Tag: pigeon

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The Design of Peregrine Falcons

The Design of Peregrine Falcons
The Design of Peregrine Falcons
Peregrin Falcon

Human structures often upset the natural balance of birds. One example is the abundance of pigeons in urban areas, which disfigure statues and decorative stone buildings and spread various diseases. One solution to the pigeon problem has been the introduction of peregrine falcons. The design of peregrine falcons has allowed them to adjust to human structures and use their highly designed physical characteristics to defend themselves in both city and rural areas.

The peregrine falcon is not exceptionally large, but it is designed for high-speed flight and uses that ability to kill other birds, even eagles. The peregrine will fly high and dive on an intended prey at over 200 miles per hour. That speed produces many challenges for these birds. The change in pressure would cause the lungs of the peregrine falcon to burst, except for the design of its nostrils. The falcon has bony tubercles on its nostrils that guide airflow away from the nasal passages, reducing the change in air pressure. 

Another problem with a high-speed dive is vision. Most of us have had the experience of having our eyes water when facing a strong wind, but the peregrine falcon has nictitating membranes that are essentially a third eyelid that keeps the eyes clear. Also, the design of peregrine falcons shows a dark area below the eye, which reduces glare. 

In the city, pigeons comprise a large percentage of the peregrine falcon diet. The birds nest in the windows of skyscrapers, giving people in the offices a view of their lifestyles and the production of offspring. Several years ago, office workers in South Bend, Indiana, complained that peregrine falcons were killing pigeons and bringing their victims back to the nest. People in tall buildings were horrified when the falcons tore up the bodies of pigeons to feed their young. They didn’t realize that peregrine falcons help maintain the balance of birds in urban areas, meeting an important need for city dwellers. In the wild, peregrine falcons eat rodents and other small mammals. 

Airplane designers have studied the design of peregrine falcons and copied many of their features. Like many other engineering problems, we can look to what God has created and copy the design to solve our own problems. Neither a jet airplane nor a peregrine falcon is a product of accidental change. Design requires intelligence and purpose, and the peregrine falcon is a classic example of both.

— John N. Clayton © 2024

Reference: allaboutbirds.org, nationalgeographic.com, and wikipedia.org

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The Not So Common, Common Pigeon

Common Pigeon
You may think that pigeons are more of a nuisance than anything else. Many of us have had to scrub pigeon droppings off of statues or home decorations. The sheer number of pigeons that we see in our cities can make us take these birds for granted. Discover magazine for August 2018 published a dossier of the unique features of the common pigeon, also known as the rock pigeon or rock dove. These features show it is incredibly well-designed to survive in almost any environment on Earth. Here are some interesting characteristics:

Pigeons are one of only three kinds of birds that have an enlarged crop which is an extension of the esophagus. They use this crop to store food which they eventually give to their young.

Most birds drink by taking in water and then putting their heads back to allow the water to run into their stomach. Pigeons have a unique beak that acts like a straw enabling them to suck up the water.

Wing muscle makes up about 60% of a pigeon’s body weight making pigeons excellent flyers. They can cover 500 miles a day and can reach speeds of 50 mph.

Pigeons can navigate in ways that are still poorly understood by scientists. Experiments have shown they can use sound, magnetic fields, landmarks, the Sun, and even smell. Like the Arctic Tern, the common pigeon seems to possess multiple navigational tools.

Pigeons have a concept of self and can recognize themselves in a reflection. There are only six other animals that can do that.

Pigeons are more capable than babies and toddlers in recognizing the letters of the alphabet.

Pigeons use “fright molt” which is the ability to shed feathers when attacked.

Humans have used pigeons for food, for carrying messages, and for psychological testing. In fact, the famous psychologist B.F. Skinner taught pigeons how to play ping pong. Our most abundant birds like pigeons and crows were designed to do remarkable things. God frequently advises us to learn from His creation–including all life forms. (For example, Proverbs 6:5, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise.”) We can also learn from the common pigeon which is not so ordinary after all.
–John N. Clayton © 2018

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Bird Brainpower

Bird Brainpower
In the February issue of National Geographic, there is a fascinating article about what birds can do. The skills of bird brainpower include puzzle solving, using tools, studying others, vocal learning, socializing, remembering, and social playing.

These abilities are all related to the size of the forebrain compared to the total brain mass. Bird brains vary enormously. Some species such as ravens have very large brains with 80% of the brain involving the forebrain compared to a pigeon having a very small brain with only 48% in the forebrain. In some cases, birds work together pooling their bird brainpower with each having a different role. Some birds prefer certain kinds of music while others seem to show empathy.

It is important to understand that some scientific questions could be raised about the claims that the article makes. In one case, for example, when air was blown on a chick’s fathers, the mother’s heart rate increased. The investigators claimed that shows empathy. A strong wind can be dangerous to any bird. So the question is whether the mother was feeling empathy for the chick or was she concerned over the cause of the wind and what it might do to her.

The article also mentions a cockatoo who rocks in time to the Backstreet Boys tune “Everybody” and a starling who “is happiest when his owner is playing a classical movement on the piano.” The article says the starling likes Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Bach. However, it doesn’t say how you measure starling happiness, or what the owner likes and repeatedly plays in the bird’s presence.

It is a fact that birds show high levels of certain kinds of intelligence, and they can do things that seem almost human-like. However, the things birds can do are not attributes which the Bible ascribes to humans. Many animals are intelligent and can learn from humans, so it is easy to see how the characteristics discussed in the article help the bird survive.

The attributes of being created in the image of God, which is how the Bible defines humans, do not involve any of the characteristics in the article. The creation of art, the creation of music, and the expression of worship are human functions. Also, the expression of the”agape” type of love which does not promote survival or have sexual connotations is a human trait. We don’t see the capacity to be sympathetic and compassionate in these interesting studies of bird brainpower.

The more we learn about the creatures in the world around us, the more we are amazed at the design built into their DNA. This design allows living creatures to navigate, occupy environmental niches, and reproduce in amazing ways. It is all part of knowing that God exists through the things He has made. (Romans 1:18-22)
–John N. Clayton © 2018