Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast Once revered, now reviled: how pigeons became 'pests'
Apr 22, 2025
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Darwin's Pigeon Obsession
- Charles Darwin initially disliked pigeons but became obsessed with studying them.
- He used pigeons to explore species change through selective breeding, contributing to his theory of evolution.
Pigeons as Symbols of Love
- Pigeons symbolize love due to their strong pair bonds and loyalty to mates.
- Their historical sacred status connects to these traits and their role in religious texts.
Pigeon Homing Driven by Love
- Pigeons have a remarkable homing ability primarily motivated by returning to their mates, not just location familiarity.
- This makes message delivery by pigeons effectively a one-way system needing nests on both ends.