<DATE DESC="24 Feb 98">

<text>

cover page [ next page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

By <Name key="Denise Svoboda">

PIGEONS AND DOVES

page 1 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<gap desc="figure">

Collared Dove

DOVES AND PIGEONS

Woodpigeon

By <Name key="Denise Svoboda">

page 2 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="1."> Introduction

I chose Pigeons and Doves because I know that Pigeons and Doves are always good birds to have around the house. (And seeing that we've got them around our house helped <reg>as well</reg>!)

In this project I hope you will find out as much as I did by reading it.

<gap desc="figure">WARNING:

TEDIOUS EXPLANATIONS!!!

I'll try and make this as simple as possible

I had a bit of a problem deciding what bird I should do:

1. I thought doing Collared Doves, Doves and Pigeons was a good ideas because of the reasons above.

2. I wanted to learn about birds that I knew nothing about so I chose the Goldeneye and Mandarin ducks.

3. I couldn't find much information about them so I went back to Pigeons and Doves.

The Archangel (Ornamental pigeons)

<gap desc="figure">

(I've tried to capitalize the 1st letter of 'Pigeons' and 'Doves'.)

page 3 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="2.">

Contents

page 4 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<gap desc="figure">

&bquo;You're in for a big<sic>tweet</sic>?&equo;

(This project <reg>isn't</reg> about eagles and fish!)

page 5 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="4.">

Structure

The structure of <reg>birds'</reg> bones is more or less like the human skeleton except for a few things like the rib cage which in a bird it's solid and a human's is like it's got bars wrapped around the organs...

Rough sketch of the bird skeleton

<gap desc="figure">

(Crow's Skeleton)

Skull

Neck bones

LARGER!

Wishbone

Humerus

Ceracoid

Upper arm

Rib Cage

Femur behind knee-joint

Tibia

Pygostyle

Ankle joint

Metacarpus

Tarsus

Forearm

Keel

Pelvis

Backbone

Ulna

Radius

1 SKULL:

<gap desc="figure">

Ear

Eye socket

Cranium

Pigeon skull

Pigeons have a unique straw like beak for sucking up liquids.

Birds <reg>similar</reg> to the pigeon (in eating plants and seeds) all have a kind of muscular grinding chamber called the gizzard page 7.

Only fast-moving prey eaters don't have eye-sockets facing sideways. <sic>ie.</sic> the owl...

The 'cranium' is filled up with <reg>separate</reg> bones fused together for light weight, which is essential for flight, but it's also very strong. You can see the beak until the beak joins upwards (on the top <NOTE desc="margin note">mandible</note> jaw to the head. I have put a star on the diagram where I mean.

Birds have binocular vision after the point their eyes meet:

page 6 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="5.">

The Woodcock's vision plan

<gap desc="figure">

Rear view with binocular vision

forward view with <reg>binocular</reg> vision.

Normal view

Blind spot

key

<gap desc="colour key"> Binocular Vision

<gap desc="colour key"> Blind Spot

<gap desc="colour key"> Normal View

<gap desc="colour key"> Expanding (going on in same pattern)

Most bird's view is halfway (<reg>in between</reg>) the owl's view (like the human's) and the Woodcock's (above).

NECK BONES: Birds have more bones in their neck than <reg>any other</reg> vertebrate animal.

Swans, compared with giraffes, have got 25 vertebrae and giraffes only have 7.

ARMS: The total arm/wing bones are made up out of 9 bones:

<gap desc="figure">

Ulna

Thumb

1st finger

hand like bone

2nd finger

Forearm

Radius

Humerus

The feathers all hang off from the 9 bones shown above.

2 of the 12 air sacs connect (1 each) to the upper part of the 'humerus'.

2 The joints of the bones are extremely flexible so that the <reg>bird's</reg> wings can fold up when they aren't using them:

<gap desc="figure">

Humerus

Ulna

Radius

Thumb

Forearm

HAND

1st finger

2nd finger

<gap desc="figure">

<gap desc="figure">

This part of the wing folds under the top part.

3 KEEL: The keel is a projected plate of bone that comes from the 6 breast bones (ribs).

The keel is an anchorage for the bird's wing muscles. It also is joined up with the wishbone which is two joined collarbones. The bird has wishbones because it helps to keep the wing muscles down. (so it doesn't fall off, <reg>basically</reg>, when the wing is flapping downwards!)

<gap desc="figure">

ARM

ARM

page 7 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="6.">

4 LEGS AND PELVIS: The pelvis or hip girdle's function is to give support to the legs, give an expanded area to the leg muscles to attach to and it also lets the tail hang down from it.

1.<gap desc="figure">

2.<gap desc="figure">

3.<gap desc="figure">

Pygostyle (base for all tail feathers)

The legs have 17 bones: The 14 claw and toe bones and the 3 leg ones:

<gap desc="figure">

femur

Tarsus

Hind toe

Bulky joint (all the toes base here)

False knee/Ankle

Tibia

LIGHTWEIGHT BONES: The bones of a bird <sic>has</sic> to be lightweight because of the flight restrictions.

The land animals have bones full of a honeycomb patterned tissue and the bird's is full of lightweight struts, which are reinforced, and honeycombed lightweight patterns, in their hollow bones.

