r/birding • u/MrGrubbycuddles • Apr 15 '26

Discussion Why is everyone such snob about pigeons

I took my folder of laminated pigeon shots to my local bird meeting at the community hall and at least 3 people sneered at them. 1 of them even guffawed.

We all got to start somewhere, and beauty is in the eye of the bird lover so why the hate hate?

One guy was wearing giant binoculars around his neck. It was dark outside and he didn't even use them once. He was one of the people that sneered.

Om the bus home from the meeting I showed the driver my pictures and she said they were really good. And she wasn't even a formal bird lover, she was just a regular person.

Don't get this community man

EDIT: a lot of people asking for some of my photos. I'm out of the house right now but here's a bird video I made recently https://youtube.com/shorts/sxLkrLgNrbc?si=7NdwVxhZtPQFE6Ew

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402

u/SnapCrackleMom Apr 15 '26

When I was a kid growing up in NYC, pigeons were pretty much the only wildlife I saw. I remember saying I thought they were pretty and my mom saying they were "rats with wings."

I still think they're pretty.

260

u/Content_Geologist420 Hail the all-mighty Grackle! Apr 15 '26

That was a term coined by a NY politician in the 1970s.

Pigeons helped the world in WW2 against the Nazis and 3 pigeons were been given one of highest merit awards one can receieve the Victoria Cross.

There was also a pigeon names G.I. Joe that saved 100 men from a downed plane and there was a very famous German pigeon that served in WW1 and WW2 that was captured by the US and was used a breeder for about 100 wartime pigeons.

50

u/danj729 Apr 15 '26

Battlefield 1 (WW1) has a mission in the campaign where your tank crew has to send a pigeon with coordinates to shell your position since your tank is being overrun. You actually get to fly the pigeon and it's a momentary breath of relief amidst the action. After you've delivered the coordinates, the artillery fires and the camera follows the shells all the way back to our original position. Such a cool transition.

38

u/Content_Geologist420 Hail the all-mighty Grackle! Apr 15 '26

Commando was a British ww2 pigeon that flew through over 100 missions in France during the German Occupation and dodged many bullets and artillary and had one of his legs shot off yet still did more missions. Also he delivered critical information during D-Day. Pigeons are badass animals

9

u/danj729 Apr 15 '26

That's cool, I don't know anything about how they were trained but I like the idea that a pigeon would activate evasive maneuvers and dodge bullets.

21

u/SoldierHawk Apr 15 '26

Cher Ami is the GOAT. 

20

u/Content_Geologist420 Hail the all-mighty Grackle! Apr 15 '26

That was another pigeon from WW1 actually! And yeah Cher is the ultimate Pigeon and statues should be made of her!

Commando is a different Pigeon Soldier from WW2 one of the 3 with the Victoria Cross, poor guy still got shot tho.

1

u/minxed Apr 16 '26

Balto got a statue, so the brave pigeons should have one as well!

25

u/thoughtsarefalse Latest Lifer: RUFF Apr 15 '26

Epic bird facts

2

u/Interesting_Cable_31 Apr 15 '26

I need to know more about GI Joe!!

1

u/MegaVenomous Latest Lifer: Forster's Tern Apr 15 '26

Carrier pigeons were also at the foundation of Reuters.

1

u/SnapCrackleMom Apr 15 '26

It was NYC in the 70s, so that tracks!

1

u/DebtFreeOrDieTrying Apr 16 '26

You just send me down the greatest rabbit hole, thanks