Life List #3: Rock Pigeon
I had an unconscious rule that I'd try to aim for pictures I took this year, but since I don't have any pigeon photos I reached back to 2019 for this one.
When I lived in Toronto I used to commute to work/school through the College Park plaza between Bay and Yonge which was perennially absolutely covered in pigeons. This particular day was sopping wet - what pathos! what endurance! I will never forget you, College Park pigeons!
...it occurs to me they were probably the reason no one ever locked their bikes up here...
Anyway, despite the setting of this particular piece, have some more facts from Birds of Alberta
- Pigeons are year-round birds in Alberta, usually hanging around reliable food in urban areas, rail yards, grain elevators, and occasionally cliffs.
- A reliable source of food for winter raptors like merlins and gyrfalcons
- First introduced to North America in the 17th century
Warm up sketches here