The pigeon's skeleton weighs one twentieth of <reg>its</reg> body weight and a Bald Eagle's 270g out of 4kg the other 3060g of internal organs (intestine, stomach...) the rest (670g) of feathers.

page 8 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="7.">

<gap desc="figure">

1. Gullet

2. Crop

3. Heart

4. Liver

5. Stomach

6. Gizzard

7. Small intestine

8. Pancreas

9. Cloaca

10. Lung

11. Kidney.

BREATHING

Each lung has 6 air sacs. In the centre of each lung a passage leads to the syrinx (bird's song chamber), then that leads to the wind pipe (trachea).

GIZZARD

The gizzard is a muscular bag that grinds up food. The bird swallows small stones to help it grind. (The bird's alternative to teeth.)

CROP

I don't know what the 'crop' is for but in a Pigeon/Dove the lining of it is produced, <reg>regurgitated</reg> 'Pigeon milk'.

Both parents produce it as they take turns on the nest.

The 'milk' is lumpy and thick and made of droplets of fat contained by masses of cells, it contains no lactose but has as much vitamin A as a standard drop of cod liver oil.

page 9 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

Feathers

<gap desc="figure">

<chpb desc="8.">

Wings.

<gap desc="figure">

Feathers ARE flight.

If the lift of the wings <sic>are</sic> greater than the force of gravity... We have lift off!

Different types of feathers:

Wing: Inner flight feathers: help to provide <sic>up lift</sic> and they have symmetrical areas on each side of the quill.

Outer flight feathers: help to steer and also provide an <sic>up lift</sic>. They are <reg>asymmetrical</reg>.

Wing Coverts: form a smooth, streamline surface for air and wind to flow over in the front of the wing (base).

Contour feathers: are essential for a streamline body, which is essential for speed. Also 'overlapping' is the trick: forming smooth tops for air to flow over.

I wrote this with a quill and ink.

Pigeon Wing.

<gap desc="figure">

Outer flight feathers

Inner flight feathers

Wing Coverts

Contour feathers

There are downy feathers like contour feathers and wing coverts.

<gap desc="imported material"> - Contour feathers - <gap desc="imported material">

<gap desc="imported material"> - Tail or Wing Coverts

There are 'slick' feathers like outer and inner flight feathers.

<gap desc="imported material"> - Outer flight feather.

There are half and half feathers.

<gap desc="imported material"> - A Kestrel's Body feather.

A more &quot;<sic>un-downy</sic>&quot; wing or tail covert! <gap desc="imported material">

<NOTE desc="written sideways in margin"> These feathers are probably all <reg>Doves'</reg> except for the Kestrel one. </note>

page 10 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<gap desc="figure">

Feathers

<gap desc="figure">

<chpb desc="9.">

Body and Tail.

The tail feathers on a bird (and of course the tail itself!) <sic>steers</sic>the body.

Apart from that the body is covered with contour feathers and the rest are just the same.

Quills are usually made from a large bird such as a goose or swan's feather, as it will not take much pressure, it will take more than any other birds'.

People's first pen was a quill!: <gap desc="figure">

They shaved the feathers off with a knife.<gap desc="figure">

Then they cut the thickest tip into a nib of a calligraphy pen shape:<gap desc="figure">. They did this very carefully so that the quill (made out of keratin) would not split.

A quill has to be circular because that is the natural form that is the best strength for it.

The quill has got keratin in it so it isn't totally hollow: <reg>It's</reg> 'hollowness' is like this: <gap desc="figure">

hollow

filled with keratin.

Keratin is what our nails, skin and hair <sic>is</sic> made out of. (A tough and flexible protein).

Also it evolved from the dinosaur scales.

Now it is the skin, hair and nails, feathers and quills and reptile and insect scales that we know today.

Birds' uses of feathers:

Sometimes they are used for displays like the Peacocks'.

Keeping warm.

Warning and warding off

Flight

Balancing

Fighting and nest lining.

Feathers need to be oiled and that is done by an oiling gland on the body: The birds put the oil on to <reg>its</reg> beak and <sic>rubs</sic> it through

page 11 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="10.">

their feathers thus making them waterproof.

<NOTE desc="warning written at top of page">PLEASE DON'T OPEN FOLDER.</NOTE>

If you get the exact right light for this Peacock's feather you will see that there are some 'stress bars' in it.

The stress bars are caused by changes in diet <NOTE desc="no punctuation"> in this feather it is a dark purple colour situated on the lower part of the feather

<gap desc="imported material">

<gap desc="imported material">

These feathers are all from peacocks/peahens (female peacocks). But I am not absolutely sure about the one below, I think it's a peahen/peacock's because there is a <reg>translucent</reg> part and is probably used for displays.

<gap desc="imported material">

page 12 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="11.">

<gap desc="figure">

Crested Pigeon

page 13 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="12.">

Types

A list of all the different types of Doves and Pigeons. The Dove (not to confuse you) is a smaller version of a pigeon although now they're about the same size.

DOVES (LEFT)

no. 1-3 and 7 are the common doves you see. (NOT NO.2)

<gap desc="ditto mark"> 4-6 are the southern and equatorial doves. (4-7)

no. 8 Escapees from cages may be seen around Turkey!

