“Hello again!” Pigeons can remember individual human faces
Martin Parr/Magnum Photos
I was recently in the park with a friend when they pointed out a pigeon and told me I was looking at their favorite bird. I was in disbelief. Doves? Those monstrous wings? My friend responded with this twisted logic: it makes a lot of sense that pigeons are your favorite bird because you enjoy them all the time.
Temporarily confused, I wondered if anyone could ever be so enamored with pigeons. Turns out, the joke is on me. When I talked to other friends and colleagues, a surprising number of them had a great love for the humble pidge. One The New Scientist The colleague, who shall remain nameless, confessed to having a secret dove tattoo. I also saw a new one a couple whose adopted pigeons sleep in their bed.
Having read a little, I have found that pigeons have a lot to recommend. Aside from their known housing skills, they’re no-nonsense smarts. They are not mammals, but they produce a kind of milk. They kiss each other, fondle themselves after sex and can meet individual people (and he remembers those who are evil to them). Add it all up and maybe, I thought, I could learn to love this seemingly ordinary bird after all. So, armed with my curiosity and a bag of oats, I set out for it.
A bit of bird watching
I wanted to do my research with some scientific integrity, so I came up with an “experiment”. First, I…
