As superstar Katy Perry once said,
“Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?”
I can only imagine that if pigeons could talk, they would be singing these lyrics, and I think many teenagers can relate.
Pigeons and doves are my favorite animals, for the longest time people around the world have been calling pigeons the rats of the sky, even though they are in the same family as doves (Columbidae).
Pigeons are seen as disgusting, annoying, and pests. Many people don’t realize that they are in the same family as doves.
Doves, a.k.a. love birds, are a symbol of peace and beauty. They are associated with gods and everything enjoyable. Pigeons look nearly the same, but are seen as filthy pests.
At one point in time pigeons were used as messenger birds. They were domesticated to work with humans.
After a while people found better ways of spreading information and freed the pigeons into the ecosystems.
Pigeons get such a bad rep, but they never did anything bad to humans. I mean maybe they defecated on one or two, but they are animals.
Here in Fort Wayne we only have Mourning Doves with their distinct coo. Their colors don’t shine as bright as the iridescent feathers of New York City’s Rock Pigeons, but they are still breathtaking to see.
Pigeons and doves are just small, easily scared birds. You would also be terrified if people and dogs came running at you.
Pigeons are very smart birds and have a great sense of direction. They in no way deserve all of the hate they get, but I guess that can be said about a lot of things in this day in age.
They are just misunderstood birds that should get a second chance to be loved. In many places it is completely legal to own a pigeon or dove as a pet. Please don’t just kidnap one from nature though.
If you see a feathered friend, please be nice and respect it. They don’t want to be around you either