<gap desc="ditto mark">. 9-14 are N.American doves

<gap desc="ditto mark">. 15 is an African collared species.

ONE-NAMED 'COLUMBIDAE' (MIDDLE)

<gap desc="ditto mark">. 16. The Nicobar comes from the East Indies <NOTE desc="no punctuation"> it probably comes from the Nicobar Islands.

<gap desc="ditto mark">. 17. The Bronze wings <sic>comes</sic> from Australia named after <reg>its</reg> bronze spots (on <reg>its</reg> wings).

page 14 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="13.">

no. 18 actually I don't know 1 thing about it!

PIGEONS (RIGHT)

<gap desc="ditto mark">. 1 and 4 are the commonly, everyday seen pigeons.

<gap desc="ditto mark">. 2 is an Australian pigeon.

<gap desc="ditto mark">. 3 is a hot <sic>countried</sic> pigeon.

<gap desc="ditto mark">. 5 is a N.American pigeon.

<gap desc="ditto mark">. 6-13 are ornamental birds (pigeons or doves).

<gap desc="ditto mark">. 14 is a town pigeon.

<gap desc="ditto mark">. 15 is the only wild member of <reg>its</reg> genus in the U.S.

All of these Pigeons and Doves are descendants of the Rock Dove, except the Barbary Dove and they do not interbreed.

The group's Latin name is 'COLUMBIDAE'

The common bird's Latin names are

STOCK DOVE - COLUMBA OENAS

WOODPIGEON - <gap desc="ditto mark"> PALUMBUS

ROCK DOVE - <gap desc="ditto mark"> LIVIA

COLLARED DOVE - STREPTOPELIA DECAOCTO

The Rock Doves came to the town as their natural habitat (caves and sea cliffs) were destroyed they thought the HUGE buildings were cliffs.

The American 'Ringed Turtle Dove' is the same as the 'Collared Dove'

Doves in general are thought to be more, kind of, &quot;<sic>gentler</sic>&quot;.

You can tell a Woodpigeon from other birds because of <reg>its</reg> 4 white bands underneath <reg>its</reg> body: <gap desc="figure">

You can see if a bird is a Pigeon/Dove because when it is flying it keeps <reg>its</reg> head up and it has a silhouette of the head which is like this:<gap desc="figure">

The Pigeons look like this:<gap desc="figure">

You can tell the female and male apart in town pigeons because the female is grey, blue <reg>with</reg> <reg>iridescent</reg> blue, green, <reg>purple</reg> neck patches and the male is brown and white.

page 15 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="14.">

<gap desc="figure"> - 1 flap

The flight above is the pattern of the Collared Dove's, although they have <reg>lots</reg> of different patterns.

The ornamental 'Jacobine' was Queen Victoria's favourite pet.

The 'Collared Dove' sounds like this: <sic>'Cuck-croo-cuk'</sic> they say this repeatedly and in flight they also purr a <sic>'Tchairr'</sic>.

The 'Rock Dove' sounds like this: <sic>'Coo'</sic> in a rolling deep voice repeatedly.

The 'Stock Dove' sounds like this: <sic>'Coo-oo'</sic>.

The 'Woodpigeon' sounds like this: <sic>'cooooo-coo-coo-coo-coo'</sic>.

(What a family of <sic>cooers</sic>!)

When Elizabeth the first came to the throne she discovered that the English didn't know how to make gunpowder and we started off by making 'Guano Gunpowder!'.

Charles Darwin estimated there were 150 breeds of Pigeon (all descendants of the Rock Dove) at the time racing Pigeons started to evolve into a sporting breed.

A Collared <reg>Dove's</reg> egg shell looks like this: <gap desc="imported material">

(Not usually crushed!)

It is 44mm long

44mm / 4.4cm <gap desc="figure">

The adults usually bring up a 'Pigeon pair'!

Squabs: After 17-18 days they hatch and once newly hatched they have some yellow fluffy down, when about 35 days old, with their grey, dull plumage. They hatch with total yellow 'fluff' and a white tooth.

Pictures

Pg: 1. Archangel

<gap desc="ditto mark"> 11. Crested Pigeon

<gap desc="ditto mark"> 15. <reg>Stock Dove</reg>, Turtle Dove

<gap desc="ditto mark"> 16. Diamond Dove, Cape Dove, Bleeding Heart Pigeon.

<gap desc="ditto mark"> 17. Ground Dove, Inca Dove, Band-Tailed Pigeon.

<gap desc="ditto mark"> 18. White-Winged Dove, Mourning Dove.

<gap desc="ditto mark"> 20 and 21. Ornamental Pigeons

<gap desc="ditto mark"> 26. Passenger Pigeon.

<gap desc="ditto mark"> 27. Spotted Dove and Palm Dove.

page 16 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="15.">

Stockdove

<gap desc="figure">

Turtle Dove

<gap desc="figure">

page 17 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="16.">

<gap desc="figure">

Diamond Dove (<gap desc="colour key"> - Blue, grey colour.)

