Cher Ami

Homing or Carrier pigeons were used to carry messages from place to place. In World War 1 a homing pigeon named Cher Ami was donated and trained by the U.S.He saved the lives of nearly 200 men. While carrying a message enemy soldiers shot at Cher Ami. Although the poor bird was tragically injured (shot in the breast, blinded in an eye, and losing aleg) he returned to his hhome where people seeked help. The bird was given medals of honor for its loyalty.

The story of Cher Ami is most definitly interesting. It goes to show what effect animals can have on our lives.
for more details visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cher_Ami
http://www.suite101.com/content/cher-ami-and-the-lost-battalion-a68995

Experience

There is a house where I typically see many birds in my neighborhood. Today I walked past and saw only a few. Before I new it the birds were flying over my head, in groups of about 10-15. The birds were small and brown, fast too. And there were maybe five groups of them flying past. The experience left me with these questions:
Where were the headed?
Why were they leaving?
What is the significance of their formation?
And what about the environment draws them to and away from this area?

Birds and the environment

So here are just a few more things that are interesting about birdhouses and the environment:
1.) Attracting birds can act as a pest control:
for people who dislike some insects having birdhouses attracts birds who eat certain species of insects ( birds don't eat earthworms)
2.)Allowing a place to nest for birds can prevent species from going extinct
3) Attracting different types of birds to one are can result in an interbreeding of different species

History Lesson 2

So our first piece of history hails from the idea of birdhouses coming from an Indian tribe long ago. Here is another tale:

Another story says that a Jan de Wilde came up with the idea. This theory says that he decided to make a nesting place for birds out of some plastic tubing, by cutting out a hole and adding a small roof. Like the other story it says that soon it became popular amoung many people not just bird lovers, and evolved into something that we all know and love today, BIRDHOUSES.

Interesting fact

Something interesting to think about, have you ever once thought about what a birdhouse provides for birds. If you've read the last post it talked about a little history of birdhouses, and how they provide shelter for the birds. But, imagine a big city like New York. What happens to the bird then? Birdhouses actually provide a place for birds to nest, when there is a lack of trees in highly populated areas. Its important to take in consideration the shape and style of different birdhouses in different areas. This is becaus different birds are attracted to different styles (not the color or design but the structure). This interesting fact is just something to think about when you're in a skyscraper in New York, on a small little farm, or just in your backyard.

Just one type of structure of birdhouses

History lesson number 1



Way back when, the first birdhouses were made

. There are a few tales about how they got started, but here is one. It was said that native american tribes would hang up gourds. Purple Martins supposedley kept away turkey vultures. Turkey vultures would eat the meat and food of the native americans. So it all made perfect sense, hang the gourds for the purple martin, and the turkey vultures would stop coming around eating the food. Soon people began to elaborate on the designs and shapes of the gourds, changing them to squares, adding more holes, and painting them. And we get what it is that we have today. All sorts of various types of birdhouses.





 





purple martin

Example of a gourd birdhouse

Doves



mourning dove



So last we talked about pigeons. And pigeons are related to doves. They actually have a lot in common. Both are monogamous species. This means that once they mate they are pairs for life. Also they take shifts in nesting or laying on their newly laid eggs. Incubation time for doves is roughly 14 days. The mourning dove is officially Michigan's bird of peace, and doves are symbolic of peace and purity. Doves typically live for about seven to eleven years. Sadly there are dove hunters, who enjoy hunting and capturing doves. But while they hunt there are also many people who enjoy feeding not only doves but also many other birds. Because they're so pretty and they're symbolic of peace it is popular to release them at weddings.

Pigeons

Well doesn't everyone just love pigeons? Even though they are practically a menace in our uptight society they have interesting lives. Closley related to the dove( amazing right, complete opposites almost) pigeons reproduce rapidly throughout the year. Everyone knows that the mama bird sits on the eggs after she lays them but did you know that the papa bird actually takes the morning shift in siting on them. Also the incubation time of the eggs is only about 17 to 19 days. Just a few things to think about the next time you see a pigeon!

Pigeons