What are pigeons good for?

[tadpole98]

Sorry- last question. Besides eggs and cuteness, what are they good for? Anything beneficial to gardens or bugs or something?

 

[tadpole98]

how easy is it to sell the chicks or eggs on craigslist?

 

[Hokum Coco]

1. Most of our domesticated pigeons have a common ancestor, the Rock Dove pigeon.​
2. Racing Homing Pigeons have been clocked flying 92.5 mph average speed on a 400 mile race.​
3. Homing Pigeons have been known to fly 700 miles in a day.​
4. Pigeons have flown in many wars, including both WWI & WWII. They have saved countless lives.​
5. Pigeons achieved a 98% success rate in the missions flown in WW II, despite enemy fire, and often with mortal injuries to themselves.​
6. In the World Wars, flying pilots carried pigeons in case they had to ditch their plane, they would release the bird for help. Many pilots owe their lives to a pigeon.​
7. Pigeons are still used today by the French, Swiss, Israeli, Iraqi and Chinese Armies.​
8. Pigeons proved valuable in the Gulf War, as their messaging was not affected by the electronic jamming.​
9. Pigeons have been bought for as much as $132,000.00 by Louella Pigeon World in 1992. "Invincible Spirit"​
10. They have been proposed to be used by the Project Sea Hunt (U.S. Coast Guard) to spot life jackets out in the open sea.​
11. Noah's Dove was most likely a homing pigeon.​
12. They were used by many for communication before the telegraph was invented.​
13. They were used by the Greeks more than 5,000 years ago.​
14. They can and are ready to breed at the age of 5 to 6 months.​
15. They can breed as old as 10 years of age, and have been helped to breed past that.​
16. They are bred, raised and trained as good as Thoroughbred Horses.​
17. Around the world there are about 5 races a year with Million Dollar Purses.​
18. There are more than a million fanciers around the world that keep pigeons, meaning there are more than 4 million kept pigeons.​
19. Both parents feed their young milk.​
20. They have been known to see very well over a 26 mile distance.​
21. Scientist believe they may hear wind blowing over mountains from hundreds of miles away.​
22. In the late 1800 the most heroic recorded flight was from a pigeon that was released in Africa and took 55 days to get home in England. Traveling over 7,000 miles.​
23. A pigeon is about 13 inches from beak to tail.​
24. Unless separated, pigeons mate for life.​
25. A full grown pigeon has about 10,000 feathers.​
26. They have been known to live over 30 years.​
27. In the 17th century, King George I of England, decreed all pigeon droppings to be property of the Crown—and the “lofts” were policed to enforce the law! (Pigeon manure was used in making gunpowder)​
28. The pigeon beats its wings up to ten times per second, while maintaining a heart rate of 600 beats per minute up to 16 hours without rest.​
29. The pigeon has the rare ability for a large bird to be able to fly nearly straight up.​
30. Many of the city pigeons feed on grain in the country.​
31. Advanced studies at the University of Montana conclude: “Pound for pound, columba livia (the pigeon) is one of the smartest, most physically adept creatures in the animal kingdom.”​
32. Queen Elizabeth II races pigeons from the Royal Lofts at Sandringham.​
33. Pigeons are the only bird in the world that do not have to lift their head to swallow water.​
34. When the pigeon is in long flight, it reaches back and holds on to the short tail feathers with its feet in order to save energy from holding its legs up.​
35. During breeding season, when there are more than a few babies on the floor, all parents will feed all babies, even if they are not their own.​
36. In the mid 1800's, the Reuters News Agency operated a live telex service using Homing Pigeons.​
37. Homing Pigeons were introduced to the United States in the mid 1800's. In the 1880's, the first 500 mile race took place in this country.​
38. The ability to hear sounds 11 octaves below middle C allow the pigeons to detect earthquakes and electrical storms.​
39. The top national race, Snowbird Classic, awards a purse of $600,000.​
40. The highest priced Homing Pigeon was sold for $225,000.​

 

[Bird Crazed 101]

THE VALUE OF PIGEONS
Pigeons are fascinating to watch. [FONT=Arial,Helvetica] Their courting behavior is quite entertaining. Their affectionate attention to their mate is sweet and romantic.[/FONT]
Pigeons bring life to cities.[FONT=Arial,Helvetica] Often, pigeons are the only form of life in otherwise bleak urban landscapes.[/FONT]
Pigeons provide stress relief. [FONT=Arial,Helvetica] Feeding pigeons is well recognized by the medical community as a good means of relaxation.[/FONT]
Pigeons provide good company. [FONT=Arial,Helvetica] Many senior citizens enjoy spending time with pigeons. Children are often enamored with these friendly birds.[/FONT]
Pigeons are companion animals.[FONT=Arial,Helvetica] Anyone who has pigeons as pets will attest to their loyalty and affection. They make excellent friends.[/FONT]
Pigeons clean up our waste. [FONT=Arial,Helvetica] Pigeons eat food we dispose of as litter.[/FONT]
Pigeons eat weed seeds.[FONT=Arial,Helvetica] Pigeons primarily eat seeds, and some of their favorites are weed seeds.[/FONT]
Pigeons provide a good role model for society. [FONT=Arial,Helvetica]The traditional doves of love and peace, pigeons mate for life and set a good example for people by the way they care for their mate and their young, share feeding areas, and live peacefully with each other.[/FONT]
Pigeons provide ambiance. [FONT=Arial,Helvetica] What would Trafalgar Square, Venice, Vatican Square, or Paris be like without pigeons?[/FONT]
Pigeons provide nourishment. [FONT=Arial,Helvetica] Endangered Peregrine Falcons, for example, would not be staging a comeback without the pigeon as their prey base.[/FONT]
Pigeons are benign residents. [FONT=Arial,Helvetica] They do not compete with indigenous animals for food or shelter. And, contrary to popular belief, cases of pigeon diseases spread to humans are extremely rare and, in most areas, like Arizona, are nonexistent.[/FONT]

 

[Bird Crazed 101]

Pigeons were I live don't sell very well unfortunately in less they are homing pigeons all of my pigeons I have I got for free!!

 

[tadpole98]

Thanks!!! Some interesting facts up there