Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird" (Grove Press, 2006)

Andrew Blechman  certainly covered all the bases with this book.   Basically he points out  that  pigeons have  been  unfairly maligned as disease bearing flying rats.  Yes pigeon poop is a nuisance but you are highly unlikely to get sick from a pigeon. Pigeon control companies are eager to spread this rumor to help their business. Noah's dove was a pigeon. (the word pigeon is french for dove). Pigeons have been used for thousands of years to carry messages in battle and in the olympics. They are credited with saving thousands of lives in WWI & II. In Europe and the middle east pigeon raising is a pastime enjoyed by many and also a great source of food. In ancient times they were considered a delicacy reserved for royalty. The manure produced is also considered excellent for crops & gardens. Many cities have tried to rid the pigeon population, but the only method that works and is also humane, is to steal the eggs and substitute them with dummy eggs.  To this end St Paul is installing dovecotes to attract the birds to an area that is easy for humans to reach into and substitute the eggs. The overfeeding of the birds by well meaning individuals is also bad for them as it leads to overpopulation and stress in their community. Pigeion raising is still practiced by many but it is not as prevalent as in years past. Boy Scout merit badge for the hobby was discontinued in the early 1980's. It is still enjoyed by many who like to watch them fly, and if you watch them closely you can tell that they really enjoy flying. Sometimes when the wind is hitting a building, causing an updraft, you can see them soaring along the roof line for long periods. Then they will land, prance around ,and then take off and do the same thing all over again. They will hold their wings at different angles, and clap them together, perhaps celebrating the joy of flight! Some breeds actually do somersaults in midair but these are rare and usually reserved for the specialty breeder. This book was an enjoyable and quick read. also very educational.