Baby Pigeons and Dishes

Here, Linsee Yee, who provided their ride to CWRS, feeds them cherio mush (looks like worms, no?) and millet seeds from a dish. They don't take to the peas at all. Despite the domestic setting, this is a valuable learning experience for them, since this video demonstrates that they have recognized food independent from settings. Food is food whether it is on the grass, the concrete, a dish, or a hand. (Captive pigeons have been taught to associate food with different styles of paintings, demonstrating that pigeons have enough visual and mental accuity to distinguish between impressionism and cubism!)

A small warning from videos that did not make the cut, as well as observations that were not filmed: Pigeons have no concept that a dish is supposed to remain upright and will march over it all but oblivious to its existence. This is a new box stuffed with rags in part because the original, larger box had a soaked bottom because the pigeons dumped more water than they drank (not to mention the runny guano.) A research web page had warned me that injured and PMV pigeons can drown in half an inch of water, and for that reason, used a Ziplock container's lid and barely got it wet. They still flipped it.

Video started on 2011 March 31, 16:28 MDT (22:28Z)

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• pigeon
• calgary
• wild
• wildlife
• nestling
• chick
• rescue
• feeding

[EquestriaDJ]

"Hey Jim?" "Yeah Bob?" "What the hell is that thing?" "I don't know Bob." "I'm gonna eat it."