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Pigeon Essay: The Symbolism and Importance of Pigeons

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Essay on Pigeon

Pigeons are known as very beautiful and attractive birds. Pigeons are very calm. The pigeon's scientific name is Columba Livia Domestica. Smaller ones are usually called doves, larger ones are called pigeons. Other than this  there are white domestic pigeons, known as the “dove of peace.” The word ‘pigeon’ is derived from the Latin word ‘pipio’, meaning ‘young chirping bird’. The word ‘dove’ is of Norse origin and first appeared in the 14th century as ‘dova’ or ‘douve’. Pigeons are found all over the world except the Sahara Desert, Antarctica, and the high Arctic.


Pigeons have been found as domesticated birds for years. The pigeon is a medium size bird. Their weight is 2 to 4 kg. They are found in many colors such as white, gray, and brown. They have very short hair on their body, which helps them control their body temperature. The upper part of its beak has holes for breathing. A black-colored ring is made around the neck of a dove.


Pigeon Lifestyle

Pigeon prefers to live among humans from years ago. It is commonly found in all countries. Only white and gray pigeons are found in India. White pigeons are found in homes while gray and brown pigeons are found in the forests. It can also survive in icy and desert areas.


Pigeons always like to live in herds. Pigeons build their nests in tall buildings and vacant places. Their memory is very sharp. After traveling so far, they can return to the same place again.


In the morning, pigeons go out in search of food. Most pigeons are vegetarian. They eat grains, millet grains, fruits, etc. The pigeons are very calm and like to live together with humans. The life of a pigeon is about 6 years. The ability of the pigeon to see and hear is amazing. They can easily hear the sounds of earthquakes and storms.


Characteristics and Attributes

  1. The pigeon moves the wings 10 times in 1 second while flying.

  2. The pigeon's heart beats 600 times in 1 minute.

  3. The pigeon can identify himself by seeing his face in the mirror. The pigeon is one of only 6 species, and the only non-mammal, to have this ability

  4. The memory of a pigeon is very fast due to which it was used as a postman in old times.

  5. In the second world war, thousands of lives were saved with the help of pigeons.

  6. The pigeon can fly at a speed of 60 to 70 Kilometers per hour. Some pigeons can also fly at a speed of 92 Kilometers per hour.

  7. Pigeons can fly up to 6000 feet altitude.

  8. Pigeons can travel 600 miles in a day to come back to their hideout.

  9. The pigeon is a very highly sensitive bird, it already steals natural disasters like volcanic eruptions, earthquakes.

  10. The female pigeon lays 2 eggs at a time and chickens come out of it in the middle of 19 to 20 days.

  11. It lives in a flock of 20 to 30 pigeons.

  12. Pigeons can breed at the age of 6 months.

  13. Pigeons are very intelligent so they can easily recognize 26 letters of the alphabet and they are also good at recognizing the appearance of humans.

  14. Pigeons (and all the Columbidae family) drink by sucking water and using their beaks like straws. Most birds sip water and then throw their head back to swallow.


A Short Paragraph on Pigeon

Pigeons are beautiful birds, they are also known as domestic birds. Basically, pigeons like to live in groups and move along with their peer groups. Pigeons are the most attractive creation of God, they are adored by everyone due to their gentle nature. Pigeons rarely disturb other birds or people, they like calm surroundings more. Pigeons are very intellectual, they can make out or sense any unforeseen incident or calamities. Nowadays many people across the World breed pigeons, one who breeds pigeons referred to as Fanciers. In earlier days pigeon flying competitions were held between the Pigeon owners, pigeons kept flying in the sky all day long, the pigeon who flew for longer hours would be declared as the winner pigeon. Environmental change and increase in the hunting of pigeons lead them to the verge of extinction since they have no place to live in can be the other reason for the decreasing ratio of pigeons. 


Pigeons are beautiful birds of this world, we need to protect and give them the safest environment to live peacefully and calmly.   


Conclusion

Pigeons are very beautiful, attractive, and calm birds. Currently, the population of pigeons is decreasing day by day because of pollution because they did not have fresh air to breathe. We should take care of these beautiful creature so that they can freely live their life. 

FAQs on Pigeon Essay: The Symbolism and Importance of Pigeons

1. What is the Scientific name of Pigeon?

The pigeon's scientific name is Columba Livia Domestica. Smaller ones are usually called doves, larger ones called pigeons.

2. Describe the Pigeon’s LifeStyle?

Pigeon prefers to live among humans from years ago. It is commonly found in all countries. Only white and grey pigeons are found in India. White pigeons are usually found in homes while grey and brown pigeons are found in the forests. It can also survive in icy and desert areas. Pigeon always likes to live in herds. Pigeons build their nests in tall buildings and ancient places. Their memory is very good. Most pigeons are vegetarian. They eat grains, millet grains and fruits, etc. They are very calm and like to live together with humans. The life of a pigeon is about 6 years.

3. Give any Six Characteristics of Pigeon.

The six characteristics of lifestyle of pigeon are-

  1. The pigeon moves the wings 10 times in 1 second while flying.

  2. The pigeon can fly at a speed of 60 to 70 Kilometres per hour. Some pigeons can also fly at a speed of 92 Kilometres per hour.