<gap desc="figure">

Cape Dove

<gap desc="figure">

Bleeding-heart Pigeon.

page 18 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="17.">

Ground Dove

<gap desc="figure">

Inca Dove

<gap desc="figure">

Band-tailed Pigeon

<gap desc="figure">

page 19 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="18.">

<gap desc="figure">

White-winged Dove

Mourning Dove

<gap desc="figure">

page 20 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="19.">

Ornamental Pigeons

Ornamental Pigeons are amongst the greatest looking birds.

At the time of the <reg>messenger</reg> Pigeons they became popular on the show bench. Especially the Fantail Dove/Pigeon and Archangel breed, they're much the most popular of the 8+ breeds, (shown across the page). The governing body in the U.K. is called the N.ational. P.igeon A.ssociation also there are clubs for different breeds.

In Harrogate and London there are big shows held and also there are journals called 'Pigeons and Pigeon World' and 'Fur and Feather'. There are two main categories in shows: the long faces and short faces.

OWL

One well known short-faced breed is the Owl from Tunis, Tunisia, N.Africa with its oriental frill.

Fantail.

'Croppers' breed big breasted birds like the 'Holle' from the Netherlands "it's like a round white ball on legs".

One of the earliest dates known of the 'Fantail' breed was in the C17th.

Dr. Richard Armstrong said that it shared the glories of the marble palace with Shah Jehan and the White Peacock and the White elephant.

Now it's the very popular Fantail Pigeon from long ago introduced to Britain from the 1600's.

ARCHANGEL.

<NOTE desc="poem written by Updike - convert to gap?">

'Onyx and split cedar and bronze vessels lowered into still water: these things I offer. Porphyry, teakwood, jasmine and myrrh: these gifts I bring. The sheen of my sandals is dulled by the dust of cloves. My wings are waxed with nectar. My eyes are diamonds in whose facets red gold is mirrored. My face is a mask of ivory: Love me.

Listen to my promises:

Cold water will drip from the intricately chased designs of the bronzed vessels. Thick-lipped urns will sweat in the fragrant cellars. The orchards never weary of bearing on my islands. The very leaves give nourishment. The banked branches never crowd the paths. The grape vines will grow unattended. The very seeds of the berries are sweet nuts. Why do you smile? Have you never been hungry?'

The blank verse poem goes on, it's written by John Updike 'Pigeon Feathers'', page 169+.

The Archangel's bronze coloured with black markings. It is associated with gentle, bronze, yellow and peace.

page 21 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="20.">

<gap desc="figure"> fantail

<gap desc="figure"> Pouter

<gap desc="figure"> Blue Tumbler

<gap desc="figure"> Archangel

<gap desc="figure"> Owl

<gap desc="figure"> Jacobine

<gap desc="figure"> Magpie

<gap desc="figure"> Tur-Bit

page 22 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="21.">

IMAGINED DRAWINGS BASED ON DESCRIPTION

<NOTE desc="marginal note written sideways"> (ALL THIS DESCRIPTION COMES FROM 'THE PUBLIC LIFE OF THE STREET PIGEON' BY ERIC SIMMS.)</NOTE>

HOLLE CROPPER

<gap desc="figure">

'Holle cropper from the Netherlands looks like a round white ball on legs'.

Lots of fancy Pigeon breeds, mostly the 'short-faced' ones, have been bred for 'looks', causing difficulties of the natural life, like feeding their young, due to the fact of the abnormalities of the skull, weight (maybe crushing the eggs before they hatch) and the crop.

MODENA

<gap desc="figure">

'Perhaps the most popular of the exhibition Pigeons is the Modena from Italy - portly with broad chest, head held high and tail pointed upwards.'

MUFFED TUMBLER

<gap desc="figure">

'There are also exhibition tumblers which do not tumble and others which do; their heads are wide and round with full cheeks and a fine cere. The exhibition tumblers include the self, the beard the mottle and the rosewing. The muffed tumbler carries long cumbersome feathers on the leg'.

SHORT-FACED TUMBLER

<gap desc="figure">

'The Turbit, the Short-Faced Tumbler and the Barb with its fleshy beak, jowl wattles and eye ceres'.

NUN

<gap desc="figure">

'Then are the Nun, dark-headed with a shell-like hood formed from reverse growth of its feathers'.

DRAGON

<gap desc="figure">

'The very hardy and strong Dragon looks rather like a Wild Rock Dove, but it has a large cere'.

RUSSIAN TRUMPETER

<gap desc="figure">

'The Russian Trumpeter carries a rose-pattern of feathers on top of its head and a large fan of feathers spreading out and curving backwards from each leg.'

Also there are many varieties, lots rare, mostly descendants of breeds from (imported) the Continent.

page 23 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="22.">

History

Pigeons and Doves have been used in so many ways: Pigeons for thought, Pablo Pigeon/Picasso, Pigeon weapons and LOTS more.

DOVES AND PIGEONS IN MYTHS AND LEGENDS:

DOVES: In paintings the Dove was used as a symbol of the Holy Ghost usually above someone's head showing the presence of God. (It is always a White Dove.)

Doves and Pigeons were prominent in 'Aphrodite's shrines.

Athene's emblem was a Dove with an olive branch in <reg>its</reg> beak.

The Dove was sacred to 'Adonis' and Bacchus.

