Colorful Bird Lover Shares Unique And Surprising Lesson In Pigeon Intelligence

We recently introduced our readers to TikTok and Instagram user Frill_ (Frill_Underscore). Frill fancies pigeons, but is not your typical “crazy old pigeon lady.” She has neon rainbow hair and dresses in outfits you might see at a comic con. She is her own person and displays her personality in how she dresses and treats pigeons. In educating others, she wishes to let people know that pigeons have extreme intelligence.

Videos by InspireMore

Frill takes care of the feral pigeons around Melbourne, Australia. We explained how she uses a sock jail to keep the birds safe while she removes strings tangled in their feet. One of the frequently asked questions is whether the pigeons recognize her. She made a video to demonstrate that, yes, the birds do recognize and remember her. They flock to her whenever she walks down the street.

Humans have known about pigeons’ intelligence since early messaging in Egypt, around 1350 B.C.E. The birds were useful in carrying news about flooding on the Nile and as military couriers. Pigeons were also used similarly in Persia (now Iran) and Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq, parts of Syria, Turkey, and Iran). Mesopotamia originates from the Greek term meaning “the land between the rivers.” The region stands between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

The Greeks and Romans refined the use of pigeons for communication. Pigeons carried the results of the early Olympic Games, and the Romans gave them an important role in military communications. The idea of “Owl Post” in Harry Potter is not out of the realm of imagination. Pigeon post was a mainstay in many locations from the 16th through the 20th century. Journalists used pigeons to carry news from ships anchoring in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to newspapers in New York City.

Scientists have discovered many facts about how pigeons’ intelligence gives them the ability to “home” or return to a known location. They also have some theories they are evaluating. After years of study, scientists know that pigeons use the position of the sun. Much like a compass, the animals can track the sun’s movement.

Some theories suggest that these incredible birds detect the Earth’s magnetic field, use their sense of smell, and use low-frequency sound waves to guide flight. Research has proven that the birds recognize landmarks such as buildings and roads.

There is no mistaking the intelligence of pigeons. Frill knows all this, and that these birds were once revered for their abilities. That is why she works so hard to care for these feral flocks of pigeons.

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You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.