this post was submitted on 08 Jul 2024
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I recently learned that since pigeons lived on cliffs, they really only need a bit of sticks to keep their eggs in one place. Unlike a bird, which builds its nest in a tree.
Nice, but is there a scientific explanation for its cute little smug bird face
Pigon
Pigoff
Hey! Pig yourself!
How’d you know!? Oink, oink 🐽
The pigger
Hey, we don't say that word here.
Pigeons are the domestic name for rock doves. They nest pretty much anywhere there are cliffs that provide rocky areas away from predators. The ideal nest spot it somewhere tucked away enough they dont need to build much of a nest. Cities are just artificial cliffs to them that killed their predators and now provide endless food. So rock doves are doing very well and have spread across the globe way beyond their native range in the middle east and northern Africa. There are huge populations in north america in the wild that never see cities.
I'd like to know more about the differences between bird and pigeon.
bird make nest and sing, pigeon put sticks on the ground and spy at people
I recently learned that they are primarily domesticated, and we used them for all kinds of uses (including Squab) which all just fell away as we got more modern. They were totally dependent on us to a degree (like dogs), and we just kicked them to the curb.
The more you know!
Do you maybe have some tasty source material to share? Love to read more about that
unlike eagles which build condos that could be sold for $200k in California.
So, you're saying it's stupid for failing to build a nest, it's stupid for failing to realize it's not on a cliff?
Nah, they never had a need to build big fancy nests when they were in their natural habitat. Now many of them live in cities where they nest on the sides of buildings, which are very cliff like. I don't think they're a very intelligent bird, but the nest building behavior is instinctual, so I wouldn't expect them to dynamically adjust their nest building.
Kind of like not realizing you're missing a "not".
Well, I evolved in an environment where there was no need for it.
It's doing exactly enough - the egg isn't rolling away, from the pigeon's perspective... Job done. Why judge a pigeon's nest by the standards of a sparrow?
Personally I think it's pretty smart to not do more than is necessary.
Just evolved enough to stop Humpty Dumpty syndrome.