'Virgil' (in 'The Aeneid') describes how two Doves led 'Aeneas' to the dull vale where the 'Golden Bough' grew, on a tree whence shone a flickering gleam of gold.

The Goddess 'Ishtar' chose a Dove as her <reg>messenger</reg> in the Babylonian 'Flood-myth'. (This is a detail of the Hebrew version of 'Noah and the Ark' where the Dove is sent to see if there is dry land...

In a modern Greek tale a magician's life bound up with 3 Doves in the belly of a wild boar when the first is killed the boar grows ill; when the second dies he gets worse; then he dies when the third is killed. The Dove in this tale represents his (<reg>magicians'</reg>) external soul.

The Dove is a symbol of a purified soul; the raven is of sin. Seven Doves are a symbol of the seven gifts of the spirit. A flock of Doves shows the faithful; just like White Doves being released at a wedding.

SHOOTING:

Passenger Pigeons are now extinct because they have been shot, eaten and caught.

Eating: One person named Mr. Cox used to catch 500 at a time in nets as they were so popular and many in 19th century; Mr.Cox sold them from 6-10 cents per dozen, he also took even bigger numbers, put them in a cage and fed them with boiled and salted wheat. After a month their

page 24 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="23.">

breasts became light-coloured and then <sic>demanding</sic> a doubled 12-20 cents a dozen; as the meat was so much <sic>tenderer</sic> and better.

There also, of course, were other ways that you could treat the meat as this way: to salt the Pigeon and freshen it over night in sweet water.

Hogs also were fed Pigeons in large quantities.

Woodpigeons were also used for Pigeon pie; I don't know how they cooked it but honestly I don't want to!

Feathers: The Passenger Pigeon's feathers were used for bedding; an untrue/failed experiment told some years ago that a person would never die on a bed made out of Pigeon feathers.

Shooting as a sport: People do shooting as a sport and also used to do it for 'Pest control'. They also used to be poisoned and one couple used to go and see them die once they'd been poisoned. Clay Pigeon shooting is where an electrical machine shoots clay discs at different heights and speeds while someone stands in a certain place with headphones and shoots at <sic>it</sic>. Also a very sad story is of the one about a Pigeon shot down with a message saying "mother is dead" in London:

The young sportsman was very proud and not caring about the message but much pleased about the fact that he'd shot the passing <reg>messenger</reg> Pigeon, with the message tied to <reg>its</reg> wing, in Hampstead Marsh.

<NOTE desc="marginal note"> Don't bother trying to understand this (explained here!)</NOTE>

The original <reg>birds</reg> to <sic>fly's</sic> to Pigeons are the <reg>kestrels</reg> <NOTE desc="no punctuation"> peregrine <reg>falcons</reg> and <reg>kites</reg> because they used to eat and keep down the number of domesticated Pigeons but because of the 2nd World War they have been shot in fear of taking the lives of <reg>messenger</reg> Pigeons with messages.

Also the Pigeons have been shot if a German saw <sic>it</sic>.

Pigeons and Dove in Art:

Pigeons and Doves in Art as I've said before the White Dove represents the Holy Ghost (or presence of God).

Lots of famous painters painted scenes of angels, Mary and Joseph... with Doves above them.

page 25 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="24.">

Also at the end of the 1st World War Pablo Picasso painted a poster of a White Dove representing peace which originally came from the fact that they pair for life.

Escher (a tesselation, geometrical srtist) drew a lot of Pigeons/Doves in his pictures.

This is a section of one of Escher's pictures.

<gap desc="figure">

Weapon Pigeons:

The 'pelican missile' used three Pigeons to target somethng like a ship. (All especially trained).

<gap desc="figure">

The Pigeons pecked at a target that they had been shown and related it to the real thing, steering the missile.

Winkie was awarded a Dicken medal for delivering a message from a Bristol Beaufort that had crashed 120 miles out in the N.Sea he was oily and bedraggled but got the crew a trophy! Ships were designed with flaps about the size of one hand and a Pigeon to go through with messages.

In Brussels and Lille monuments were raised in Pigeons' honour as they provided such help and value in both world wars.

In the U.S.A a few of the Pigeon heroes were stuffed and displayed at the Army Signal Corps Museum and the National Museum.

Private breeders supplied 200,000 Pigeons to the British Armed Services in the 2nd World War and 50,000 were bred in the U.S.A by the U.S.Army. About17,000 were parachuted to the <reg>German-occupied</reg> Europe Resistance people, 2000 returned mainly to the top storey of a large department store in London's Oxford Street.

In case people ditched their planes in the N.Sea they always took 2

page 26 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

Pigeons aboard.

<chpb desc="25.">

Also guano gunpowder: was the secret of the gunpowder ingredients. Guano is Pigeon droppings and Elizabeth the 1st came to the throne discovering that the English didn't know how to make gunpowder. Then she got a German Captain to come to England to teach them/us! People started to stock up on Pigeons making Warehouses full of Pigeon and Doves making the 'guano' (bird droppings).

Uses of Pigeons and Doves.

Pathfinder (2 years old) was the first racing <sic>Pigeons</sic> to deliver blood samples, his, her (its) first test flight was in Devon.

Pigeons also have been used to take aerial photos of streets. Cameras strapped to the Pigeons' breasts took pictures when the birds flew through streets.

