Birding/pigeon flocking

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Expert: - 1/23/2007


Question
i live in the city, chicago.
as i travel down a main thoroughfare,  about every 1/2 mile or so i see another flock of maybe 50-100 pigeons flying back and forth, back and forth, over the same area.  they are going quickly and high and do not appear to be searching for food.  there are no predators in the city.

what are they doing this for?

thanks

Answer
They fly around looking for food sources, although they may not seem to be. They also are very gregarious and like to hang around in flocks where they meet mates. And since pigeons have young almost all year around, even in Chicago, it pays to be social. Also, a number of people have racing or homing pigeons which they let out to exercise. I bet you'd be surprized how many pigeon coops there are on Chicago rooftops. Roger Lederer at Ornithology.com

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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