It’s no surprise that pigeons get a bad rap. They are called dirty, the rats of the sky, disease spreaders, and more. The truth is that these are lovely, sociable, and highly intelligent creatures!
I once had a pet pigeon that I named Oroville. We determined that he was indeed a “he,” as we never found any errant eggs hiding in his cage. He was given to me by a man who raced pigeons, and about whom I was writing a story for a local newspaper. I oohed and ahhed over his flock of homing pigeons, and lo and behold, he offered me one of his. Oroville was just a baby, technically called a “squab,” when I got him – he had just one feather poking out of the top of his head, and the rest of him was just pink, wrinkly skin.
It didn’t take long for me to fall in love; he likewise bonded with me. Whenever I entered the room where his cage was, he would start his mating dance. It became a source of joy in my daily routine.
His cooing sound was a source of serenity for me. I loved just sitting next to his cage and listening to him it.
I knew my pigeon was bright, but I have since learned some interesting things about how smart pigeons really are. They can:
- Recognize themselves in a mirror
- Recognize the letters of the alphabet
- Figure out which human is which in a photograph
And, as homing pigeons, they recognize landmarks and even travel by human roads, canals, and other signposts.
Pigeons are also social animals. They like to be in flocks of 20 – 30 other birds, and they mate for life. I was sure that Oroville’s dance for me was his way of showing me I was his one and only.
Despite being clean birds, on the other hand, their poop can be a source of disease, as it carries bacteria, spores, and viruses. Pneumonia is one concern from inhaling pigeon poop, as are psittacosis, cryptococcosis, and histoplasmosis. Except for pneumonia, the last 3 illnesses are generally mild in those with strong immune systems.
So, if you are thinking of getting a bird, consider the very under-rated, smart, affectionate pigeon. You won’t be sorry when your bird delights in performing his mating dance for you every day!
madmuser 