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This special episode of Talons of Hope—a podcast typically dedicated to the majestic ”masters of the sky” like kestrels, hawks, and falcons—shifts its focus to a bird often dismissed as mere prey: the pigeon. For World Biological Diversity Day, we are exploring why the pigeon is actually the ”oldest company we keep,” a partnership that predates nations and many of our gods.

In this episode, we delve into the profound history and modern paradox of our relationship with these birds:

• A 3,500-Year-Old Bond: New archaeological evidence from Hala Sultan Tekke in Cyprus reveals that by 1400 B.C., pigeons were already living in our kitchens and eating the same grains and vegetables as our ancestors. This bone chemistry finally confirms the ancient link between pigeons and Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who is traditionally depicted with a pigeon in her palm.
• From Partners to Pests: For millennia, pigeons served as messengers, sources of fertilizer, and beloved companions. We specifically bred them to be dependent on us, only to rebrand them as a ”nuisance” and ”abandon” them following the Industrial Revolution.
• The ”Beautiful Mess” of Conservation: This special explores the theme of ”Acting Locally for Global Impact” by contrasting the heartbreaking loss of 3 billion birds in North America with recent ”jam-side-up” wins, such as the record-breaking 8,000-species day for citizen science and the recovery of the kākāpō in New Zealand.
• A Call to Notice: Ultimately, we discuss how ”leaning back in” to notice and feed the birds around us is a 3,500-year-old act of local conservation that still defines what kind of company we want to be.

If you like this episode of Talons of Hope, please don't forget to subscribe and also subscribe to my Substack: Jam Side Up — of birds, belongings and a beautiful mess.