About this episode
Once considered noble and heroic, pigeons are now viewed as an urban nuisance — one that costs cities millions of dollars a year. Zachary Crockett tosses some crumbs. SOURCES: Andrew Blechman , journalist and author. David Champagne , owner of Bird Busters, Inc. RESOURCES: " Racing Pigeon Sells For A Record-Breaking $1.9 Million At Auction ," by Carlie Porterfield ( Forbes, 2020). " Feathers of Honor: U.S. Army Signal Corps Pigeon Service in World War I, 1917–1918 ," by Frank A. Blazich Jr. ( Army History, 2020). " Pigeon Wars ," by Jon Mooallem ( The New York Times, 2006). Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird , by Andrew Blechman (2004). " Pigeons Have Magnets ," by Charles Walcott, James L. Gould, and J. L. Kirschvink ( Science, 1979). " The Pigeon as a Quality-Control Inspector ," by Thom Verhave ( American Psychologist, 1966). EXTRAS: " Freakonomics Radio Live: 'Jesus Could Have Been a Pigeon ,'" by Freakonomics Radio (2018). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.