Pigeon Patterns

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Pigeon Patterns

• An Investigation on the Possible Walking Patterns
  of the Common Pigeon

By Nita Duangjumpa Academy of Notre Dame
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Question

• Does the trail of the common pigeon (Columba
  livia) follow a certain pattern?

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Background Rationale

• Patterns are a large part of their daily lives
  (eating, mating, pigeon homing, head-bobbing,
  etc.).
• This investigation was designed to test and find
  out two things
• If the trails of the common pigeon follow a
  certain pattern.
• If there are patterns, to identify what they are.

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Hypothesis

• Because patterns are commonly found in and play
  a large role in the life of a pigeon, a common
  pattern will also be found while observing their
  tracks.

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Materials Procedure
Two different procedures were used for this
experiment.

• Sketching
• Materials journal, scanner, image editing
  computer program (Adobe Illustrator)
• Pigeons were observed live from a distance and
  tracks were traced into journal.

• Trails were scanned and saved into a computer.
• Images were cleaned in Adobe Illustrator.
• Images were printed out on individual sheets of
  paper.

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Materials Procedure
Two different procedures were used for this
experiment.

• Filming
• Materials digital video camera, tripod, still
  image computer program (Jasc Animation Shop),
  image editing program (Adobe Illustrator)
• Filmed pigeons with camera tripod for balance.

• Video footage was extracted onto a computer.
• Jasc Animation Shop used to obtain individual
  still images from each of the videos.
• Images were combined together and imported into
  Adobe Illustrator, where they where cleaned and
  printed.

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Sample Sketch
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Data

• Data was observed to look for a noticeable
  pattern in the pigeons tracks. There were three
  patterns studied
• Pausing after eating
• Looping after eating
• Changing direction after eating

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Data
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Data
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Data
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Data
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Conclusion

• There are certain patterns that can be found,
  such as looping after eating and changing
  direction after eating. Pausing after eating does
  not seem to be a pattern.
• The hypothesis is neither supported or rejected
  because these patterns were not seen in all of
  the pigeons.

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Limitations

• Some pigeons may not have been observed for a
  long enough period of time.
• Pigeons were hard to work with and uncooperative.
• Digital video camera ran out of batteries during
  filming.

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Questions for Further Study

• Are there any other patterns in the movement of
  pigeons?
• Can trail patterns be found in other birds?

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References

• The Functional Significance of Head-Bobbing in
  Birds. (n.d.). Retrieved February 11, 2006, from
• http//www.biomotionlab.ca/bobbing.php
• Maass, E. (2001, January 21). What is the head
  movement of a bird (dove or pigeon) called?
  Retrieved February 11, 2006, from
  http//www.madsci.org/posts/archives/jan2001/98009
  1591.Zo.r.html