Rats with Wings: Kids and Pigeons

Past

Pigeons are that perfect asian kid in the front of the class. They don’t want to disappoint their immigrant parents so they try to do everything as if death will come with a report card at the end of it. They listen to their parents–which means no disrespect and no grumbling. Fairness is something you earn when you become the apex species. But like all kids from this background (before they get a nervous breakdown and have to start taking Lexapro) they do fantastic under pressure. They were used heavily in both World War I and II, working as an aviary communication system. 33 pigeons have been given the Dickin Medal–an award from the UK that is given to animals that have displayed “conspicuous gallantry or devotion to duty while serving with any branch of the Armed Forces or Civil Defence Units”. A Medal of Honor, but for animals.

Some notable pigeons include: All Alone, who delivered an important message after flying 400 miles in one day in August 1943, and G.I. Joe who flew 20 miles in 20 minutes, and delivered a message that is credited to saving at least 100 lives.

But then…the war ended and their parents stopped caring about them. The job was fulfilled and it suddenly didn’t matter how hard they worked or how many messages had been delivered, or how many As had been earned.

The world was new after the war, and pigeons had no role in it.

Present

When pigeons flock together, they are a grey oil spill moving from one tiny pile of trash to another pile of trash. Their overlapping coos fill the Walmart parking lot, drowning out the high pitched squeaking of that one definitely broken shopping cart. Their feathers flash jewel tones of purple and blue, like a gaudy Ferrari that just came from the paint shop.

The urban biome is its home. Telephone poles are also trees, and humans (or at least its litter) are as much of a food source as little insects. They are skittish but sometimes they let humans close or just fly into windshields. They can also be bribed closer with bread or seeds scattered on the surface of a concrete park.

They peck at the food and coo musically. “See? They do love us sometimes!”

It’s ridiculous but, hey, I get it. I’ve had bad parents try to bribe me too, and when you’re starving–for food, for love, for any shred of attention–you can never say no.