Many of our faithful readers (all three of you) will note that a particular winged creature, the urban pigeon, has been featured on our blog several times before. And while the author can't deny a slightly obsessive fascination with this wonderful species, Flyingus Raticus Pigeonus, we've only scratched the surface in terms of analyzing this mysterious head-bobbing garbage-eater.
As I was driving into Chicago yesterday, I noticed a phenomenon that I first observed last year but promptly forgot: Dead pigeons lying all along the side of the highway next to the jersey barriers. Murdered? Suicidal? Napping? Who knows. But there are too many lying around to just be coincidence, hence I have developed theories:
1. Winter Thaw - Winter in Chicago is cold. Stationary pigeons occasionally freeze and then thaw out in the spring and fall to the pavement.
2. Colorblind - Jersey barriers blend in with the natural "highway-ish" surroundings, prompting hapless pigeons to smack into them at high velocities as they swoop about aimlessly.
3. Chicken - Pigeons play chicken with rush hour traffic and lose.
4. Sleepy - Napping on the side of the road? Perhaps the white noise of the highway traffic soothes them to sleep.
5. Beltway Pigeon Sniper - If people out there are crazy enough to snipe humans, why not brainless birds?
I'm onto something here, but I'm not sure what it is. Hang in there my little feathered disease bags, we'll get to the bottom of this.
2 comments:
hey thanks! i'll pass the the love on to craig and sarah.
Loved it, Jeff! Thanks for the travel thoughts and photos but most of all the revelation concerning your fascination for pigeons!
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