They've helped to make people and scientists understand birds' navigation. One test was to put a <NOTE desc="warning message embedded in mid-sentence"> WARNING: (another 'health warning') IF YOU'RE A BIT 'SQUEAMISH' SKIP TO THE NEXT PARAGRAPH!!!</NOTE> frosted, opaque contact <reg>lens</reg> made from gelatin that is fitted especially to the Pigeon's eye, then after <sic>released</sic> it dissolves 80 miles from home. This has proved that Pigeons only need their vision for their actual landing and not so much for spotting land marks.<gap desc="figure">

page 27 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<gap desc="imported material">

page 28 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="26.">

<gap desc="figure">

Passenger Pigeon

(Extinct)

page 29 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="27.">

Spotted Dove

<gap desc="figure">

Palm Dove

<gap desc="figure">

page 30 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="28.">

<gap desc="figure"> Facts

I must warn you that these facts are not in order! They also are about every bird.

1. African <UNCLEAR> Bustards and the Mute <reg>Swans</reg> are the heaviest flying birds weighing up to 18kg.

2. The Cuban Bee Hummingbird weighs less than 2g and is about the size of a teabag. <gap desc="figure">

3. There are round about a total of 100,000,000,000 birds in the world.<gap desc="figure">

4. Arctic terns migrate from one end of the world to another (further than any other bird).<gap desc="figure">

5. In the U.K. the smallest bird is a Goldcrest weighing 5.7g and 9cm long (about the size of a computer disc).

<gap desc="figure"> Please don't insert me!

6. Ostriches are the largest birds in the world. Weighing 104kg and taller than a minibus at 2.74 metres.

<gap desc="figure">I can't even hitch a lift nowadays!

7. Near Woods, water and seasides is a good place to see birds.

<gap desc="figure"> <sic>Oi</sic>, you're looking the wrong way

8. <reg>Kiwis</reg> (from New Zealand) can lay eggs up to 1 <reg>quarter</reg> of the size of <reg>its</reg> own body.

<gap desc="figure"> That's just for incubating 1 egg!

9. Doves (Collared) often like to sit on lamp-posts, <reg>aerials</reg> and <reg>chimneys</reg> and <reg>rooves</reg>.

<gap desc="figure">

10. Usually Wrens are the most common birds in the U.K.

<gap desc="figure">Common People!

11. 5 elevenths out of 550 (250) is the number of birds that are regular birds in the U.K. Out of 550, 300 are non-U.K.<sic>lives</sic>. 550 (by the way) is sighted species in the U.K. Are you still with me?

<gap desc="figure">

page 31 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="29.">

12. Feet and toes:

two toes pointing forwards and back - Gripping.

Webbed - Swimming.

Long toes - Slip proof.

Sharp clawed - Gripping onto vertical surfaces

<gap desc="figure">

13. The Quetzal (a precious bird from the cloud forests) was an important bird to the Aztecs. They used the long tail feathers of the male bird for headdresses, clothes and shield decorations.

Quetzalcoatl means the 'feathered serpent' (in <sic>Azteconian</sic> of course!) he was the God that the Aztecs believed in and he was said to have returned and helped Cortes (the Spanish persuader) persuade the Aztecs to hand over the land.

So that ended up with the Aztec time lasting 4 centuries 1200-1500. These fascinating birds also have a clever way of not being eaten by predators: they either make a hole of their own or use an old <reg>woodpecker's</reg>, they each take turns incubating the eggs. The male turns over and makes his tail look like a fern.

<gap desc="figure">

14. The Azure-rumped robin thrush has only been seen once in the last 50 years in the cloud forest in Mexico.<gap desc="figure">

WALK THIS WAY

15. Pigeons and Doves use their fan-shaped tail to brake as they are landing. Pigeons and Doves have not got many other enemies because of their size Seagulls and Magpies are the only ones that they're afraid of.

The fan tail is often folded up into a <gap desc="figure"> shape when it isn't used unless it is being used for displays.<gap desc="figure">

16. Peregrine falcons in the 2nd World War were shot because they ate the <reg>messenger</reg> pigeons so now they are rare.<gap desc="figure"> Also pigeons <reg>were</reg> used to peck at 3 holes to guide missiles on to targets.

page 32 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="30.">

17. 'Hob' (a Pregrine falcon) once asked his owner for help to catch a pheasant and once he followed his owner's car in heavy traffic when he was lost!

<gap desc="figure">

Thanks

18. One scientist (B.F.Skinner) <sic>tested</sic> pigeons to tap in the right sequences of buttons to get food while another taught pigeons to tap at lights to get food.

Another scientist (W.H.Thorpe) proved that Chaffinches learnt their song from their 'elders' by rearing two up <reg>separately </reg> .

<gap desc="figure">

EXAM:

19. One photographer (Robert Gross) was photographing Kingfishers and he noticed Robins always came to 'observe' the <reg>Kingfishers'</reg> technique.

When the Kingfisher left they had a go, not quite getting at <reg>its</reg> best but soon they learnt from their mistakes.

