicago Zoo. At one point the bird had numbered 3 to 5 billion and outnumbered all other North American birds. To learn more about this story visit Project Passenger Pigeon which is working to conserve species, strengthen the relationship between people and nature, as well as to promote sustainable use of out natural resources. This year in conjunction with the centenary a new book on the subject was published by Joel Greenberg titled //A Feathered River Across the Sky. I//t is a well researched work covering the path to extinction of the Passenger Pigeon.



Links for Background on Pigeons
Homing Pigeons on Wikipedia Pigeon Racing on Wikipedia 21 Amazing Fact About Pigeons You Did Not Death of the Passenger Pigeon

Pigeons and Wartime
Pigeons in War from Wikipedia Pigeons in Combat New York Times Article on WWII Pigeon Corps Member Army Pigeon Service Cher Ami World War I Hero Famous Pigeons



Pigeon Behavior
Master of Pomp and Circumstance from Smithsonian Zoological Society BF Skinner and The Project Pigeon

Who do you know that raises pigeons? Maybe you have an uncle or you have a neighbor that raises pigeons. Did you know there are some very famous people that raised and still do raise pigeons. The list of celebrities includes Queen Elizabeth, Mike Tyson, Roy Rogers, and Walt Disney to name a few. Mike Tyson even has a new show on Animal Planet called "Taking on Tyson," that is about racing pigeons in the New York City area.

Pigeons and Science Research
Higher Cognitive Ability Disease Research in Pigeons Simple Pigeon Genetics Pigeon Genetics

Homing Pigeons and Racing
Article on Homing Instinct Homing by Stanford University Racing Pigeon Liberation The Queen's Lofts Taking on Tyson Pigeon Insider

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The Classroom and Pigeons
Pigeon Project in Colorado School

Articles on Pigeons
How Smart is this Bird?( NYTimes Article 2011) Pigeons Raised on NY Rooftops (NY Times Article 2013) Paging Dr. Pigeon (NY Times Article 2015)

Pigeon Lofts
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