Million Dollar Pigeon

I do not like pigeons. I’ve always considered them as “sky rats”. I even allow my daughter to chase them. San Francisco even has a “pigeon law” that fines people against feeding these evil birds.

Throughout my life, at least since my uncle Scott was shat upon when he was 35, I have taken an informal bird shat survey. I have determined that the mean age of being shat upon by a bird is 35. And not because of my uncle Scott. Some, like my daughter, were shat upon early. This was mainly because I brought her to a place that was temporary home to literally tens of thousands of seagulls due to the herring roe tide. It covered everything, the rocks and beaches and driftwoods. The birds consumed and shat. Including on my daughters face. She was only five.

But my informal survey indicates that most people don't realize the shat fate until much later...a mean of 35 years of age by my estimates.

Prolific Pigeons

We have a law because pigeons are prolific, laying eggs eight to twelve days after mating, the female lays one or two eggs. The male cares for and guards the female and the young leave the nest between the age of 4 and 6 weeks. More eggs are laid before these young ever leave the nest. An adult female pigeon can have about 15 surviving young a year. They average 3-5 years in the wild. Captive pigeons can live for 15 years but some have been known to live for up to 35 years.

That one lousy pigeon, living for 35 years and given populations of tourist spewing feed, could result in 1 307 674 368 000 resulting pigeons. More than one trillion pigeons.

Perhaps this is why the city of London bans the feeding of them. But still, people with nothing better to do protest.

Pigeons as food

In medieval times, manorial dovecotes provided a welcome supply of fresh meat in early spring, killed when they are about 4 weeks old and barely fledged. (Once pigeons have been on the wing for a while, their muscles toughen). Included is a recipe for squab with rice: this unusual dish from Shakespeare’s day is taken from a cookbook published in 1609. The squabs are cooked with a rice pudding, seasoned with sugar and mace.

Pigeon History

Pigeons and doves have been around for a long time-long before humans. Rock Pigeons are thought to have originated in southern Asia several million years ago. Compare this to modern humans that first appeared about 120,000 years ago.

Pigeon Types

The world’s most expensive pigeon Louella Pigeon World in 1992. "Invincible Spirit" purchased for $132,000

Around the world there are about 5 races a year with Million Dollar Purses.

Pigeon Honours

CONGRATULATIONS this weekend for winning 1st COUNTRY, 1st OPEN goes to Club Vaal Posduif Unie from South Africa with their winning pigeon named April Babe, which was clocked at 07-57-37.05 to record 1366 ypm (approx. 46mph), being closely followed in 2nd by Crazy Al.