We Screwed this Bird Over

October 2nd, 1918. WWI. Trapped behind enemy lines, over 500 allied soldiers desperately wait as their lives hang in the talons of a single bird: Cher Ami. Without any food, water, or ammunition, the lives of the men balanced on a single message begging for help- and the pigeon delivering it. They had already sent out multiple attempts, with each pigeon being shot down by the Germans. So, as expected, most of the soldiers had already given up hope as Cher Ami, the last pigeon, was released. They watched as he flew across the battlefield, dodging shrapnel and bullets. Suddenly, he was struck down, but like a phoenix from the ashes, the bird miraculously got back in the air and flew 25 miles to the American base, where he successfully delivered the message that would save the lives of the men that remained. 

The story of pigeons is a tragic one. It seems the alleged ‘rats with wings’ are everywhere, spreading diseases and harassing the public. The idea that one of these vermin could be a war hero seems absurd, but it may not be as far-fetched as you think. In fact, pigeons as a whole have only one thing to blame for their horrible reputation: Us.

To understand how pigeons went from war heroes to pests, we have to go back in time. Humans have lived alongside pigeons for thousands of years. Some archeological evidence even points to our coexistence going as far back as the Fertile Crescent, where we bred them for food, according to the National Institutes of Health. Humans also domesticated pigeons as messengers, and, more interestingly, pets. 

There was a time when owning pigeons was not only common, but a sign of wealth. Many familiar names have kept pigeons, such as Charles Darwin, Julius Caesar, Elizabeth II, Pablo Picasso—who loved the birds so much he named his daughter Paloma, which is Spanish for pigeon—and even famous wrestler Mike Tyson, who has owned thousands of pigeons. 

Pigeon trading was all the rage in the 18th century, and Victorian monarchs would breed pigeons to match their preferences, much like how we breed dogs today. This resulted in hundreds of breeds of pigeons, some of which are quite beautiful. Take the Victoria crowned pigeon, one of the largest pigeons, known for its elegant crest and blue feathers. There’s the iridescent Nicobar pigeon, which boasts stunning rainbow feathers, and even the Frillback, which has curly feathers. But like any domesticated animal, excessive selective breeding has also resulted in some of these ‘fancy pigeons’ developing tragic health complications, like the Budapest Short-faced Tumbler with its bulging eyes, the American Fantail with its dramatically deformed body, the Barb pigeon, the English Carrier, and perhaps the strangest of all, the English Pouter. Though all outlandish, these breeds all trace back to their origin: the humble Rock Dove—what you likely think of when you hear the word ‘pigeon.’ 

Pigeons were also bred for work, not just as pets. Some examples include Racing Homers, Squab pigeons, and the endearing Homing Pigeon—bred selectively for its navigation skills. The homing pigeons have played very important roles in wars, used as messengers because they were less likely to be intercepted by the enemy. Cher Ami was a homing pigeon, and one of the many awarded for their life-saving military efforts. It’s estimated that the pigeons had a whopping 95% success rate in their message delivery. The pigeons would carry the messages in little capsules attached to their legs and navigate their way to the targeted receiver. Pigeons were able to do this job due to their surprisingly high intelligence, navigational skills, and speed, which average around 60mph, though some racing pigeons have been recorded to hit as high as 100 miles per hour. A pigeon’s intelligence can rival that of a crow, with pigeons being able to pass the mirror-mark test, a test in which an animal is marked in a way that can only be seen through a mirror and then observed to see if the animal investigates that mark on its own body. Cognitive tests have shown some surprising abilities, such as being able to categorise complex images, such as cancerous cells, and distinguishing real words from nonsense.

By now, it should be evident that pigeons are severely underrated. They’re smart, reliable, and have been by our side for thousands of years. So what happened? Well, in June of 1996, Pigeons’ entire reputation was sullied by one man: Thomas Hoving. The New York Parks Commissioner blamed pigeons for the spread of disease and invented the term ‘rats with wings’. All it took was one speech to ruin pigeons, but were the allegations even true? It should be noted that in the same article, Hoving blamed homeless people and homosexuals for bringing property value down, so do with that what you will. In reality, pigeons have robust immune systems that make it difficult for them to transmit diseases to humans. Pigeons are also resistant to bird flu, and it takes extreme exposure to pigeon feces to actually catch anything.  

So it’s time we rethink our perception of pigeons. Far from being nuisances, pigeons are remarkable creatures with a rich history intertwined with our own. They have served as loyal companions, lifesaving messengers, and symbols of beauty and peace. The next time you see a pigeon in the city, remember Cher Ami and the countless ways these birds have benefited humanity. Perhaps, instead of disdain, they deserve a measure of our respect—and maybe even our admiration.