Pigeons familiar site in Pines By Jay V. Huner |
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You cannot go to any court house in the piney woods without finding pigeons or evidence of their presence in the form of big white plops here and there. Actually, what most folks call pigeons are technically referred to "now" as Rock Pigeons. I say "now" because over the past few decades, birders have also called them Rock Doves. The adjective "rock" explains why court houses attract Rock Pigeons because, to the birds, court houses are man-made rocky cliffs where, before they became domesticated over 3,000 years ago, they nested and lived in Europe and parts of Asia. Wild Rock Pigeons are still found in those areas but, thanks to man, they have been introduced on all continents save Antarctica. Rock Pigeons arrived in the New World several centuries ago and have thrived in close association with humans. Pigeons have been domesticated for such a long time that there has been selection of all sorts of mutations, many bizarre. However, most feral pigeons are stocky, "tubby" birds weighing around three-quarters of a pound and about a foot long. Heads are small and legs are short. Wings are broad and pointed. Tails are rounded and the feathers are uniform in length. Our Rock Pigeons are similar in color to the wild birds of the Old World--the blue-bar form is bluish gray with two black bands on their wings and black tail tip as well as iridescent neck feathers. There are several color variants. In the red bar form, red replaces the bluish gray color. Others are gray or black checkered with white spots. A few pigeons are mostly red or white. Most birds blend into their backgrounds for protection from predators. That is why you see few colorful Rock Pigeons. Ever see a white pigeon on a dove hunt? It likely won't make it out of the field as most gunners will be firing away even if they are far out of range. In urban areas, Cooper's Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks will often set up in areas around Rock Pigeon colonies in the South, especially in the winter. Peregrine Falcons are frequently found in major cities and raise families fed by the pigeons they catch. Rock Pigeons construct flimsy nests from twigs and grass. They may nest up to 6 times a year producing one or two offspring with each nesting. The males and females share incubating duties and both parents feed their nestlings with "pigeon milk". Pigeon milk is a high protein/high fat secretion produced by lining of the parents' crops. All other doves and pigeons share this unique way of feeding their offspring. Ever hear of carrier pigeons and homing/racing pigeons? Both are Rock Pigeons bred, in the first case, to carry messages, and in the second case, to return home, preferably faster than anyone else's birds! Rock Pigeons are edible--squabs are collected from nests before they are able to fly. Pigeons have been bred for food for thousands of years. Yes, dozens of Rock Pigeons living around buildings make major messes. Efforts to protect buildings from the damage caused by pigeon poop and those passing below are legendary. The only real solution is to exclude them from nesting places and that is not easy! However, their soft cooing calls are very soothing. Jay V. Huner, Louisiana Ecrevisse |
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