In the world of high-speed airplanes, the Internet, mobile networks, the carrier pigeon is a fairy-tale character who magically delivers letters to the addressees without error. Even 5 thousand years ago, the ancient Egyptians noticed the ability of birds to return to their home from distant places without error. But how do pigeons manage not to go astray, even modern scientists cannot answer for sure.
How do birds look for addresses?
The direction of flight of pigeons on long journeys is always the same - home. Pigeon mail is based on the phenomenon of returning home. The birds do not look for addresses, they just strive for their native nests.
The birds are taken away from their homes to be sent back at the right time with a message. Approximately one and a half centuries ago, pigeon post stations were built in Europe with birds of two categories - "ours" and "strangers". To send letters, pigeons were selected from those places where they wanted to deliver mail.
Is there a breed of carrier pigeons?
In birds, nature has unique abilities that humans have long improved in the process of selection, domestication, and training. Homing pigeons do not exist as a separate breed. The best birds from experienced postmen are now selected for sporting events in terms of range and speed.
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Homing pigeons continue to be used for their intended purpose in the Swiss army for emergency messages, in India they are sent to hard-to-reach areas. In Holland, medicines are urgently sent with pigeons - this is the fastest way of delivery over short distances. People appreciate the unique abilities of birds, which help out in situations where traditional message delivery is not possible.
What pigeon will not leave the race?
According to statistics, the reliability of delivery of letters by pigeon mail is on average 90%. It is no coincidence that during the war years the last hopes for salvation were pinned on birds. The winged postmen met the expectations of the people. There is a known case of the period of the First World War, when a wounded pigeon delivered a message about a lost battalion. Thanks to the bird, 194 people were saved.
Homing pigeon scout.
During the Great Patriotic War, they organized the "pigeon mobilization". The reliability of the winged delivery of letters served as the basis for the approval of schemes for organizing communications in places of combat battles.
Birds with a muscular constitution, a large beak, and a beak are capable of long-distance flights. The birds reach the highest physical indicators at the age of 3-4 years. Pigeons carry loads, weighing a third of their own weight, 70-90 g. Winged postmen fly up to 1000 km, but the record holders covered much more distances. The birds are ahead of trains, reaching speeds of up to 150 km / h. A day flight at an altitude of 400 m can last up to 12 hours without rest. The pigeons rest at night.
You can trust the mail to pigeons that have managed to find a mate. Monogamous people always strive to return to their soul mate. Lonely birds can stay on the side if they meet the only chosen one.
What is unique about carrier pigeons?
The secret of how pigeons find the right path remains not fully revealed. There are two main versions:
- equipping the beak of pigeons with a magnetic-receptor system - orientation occurs by capturing changes in the earth's magnetic field;
- auditory perception of vibrations, vibrations in the spectrum of low-frequency sound waves.
The second version has the largest number of adherents. Many inhabitants of the planet, including humans, do not pick up sound less than 16 Hz. Pigeons perceive low-frequency signals, are able to navigate by them, maintain the correct course, since infrasound is characterized by low absorption in various media. A conventional map of the earth with the reflection of low-frequency waves in the noise of the forest, sea, buildings is read by birds during the flight to the smallest detail. The dove will fly to the window where they are expected.
Pigeons are called natural computers for their unique navigation capabilities. The instinct to return to their native places distinguishes different birds, but not every bird is entrusted with important information. The dove has earned this trust.