Follow two very different groups of pigeons living in New York City. The first flock lives near Central Park, close to the carriage horses’ stables. Here, the pigeons eat a mixture of oats and grains, which is similar to the natural diet of wild rock doves. Because they have constant access to food, they stay well-fed, sleek, and healthy. Their continuous cooing is a sign of comfort, and the large group forms a lively chorus every day.
Just a few blocks away, however, the pigeons living on Fifth Avenue face a much harsher lifestyle. With little access to green spaces, they survive in a fully urban environment filled with traffic, noise, and pollution. As a result, they are smaller, scruffier, and not as well-nourished as the Central Park pigeons. Still, they have adapted to city life in clever ways. Every morning at exactly 8 a.m., they gather near a hot dog stand for leftover food. This daily routine exposes them to danger, since they feed very close to busy traffic. Fortunately, pigeons have remarkable adaptations, such as eyes positioned on the sides of their heads, allowing them to see about 340 degrees around them. In a flock, they also protect one another by covering blind spots.
Vocabulary:
• carriage (noun): a horse-drawn vehicle used to carry people.
• mixture (noun): a combination of different things.• cooing (noun): the soft sound pigeons make.
• flock (noun): a group of birds living together.
• scruffy (adj): dirty or untidy in appearance.
• nourished (adj): having enough food to stay healthy.
• pollution (noun): dirty air caused by smoke or chemicals.
• adaptation (noun): a change that helps an animal survive.
• blind spot (noun): an area you cannot see.
Source: PBS News