<gap desc="figure">

FISH MONGERS

20. <reg>Jays</reg> sometimes 'ant' themselves by letting ants crawl all over <sic>it's</sic> plumage, the ant releases <gap desc="figure"> poisonous formic acid and this helps the Jay to dislodge parasites.

21. Lazy birds can always have dust baths which is like rolling in dust to dry and make dirt fall off <sic>it</sic>!

<gap desc="figure">

22. The Mandarin duck (that I was going to do my project on) has got a 'sail' feather just like a boat.

<gap desc="figure">

LITTLE

I knew that sail was a bad idea!

23. In the breeding season <reg>Puffins'</reg> beaks have colourful patterns on them but as they head out for sea in Winter they fall off and return in Spring time again.

This doesn't mean the beaks fall off but the horny sheath that is formed does.

<gap desc="figure">

Back to my boring old self again.

page 33 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="31.">

<gap desc="figure">

Zebra Dove

page 34 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="32.">

Birdwatching

To learn to identify birds a good way is to make notes and sketches:

If everytime you notice a bird you notice <reg>its</reg> shape like this:

you can get a good idea of what it is.

<NOTE desc="text written in margin"> Examples shown are of a Rock <sic>Dove's</sic>.</NOTE>

<gap desc="figure">

1. <gap desc="figure">

BEAK:

How does it join up?

What shape is it?

Has it got any markings?

Colour?

2. <gap desc="figure">

EYE:

Does it have anything around it?

Colour?

Shape?

Where?

3. <gap desc="figure">

HEAD:

Shape?

Colour?

4. <gap desc="figure">

NECK:

Colour/markings?

Shape?

5. <gap desc="figure">

BACK:

Colour/Markings?

Shape?

6. <gap desc="figure">

TAIL:

Shape flying/standing?

Colour/markings?

How does it join.

7. <gap desc="figure">

BREAST:

Shape joining?

Colour? (marking)

8. <gap desc="figure">

BELLY:

Shape?

Colour/Markings?

Around it? Wing?...

9. <gap desc="figure">

WING:

Marking/Colour?

Shape flying/still?

10. <gap desc="figure">

LEGS:

Colour? /

Shape?/

feathers?

Where!?

11. <gap desc="figure">

CLAWS:

Shape? How many toes?

Colour/markings?

page 35 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="33.">

<gap desc="figure">

A Rock Dove

Binoculars: 8 x 30 is a perfect combination for magnifications to be. The first number: for example the '8' is how much the object is magnified by and the 2nd number maybe '30' means how wide it is (30&deg;). Some binoculars have a coating to make everything lighter when <reg>it's</reg> dark but not like an infra-red. These are called polarized binoculars. Remember the higher power the binoculars are the more you have to keep <sic>it</sic> still otherwise the vision looks out of focus.

Cameras: Also need a sturdy support (more) the higher power. Tripods are perfect for outside.

'35mm SLR cameras' are perfect for bird photography. The 35mm SLR is good because it gives you the exact picture through the view-finder. In flight it's more difficult and you need to practise focussing rapidly.

A telephoto <reg>lens</reg> makes a much larger image. The standard 50mm camera shows a smallish and kind of indistinct picture.

page 36 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="34">

<gap desc="figure">

Glossary. (The definitions are to what it <reg>applies</reg> to on the page.) (All in alphabetical order).

Page A

21. Abnormalities : Not normal.

22. Adonis: Young man loved by Goddess Aphrodite.

22. Aeneas: A classical myth, the Trojan Prince.

22. Aeneid: An epic poem by Virgil in Latin.

25. Aerial: To do with air and <reg>height</reg>.

7. Alternative: A different definition.

22. Aphrodite: The Goddess of love and beauty.

Associated: Something that you think of straight away when you think of a specific thing.

