Blog #6 EOTO presentations

During presentations of each one teach one I found carrier pigeons to be very interesting. Before the presentations, I had heard a little about carrier pigeons but I always assumed it was an exaggeration or folk tale. Carrier pigeons are predicted to have started in ancient Greek times, they were the first form of communication. The first example of pigeons being used to carry messages was 1350 BCE when they brought news of the Nile river flooding. Other occasions of carrier pigeons delivering news include the Olympic games, Tulane football games, Empires and rulers, and most notably World War I & II. 

But how did pigeons know where to go? It was very important, especially in wars for the pigeons to go exactly where they needed to be. They carried very vital information that could potentially save lives and in some instances did. Pigeons had a very solid routine, they were fed once a day and were not fed again til they left their loft. Pigeons knew where home was by remembering landmarks and have what you call a "home instinct". Multiple pigeons would be sent carrying messages to ensure that news was delivered sufficiently. Another interesting fact is that pigeons were also disguised, they would be dyed black to blend in with crows. 

During presentations, we also learned about "famous" carrier pigeons. One of the most famous being G.I. Joe, who is known as a war hero. G.I. Joe saved the lives of over 1000 British soldiers and civilians during World War II in Calvi Vecchia, Italy. He flew over 20 miles in 20 minutes delivering the news of a scheduled bombing coming that way. He was awarded the Dickin Medal for Gallantry and is said to have made "the most outstanding flight made by a United States Army homing pigeon in World War II" Learning about carrier pigeons made me understand that this isn't a folktale and in reality they played a crucial role in our history.