Project Pigeonwatch (a free and fun activity)

Basically, you print out the PDF instructions and data sheet, and watch pigeons in your area, and mark down their colors,behavior,breeding, etc..., the online instructions explain everything and it's easy. Then you send in your form by mail to Cornell University.

Reasons for this study:
Observations made by PigeonWatchers counting the different color morphs and recording the colors of courting pigeons in many different cities can help scientists learn:

* why pigeons continue to exist in so many colors
* which color morphs pigeons prefer for mates


Print out all the bold blue lettering, those are the instructions,poster, and data sheet. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pigeonw...ingStarted/kit

Main site. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pigeonwatch

I'm definetly doing this!

That's cool!

For various reasons, I don't think I can participate, but I think it's a neat idea. I love birds, even pigeons!

Hi,

I might join in

What would also really interest me is cat coloration. What % of cats is pure white or pure black in different countries. Also % of pedigree cats.

Throughout Europe you can see big differences- there seem to be a lot more pure white cats in Spain and Italy then here in Germany. The meezer gene (Point gene) is also fairy common in Spainish/ Italalien feral cats, but not here in Germany.

German cats tend to be larger and heavier than cats from southern Europe.

Pure black cats are rare due to the which hunts in the middle ages, most have at least a few white hairs.


Christine

Originally Posted by cjh27

Pure black cats are rare due to the which hunts in the middle ages, most have at least a few white hairs.

Click to expand...

A little O/T. But you'll never find a pure black feral unless it is very young. More often than not black cats will get white hairs in areas that there has previously been a wound. Ferals have to fight/defend themselves, so they always get wounded somehow.
Your reason for pure black cats being uncommon also doesn't make much sense. Several breeds have been developed in shorter periods of time - cats reproduce and mature fairly fast.


Back on topic. If I had more time that might be interesting to do. We do have some pigeons here, but the main color morph is the common grey type. The bigger cities, like OKC, have a lot of pigeons and I've spotted some pretty crazy colors. One of the things I've noticed the last few years is sudden population of rock dove (ringneck), these are an African dove!

There's a really excellent book on the subject of pigeons.

Pigeons, the most revered and reviled birds

It traces their history, amazing skills, etc. It's only a couple of years old, I think. Far from being the "rats with wings" most people think of them as, they are very important in human history.