Pigeons are intelligent

[Guest llcoolj]

In a famous article in 1995, Watanabe, Sakamoto and Wakita described an experiment which showed that pigeons can

be trained to discriminate between paintings by Picasso and Monet.

The birds were first trained on a limited set of paintings: when the

shown painting was a Picasso, the pigeon was able to obtain food by

repeated pecking; when it was a Monet, pecking had no effect. After a

while, the pigeons would only peck when shown Picasso paintings. They

were then able to generalize, and correctly discriminate between

paintings of the two painters not previously shown, and even between cubist and impressionist

paintings (cubism and impressionism being the two stylistic schools

Picasso and Monet belong to). When the Monet paintings were shown

upside down, the pigeons were not able to properly categorize anymore;

showing the cubist works upside down did not have such an effect

[Guest KING BILLY]

they had done the same with the doos at the world war but thiss time it was to pick out the couler yellow for the ruber boats for the surfivers the birds where caried on the rescue planes and when they peked at the couler yellow  they could pin point the boats in advers wether to help with the rescue ;)

[Guest Owen]

I am convinced that pigeons are very inteligent. At least as good as dogs if not better. The problem with animals and birds that are prey species is that they have reflexes that we do not properly understand. Their flight reflex is far more developed than ours. It has to be because that is how they have been able to survive. The ability to be frightened has been essential to there surival. Just as their ability to be suspicious of things that are unusual or differant. The opposite to the well developed flight reflex of the pigeon is the lack of it in the birds and animals that have developed in Austrialia and New Zealand. Many of the indiginous species from those places are easy prey to the introduced preditors from Europe. This is because they have lost their ability to be frightened and taking flight even before they recognised what it is that has disturbered them. So we have an important barrier to overcome when we deal with our pigeons on a daily basis. They find it difficult to cope with the stress of overcrowding because that is a threat to their ability to breed. The need to pass on genes by all individuals is an urgent need in all species. The first priority of all birds is to find a nest site and a source of food. The source of food is usually OK but the nest site can be a problem. Their privacy is invaded by humans and other birds, resulting in the undermining of their confidence. All prey species hate to be stared at, and we do it to them all the time. Then there is the need for some Managers to grab the birds and pass them around for others to stare at. Few if any animals or birds are comfortable with the eyes of a human upon them. Or they may even to send them off to training or racing. Is it any wonder that the birds are reluctant to trap or slow to race home.

At one time, and my Father was a culprit, horses were abused and bullied into doing what people wanted. They used to call it "Breaking" and that is exactly what it was. Since the work of Monty Roberts has been understood this sort of practice has been abandoned. It is much the same with dog training. People like Victoria Stilwell have introduce methods that are far easier on the dog and yield far better results.

Stock management is an undoubted skill and some people have it in abundance. But I am sure that it is a skill that everybody can learn. The first step being to understand what makes the animal or bird tick. It is not a question of whether or not the birds are intelligent, I think that we could all agree that they are. Very intelligent. The skill is all about being able to channel their intelligence so that they are able to work with us in an enthusiastic way, learning all the time.

[Guest Freebird]

I am convinced that pigeons are very inteligent. At least as good as dogs if not better. The problem with animals and birds that are prey species is that they have reflexes that we do not properly understand. Their flight reflex is far more developed than ours. It has to be because that is how they have been able to survive. The ability to be frightened has been essential to there surival. Just as their ability to be suspicious of things that are unusual or differant. The opposite to the well developed flight reflex of the pigeon is the lack of it in the birds and animals that have developed in Austrialia and New Zealand. Many of the indiginous species from those places are easy prey to the introduced preditors from Europe. This is because they have lost their ability to be frightened and taking flight even before they recognised what it is that has disturbered them. So we have an important barrier to overcome when we deal with our pigeons on a daily basis. They find it difficult to cope with the stress of overcrowding because that is a threat to their ability to breed. The need to pass on genes by all individuals is an urgent need in all species. The first priority of all birds is to find a nest site and a source of food. The source of food is usually OK but the nest site can be a problem. Their privacy is invaded by humans and other birds, resulting in the undermining of their confidence. All prey species hate to be stared at, and we do it to them all the time. Then there is the need for some Managers to grab the birds and pass them around for others to stare at. Few if any animals or birds are comfortable with the eyes of a human upon them. Or they may even to send them off to training or racing. Is it any wonder that the birds are reluctant to trap or slow to race home.

At one time, and my Father was a culprit, horses were abused and bullied into doing what people wanted. They used to call it "Breaking" and that is exactly what it was. Since the work of Monty Roberts has been understood this sort of practice has been abandoned. It is much the same with dog training. People like Victoria Stilwell have introduce methods that are far easier on the dog and yield far better results.

Stock management is an undoubted skill and some people have it in abundance. But I am sure that it is a skill that everybody can learn. The first step being to understand what makes the animal or bird tick. It is not a question of whether or not the birds are intelligent, I think that we could all agree that they are. Very intelligent. The skill is all about being able to channel their intelligence so that they are able to work with us in an enthusiastic way, learning all the time.

Wow, that's some post Owen and very cleverly put. More patience and understanding of all around us and the world would truely be a better place. Yes pigeons are very intelligent, you only need to look to the streeters to prove that. Surviving with all the odds against them, now that's what I call clever.

 

 

[jimmy white]

pigeons are intelligent as far as pigeons go :-/ :-/ :-/ ,, they have a memory second to none,and many, many  many other  "pigeon" attributes,, but when you see one trying to take a tobacco stalk through  their nest box door,,,,,,,,,,,sideways ;D ;D ;D,,,,,

bird brained really ;D,,,,,,,,,but as nature would have it, they,ll still get it in the nest  somehow