  3. Pigeons can fly up to 6000 feet altitude.

  4. Pigeons can travel 600 miles in a day to come back to their hideout

  5. Pigeons are very intelligent so they can easily recognize 26 letters of the alphabet and they are also adept at recognizing the appearance of humans.

  6. Pigeons (and all the Columbidae family) drink by sucking water and using their beaks like straws. Most birds sip water and then throw their head back to swallow.

4. How did pigeons start getting domesticated?

For thousands of years, pigeons have functioned as food, pets, holy animals, mail couriers, and more. Pigeons are mentioned for the first time in Mesopotamia, some 5,000 years ago. They were kept in large quantities by the ancient Egyptians, who would sacrifice tens of thousands at a time for ritual purposes. Thousands of pigeons accompanied Akbar the Great on his journey. They were brought to the Americas some 400 years ago because they were not indigenous to the continent. Interest in fancy pigeons grew in the 18th century, and breeders considerably enlarged the range of pigeons available.


For thousands of years, pigeons have functioned as food, pets, holy animals, mail couriers, and more. Pigeons are mentioned for the first time in Mesopotamia, some 5,000 years ago. They were kept in large quantities by the ancient Egyptians, who would sacrifice tens of thousands at a time for ritual purposes. Thousands of pigeons accompanied Akbar the Great on his journey. They were brought to the Americas some 400 years ago because they were not indigenous to the continent. Interest in fancy pigeons grew in the 18th century, and breeders considerably enlarged the range of pigeons available.


Pigeons are genetically divided into two loose ancestral clades, yet because to frequent interbreeding and human-directed cross-breeding, there is striking genetic uniformity. Pigeons with excessive crops, tails, and manes belong to the first ancestral lineage, while tumblers (the most diversified group), homing pigeons, owl pigeons, and those with exaggerated wattles belong to the second.

5. How have pigeons contributed to human life?

Pigeons have made significant contributions to humans, particularly during times of conflict. Pigeons' homing skill has been put to use in combat by using them as messengers. Many crucial messages have been delivered by so-called war pigeons, and some have even been awarded for their efforts. Pigeons have received medals such as the Croix de Guerre, which was presented to Cher Ami, and the Dickin Medal, which was granted to the pigeons G.I. Joe and Paddy, among 32 others, for their contributions in saving human lives.


In spite of this, city pigeons are now considered to be troublesome pests, because of their droppings. In many regions of the world, feral pigeons are considered invasive, even though they have a positive impact on wild bird populations by acting as an essential prey species for birds of prey.

6. What is pigeon racing?

Pigeon racing is a sport in which highly trained homing pigeons are released and then return home over a predetermined distance. To decide which animal returned at the fastest speed, the time it takes the animal to traverse the prescribed distance is measured, and the bird's rate of travel is compared and calculated to the other pigeons in the race.


Pigeon racing makes the use of a specially bred pigeon necessary known as the Racing Homer. Competing pigeons are properly trained and conditioned for races ranging in length from 100 kilometers (62 miles) to 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) (620 mi). Despite these lengths, races can be won or lost by seconds, necessitating the development of numerous timing and measuring systems. Rubber rings are inserted in a specially built clock in the old way of timing, although RFID tags are used in later development to record arrival time.

7. What is the history of pigeon racing?

Pigeons bred for their homing abilities, particularly to transmit messages, were the forerunners of today's racing pigeons. "Pigeon posts" have been built all over the world, and while they were primarily utilized for military purposes, some are still in use today. Pigeon racing as we know it now began in Belgium in the mid-nineteenth century. Racing pigeons were initially developed at the same time in Belgium and England. They are the offspring of different breeds, including the French Cumulet, Smerle, Dragoon, English Carrier, and Horseman. Homer inherited the stamina and ability to fly for hours on end without tiring from the high-flying Cumulet. It had the capacity to find its way home across long distances from the Carrier.


The sport was helped by the new technologies of the era. The introduction of the railroad permitted pigeons to be sent to distant release points rapidly and at an average cost. Additionally, the introduction of mass-produced, sophisticated timing clocks brought accurate and secure timing to the sport. These clocks were made with special compartments where an entry band, taken apart from the returning race bird, was kept. When the clock struck, the officials recorded the time and also placed the band in a compartment that could only be accessed by race officials.

8. How can pigeons affect your own health and house?

Pigeon can affect your own health and house in the following ways:

Diseases

Pigeon droppings can contain a variety of diseases. Inhaling pigeon droppings, for example, can cause Histoplasmosis, which can cause fever, chest aches, and other serious symptoms. Cryptococcosis and Psittacosis are two more diseases spread by pigeons. You can avoid the spread of these dangerous and deadly diseases by removing pigeons from your property and cleaning up their droppings.


Roof Damage

Pigeons can bring diseases into your home as well as cause major property damage. Pigeons frequently build their nests along the roof's edge. When pigeons build nests in your roof or gutters, your roof's structural stability is jeopardized. Furthermore, blocked gutters with pigeon nests can flood, causing damage inside your property. You may assist maintain the physical condition of your roof by keeping pigeons away from your home.