For thousands of years, during times of war and peace, humans have used pigeons to deliver messages. People like The Rockefellers are reputed to have used pigeons to carry sensitive financial information, well-known commanders such as Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar were said to have employed pigeons to communicate across their vast empires, and in World Wars 1 and 2 both sides maintained large pigeon corps. But how do messenger pigeons know where to go? Here’s how…
The United Kingdom alone is reported to have engaged some 200,000 pigeons during the second World War. It is somewhat ironic that pigeons, a symbol of peace, are perhaps best known for their efforts in carrying messages during times of war. Bullets, poisonous gases, sabotage, bad weather like cold, and hundreds of kilometers were all unable to completely stop the valiant birds.
Well known through accounts in many books and movies is the story of Cher Ami, a bird whose name means “Dear Friend”. This pigeon delivered a message that led to the rescue of the 194 men of the “Lost Battalion” in World War 1, despite losing an eye and leg to enemy fire during the flight. In World War 2, 32 allied pigeons were awarded the Dickin Medal for bravery – the “animal equivalent” of the Victoria Cross.
All this leads us to the obvious question – how do messenger pigeons know to where or whom their precious cargo is to be delivered?
The Short Answer…
In summary, messenger pigeons know where they are expected to deliver their message simply because of their navigation skill they can even remember up to 1,000 Kilometers away. Despite what books and movies might lead you to believe, these marvelous birds are not able to be dispatched to various locations at will. Pigeons that deliver messages are called homing pigeons.
- How a pigeon delivers a message is simple: The pigeon is sent to the other person (or they carry the pigeon with them). When they need to send a message, they simply attach the message and send it to its home. That means a pigeon is essentially going to its home while also carrying the message with it.
How Do Messenger Pigeons Know Where To Go?
Well, the answer isn’t quite as magical as you may be imagining. You can’t simply instruct the bird in English to “deliver this message to the general!”. Unlike radio, email, or Hogwarts Owls, messenger pigeons are a form of one-way communication. The key is in one of their other names – “homing pigeons”. At the age of 4-6 weeks, the young pigeon is placed in its home loft – and this loft will be the location it instinctively flies back to for its entire life. Here’s the complete process of a pigeon growing up.
How Did Pigeons Were Use To Send Messages Back Then?
When used in war, pigeons would be carried out by soldiers, pilots, or scouts, who would keep the bird caged until the need to send a message arises. Then, the secret note would be placed in a capsule attached to the pigeon, and the bird released. The pigeon then flies back to the loft and lands at its home, having fulfilled its mission. These home lofts were typically stationed in safer locations, tens or hundreds of kilometres from the front lines.
In these safer areas, telegraph lines or runners could be used to relay the message to its intended recipient.
How Did The Countries Use To Counter The Messager?
When using this method both of the war sides also used to counter each others message by falconry programs. That means they would train falcons to hunt down pigeons and even without training falcons are pigeons’ predators. But falcons were never able to differentiate between the nationality of the carrier pigeons.
What Do Pigeons Use To Find Their Way?
Some people believe that messenger pigeons use the sun and stars as guides, while others think that they can sense magnetic fields. Whatever the case may be, these birds have an amazing ability to navigate their way through unfamiliar territory. After all, how does a bird that manages to find its way?
- One of the most interesting things about messenger pigeons is how they know where to go. They are able to navigate their way to their destination by using a variety of cues, including landmarks, wind direction, and the sun.
- One theory is that messenger pigeons use a type of internal GPS system to find their way. This system relies on the pigeons’ ability to sense the Earth’s magnetic fields. They are thought to use this information to orient themselves and navigate their way to their destination.
- Another theory is that pigeons use landmarks, buildings and towers. They are able to remember and recognize these places from great distances and may be able to use these places to orient themselves and find their way to their destination.
- Others think that pigeons have an innate ability to sense where they are and where they need to go. Still, others believe that pigeons communicate with other pigeons to figure out where they need to go.
That comes down to pigeons are perfect navigators similar to other birds that find its home and way from hundreds of miles away. Every day they travel miles away foraging for food (Here’s what pigeons eat) and come back home.
How Far Can Messager Pigeons Deliver?
Well, as far as they can remember that is nearly 1,000 kilometers. Just like horses, dogs, and donkeys, pigeons are trained and bred to find their way over long distances. And they are one-way messager and once they have delivered the message, they don’t come back just like humans. But how can they just deliver the message and don’t come back and how did pigeons were used in the war?
That is a pigeon is trained to fly over home for some time and gradually make the distance more and more until the pigeon can find the home from a long distance. The same method is used in the war. However, the only difference is, that the pigeon is used to train and send back to the headquarters or anywhere they have trained that assume for the pigeon to be home.
Can Pigeons Fly Far Without Rest?
The short answer is no. However, some birds can like hummingbirds that fly across the whole Gulf of Mexico with rest or the Monarch butterfly that migrates from Wisconsin to California without rest. However, can they find their way? Yes, of course.
But Why Pigeons & Not Other Birds?
Because pigeons are perfect navigators that use to remember over a very long distance. But that doesn’t mean other birds are not good at. They are also good but not as pigeons. Not only that but other birds aren’t as friendly and domestic as pigeons.
What Are The Problems With Pigeon Messager?
There are a few problems with Pigeon Messager. The main problem with messager was hunting down by falcons. Even though they were faster than humans, but they still would need rest/sleep. Here’s Where Do Pigeons Sleep? (Photos & Video) That means late delivery.
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