More about pigeons...

Did you know that pigeons weigh less than a pound?! That's pretty amazing, but I suppose it should be intuitive, in a sense. I mean, they do have to be airborne, and considering that they reach speeds of 50, yes, FIFTY, miles/hour, they should be light. They just look bigger, I guess.

Did you also know that they seem to be the only (?) bird with such amazing color variation? I mean look at them--it seems that no two are alike. Some are all grey, all white (doves, after all, are pigeons with another name), all brown, some with white-, or black-tipped wings, some spotted, some banded (or striped) some with iridescent greens, reds, or blues around their necks, or on their proud bellies. They really are amazing.

Our couple is gorgeous. Never mind that the daddy is quite skittish. He got ridiculously frightened as I tried to open the window yesterday. (End result--window didn't get opened, and he returned to nest within 2 minutes.) Back to colors: the female is just -gentle- there is really no other word for her color or manner. She is beautiful, pale grey, with a few spots. She is quite small, too. She walks slowly on small grey feet, but is proud and determined. Daddy is much larger, probably twice her size. He looks more like a 'typical' pigeon in some respects--he is a darker grey, with a pale belly and darker yet tips to the wings. His distinguishing feature --and maybe why she fell for him? :) --are the iridescent green and red patches around his neck. I already wrote of his propensity to run. Oh, and he has red feet. They both have very clear eyes.

303 species, right in all of our backyards, and they seem to be the birds that we know the least about. So, Cornell University, in Ithaca, NY, is doing a program to try to change that. It's quite interesting. Please take a look--maybe you'd like to become a pigeon watcher, and help out. :)