22. Athene: The Goddess of practical skills, wisdom and prudent warfare.

22. Aztecs: Indian Mexicans who established an empire in the 3rd century.

29. Azure: Similar colour to a clear sky blue.

B

22. Babylonian: Something belonging to Babylonia.

22. Bacchus: A God of wine and giver of ecstasy.

19. Bearing: Producing/Giving.

24. Beaufort: A scale of wind velocities

24. Bedraggled: Down trodden.

4. Binocular Vision: 3D vision.

25. Blood Samples: A measure or example of blood type.

24. Brussels: Capital of Belgium.

C

9. Calligraphy: A type of handwriting.

1. Capitalize: My word for making something into capitals!

22. Cents: American currency.

21. Cere: A fleshy soft and waxy swelling at the base of a beak that contains the nostrils.

9. Circular: A round shape.

29. Cloud Forest: A forest in the clouds.

33. Combination: Different types of figures and letters fitted in a stable combination i.e. <sic>CZXO524.</sic>

page 37 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="35.">

19. Croppers: People who breed Pigeons especially for their 'Pigeon milk'.

21. Cumbersome: Things that get in the way.

D

13. Descendants: Coming from one main thing.

24. Dicken Medal: A medal from the 2nd World War.

30. Dislodge: To come away or to part with.

25. Dissolves: To <reg>disintegrate</reg> .

8. Downy: Fluffy.

22. Dozen: 12.

E

30. Elders: Older species of its type.

22. Emblem: Sign of recognition.

12. Equatorial: Around the countries of the equator.

9. Evolved: Made up around something specific.

22. External: Outer part/outside.

4. Eye Sockets: The holes in the front of you skull that <sic>contains</sic> your eyeballs.

F

16. Facets: Any surface of a flat, cut gem.

33. Focusing: To fix someone's attention to.

30. Formic Acid: Formula HCOOH. A colourless <reg>corrosive</reg> liquid carboxylic acid.

30. Formed: Made.

19. Frill: The curling of the feathers.

25. Frosted: A degree of coldness where things form 'snowflakes' on them.

G

25. Gelatin: A liquid used to gel things together.

13. Genus: Family/Type.

24. Geometrical: Straight-lined shapes.

9. Glands: Sensitive tubes that mix chemicals to provide <sic>water-proofness</sic>.

8. Gravity: One of Earth's forces.

page 38 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="36.">

14. Guano Gunpowder: See page 25.

7. Gullet: A bird's throat.

H

13. Habitat: Specific surroundings.

6. Honeycomb: A Pattern of hexagons joined together: <gap desc="figure">

I

32. Identify: To match something to something else i.e.: some kind of bird to a decription.

33. Image: A vision.

28. Incubating: Making eggs warm so that they won't be undeveloped. This is done by sitting on the eggs.

33. Indistinct: Not definite.

28. Insert: To put in.

13. Interbreed: Bred from female and male of different breeds. <sic>I.e</sic>: female Rock Dove and male Woodpigeon.

19 Intricately: Involved deeply.

13. <reg>Iridescent</reg> : Shining (reflected light).

22. Ishtar: The principal Goddess of the Babylonians and Assyrians, divinity of love, fertility and war.

J

21. Jowl Wattles: A bird's feature which is flesh hanging from the lower jaw.

L

25. Landmarks: A recognised building in a certain place. Like Blackpool tower in Blackpool.

13. Latin: The language of ancient Rome and the Roman Empire.

22. Legends: Old tales that aren't known if they're true or not.

24. Lille: An industrial city in the North of France.

9. Lining: A layer of material inside something.

M

33. Magnification: A <reg>lens</reg> that enlarges something.

page 39 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="37.">

32. Markings: A design. <reg>i.e.</reg> A <reg>tiger's</reg> stripes.

29. Missile: A weapon fired <sic>and and</sic> guided to a target.

22. Myths: See 'legends'.

N

25. Navigation: To plan a route or remember one.

12. Nicobar Islands: Islands off the coast of East India, West Burma and North Sumatra.

19. Nourishment: Something filling, fresh and pure.

O

19. Onyx: Gemstone. A marble kind of looking one.

25. Opaque: See through.

4. Organs: Parts of the inside of the body like the heart and lungs...

1. Ornamental: Decorative.

P

30. Parasites: A microscopic animal that lives on <reg>animals'</reg> bodies.

9. People's first pen was a quill?: NOT! I couldn't change the writing.

33. Perfect: The right thing.

14. Pigeon Pair: 2 children (Pigeons always raise 2 squabs).

38. Plumage: A form of feathers around the bird's body.

33. Polarized: Making things brighter.

19. Porphyry: Reddy-purple gem <reg>with</reg> large crystals.

22. Prominent: Standing out.

9. Protein: Any one of a large group of nitrogenous <NOTE desc="unfinished sentence">

22. Purified: All good and satisfactory.

Q

9. Quills: See page 9.

R

30. Rearing: Bringing up.

24. Resistance: The French resisting the Germans.

29. <sic>Rumped</sic>: The back of a bird: <gap desc="figure"> Rump.

S

22. Sacred: Devoted to a religion.

page 40 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="38.">

19. Sheen: Bright, glistening, reflected light.

22. Shrines: A place of worship.

13. Silhouette: A figure standing against light causing itself to be a dull brown, black colour.

8. Slick: Thin and smooth.

22. Soul: The spirit of a living man.

25. SQUEAMISH: Afraid of something.

33. Standard: Up to expectation.

8. Streamline: Designed for speed.

4. Structure: Form of something. <gap desc="arrows to indicate corrected alphabetical order">

33. Sturdy: Firm.

I

29. Target: A place to aim at.

30. Technique: A way of doing something.

1. TEDIOUS: 'Slowly but surely!'

33. Telephoto: Any enlargement camera <reg>lens</reg> that can be attached to a camera.

24 Tesselation: Shapes that fit together and don't leave gaps.

6. Tissue: A part of an organism made out of lots of cells.

33. Tripods: A stand for putting a camera on without shaking.

U

19. Urns: Vessels.

V

22. Vale: Valley.

12. Version: An example, something like it.

29. Vertical: Upright. <reg>i.e.</reg> the wall is vertical <gap desc="figure">.

22. Virgil: A Latin poet.

W

9. Warding: Warning something to go away.

22. Whence: Then.

3. White tooth: An egg tooth that protects the beak and helps crack the shell.

page 41 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

<chpb desc="39.">

Index

page 42 [ next page ] [ previous page ] [ DS5.3 index ]

(All parts, except for page 21, are adaptations from the text of the following books.)

<chpb desc="40.">

<sic>Thankyous</sic>

Thank you to all the family and friends that have helped in various ways.

<name key="Denise">

</text>