Some facts about that bastion of NYC wildlife: the pigeon
I just took this photo a little while ago and thought I’d regale you with some trivia about the ubiquitous rock dove:
Pigeons are one of only a small number of species to pass the mirror test – a test of self-recognition.
They can also recognize each letter of the human alphabet, differentiate between photographs, and even distinguish different humans within a photograph.
Pigeons mate for life and tend to raise two chicks at the same time.
Pigeons can fly at altitudes up to and beyond 6000 feet, and at an average speed of 77.6 mph. The fastest recorded speed is 92.5 mph.
Despite the social perception as dirty and disease-ridden, pigeons are actually very clean animals and there is very little evidence to suggest that they are significant transmitters of disease.
(source)
As a lifetime New Yorker, I have seen countless species of birds, e.g. pigeons, sparrows, starlings, robins, blue jays, red-tailed hawks, mourning doves, kestrels, crows, ravens, cardinals, woodpeckers, red-winged blackbirds, grackles, mockingbirds, mallards, Canada geese, seagulls, finches, terns, herons, and many more.
What feathered friends do you see where you live?
I love pigeons. I used to work with a wildlife rehabber and got to know a lot of these resilient birds. Thanks for going against that whole "eeew pigeons" reaction I used to hate!
I adore pigeons as well. All birds. I’ll never understand the judgement some have for pigeons. Or grackles. I’m here in Jersey and have been seeing hawks far more often then I remember. I never remember seeing them growing up. Magic. Yesterday the birds around my apartment were very chatty for some reason. Full moon? I soaked it in.