DEFY "RAT-WITH-WINGS" STEROTYPE

[John_D]

Pigeon intelligence is always an interesting one.

Heck, Warren, your birds just have to be smarter than the average - I bet they're told on hatching how they have to keep up the Smith family standard

But, yes, I do think it's "horses for courses" to a great extent. Maybe pigeon intelligence is demonstrated in how well they cope with the environment and 'lifestyle' they have, how resourceful they are if they hit new situations, how well they adapt to change and suchlike.

Warren's mention of SAT scores is actually a good point! There's stuff that they do from instinct and stuff they have to learn, be it from their parents, other pigeons or the fancier who wants them to race. There are those that learn quick and well, and those who don't.

We got a racer in the aviary who was not a good learner - he insisted on flying in the opposite directon to where he should've on training tosses, and suceeding in flying into an unyielding object. Needless to say, his owner disowned him.

I find with our rescues in the aviary that the odd pigeon will do something which no-one has taught them but which results in a particular need they have being met by us. Like, Hurdy would climb up the mesh when we stood outside and look at us, like he was asking for something. We figured he wanted twigs for his nest, and gave him some - and, heck, that was what he wanted. A lone hen, Chickpea, has a box which one of the older males kept pushing her out of. If I saw him, I'd evict him. After a while, Chickpea would fly to my shoulder (not something she does habitually) and invariably I would turn round and see Gurdy had taken her box again, and she needed me to chuck him out!

Me, I doubt we'll ever really know what goes on inside those little heads

John

[mr squeaks]

Originally Posted by John_D

Pigeon intelligence is always an interesting one.

Heck, Warren, your birds just have to be smarter than the average - I bet they're told on hatching how they have to keep up the Smith family standard

But, yes, I do think it's "horses for courses" to a great extent. Maybe pigeon intelligence is demonstrated in how well they cope with the environment and 'lifestyle' they have, how resourceful they are if they hit new situations, how well they adapt to change and suchlike.

Warren's mention of SAT scores is actually a good point! There's stuff that they do from instinct and stuff they have to learn, be it from their parents, other pigeons or the fancier who wants them to race. There are those that learn quick and well, and those who don't.

We got a racer in the aviary who was not a good learner - he insisted on flying in the opposite directon to where he should've on training tosses, and suceeding in flying into an unyielding object. Needless to say, his owner disowned him.

Ohhh, can I RELATE! I have an "opposite" sense of direction too! NO ONE ever asks me to navigate! Fortunately, tho, I haven't "run" into any unyielding objects and no one has "disowned" me...yet...

I find with our rescues in the aviary that the odd pigeon will do something which no-one has taught them but which results in a particular need they have being met by us. Like, Hurdy would climb up the mesh when we stood outside and look at us, like he was asking for something. We figured he wanted twigs for his nest, and gave him some - and, heck, that was what he wanted. A lone hen, Chickpea, has a box which one of the older males kept pushing her out of. If I saw him, I'd evict him. After a while, Chickpea would fly to my shoulder (not something she does habitually) and invariably I would turn round and see Gurdy had taken her box again, and she needed me to chuck him out!

Me, I doubt we'll ever really know what goes on inside those little heads

John

Wouldn't surprise me if they wondered what goes on in ours!

[John_D]

Originally Posted by mr squeaks

Wouldn't surprise me if they wondered what goes on in ours!

They probably think of us, "Gee, they'd be dangerous if they were as intelligent as we are!".

John

[mr squeaks]

Originally Posted by John_D

They probably think of us, "Gee, they'd be dangerous if they were as intelligent as we are!".

John

Personally, I'd say that we are MORE dangerous BECAUSE we are NOT as intelligent as the pigeons!

[John_D]

Originally Posted by mr squeaks

Personally, I'd say that we are MORE dangerous BECAUSE we are NOT as intelligent as the pigeons!

Yep - at least they keep it simple!

John