The Legacy of Pigeons within Appalachia

Appalachia is known for many things, including its beautiful landscapes. Flora and fauna flourish in these mountains, creating an incredibly biodiverse ecosystem. If you’ve ever gone on a hike within these mountains, or even taken a simple stroll down the street, you may come across a variety of animals. We frequently talk about how the landscapes, people, and economic systems have evolved over time, but often animals are overlooked. One of these often overlooked animals is the pigeon.

History of Pigeons

Pigeons have a rich history in Appalachia. Before the European colonization and settlement of the region, there were approximately 3 to 5 billion passenger pigeons dominating the Appalachian sky. They contributed ecologically, as large flocks would descend and strip the undergrowth. Their collective weight was so immense that it regularly snapped massive tree branches and allowed for frequent, large-scale reforestation. The pigeons primarily fed on the nuts and berries that fell from these branches. In addition to ecological benefits, they were also a reliable food source for early civilizations in the region.

Unfortunately, these pigeons were driven extinct during the growth of these civilizations in Appalachia. In the 1700s, early Europeans found riverbanks filled with nesting passenger pigeons. You may have heard of a town within Appalachia called Pigeon Forge, located within the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. While this town is not the only town that contributed to the extinction of passenger pigeons, the town was once known for its incredible population, named after the original nesting passenger pigeons that flocked along the nearby rivers.

As Pigeon Forge continued to grow, the population of passenger pigeons decreased. Commercial hunters used the expanding railroad and telegraph networks to track massive flocks, shooting the birds by the thousands for cheap city food, sport, and even agricultural fertilizer. This relentless pressure, paired with extensive logging of the mature Appalachian forests, caused their complete collapse. Within the span of 40 years, the species was wiped out. The last known passenger pigeon was named Martha, who died in the Cincinnati Zoo on September 1, 1914.

Modern Pigeons within Appalachia

Today, the pigeons you see around Appalachian towns are Rock Pigeons and Mourning Doves. Unlike the native passenger pigeon, they are not natural woodland birds. Though they are considered an introduced and non-native species, they have lived in North America for over 200 years. They adapted to modern societies because their natural behavior makes them drawn to artificial “cliffs” (like high bridges, urban buildings, and barns). Flocks of rock pigeons are often thought of as pests because they consume livestock and carry diseases, but they are able to thrive because they are strictly tied to human environments.

Due to their incredible resilience and homing skills, pigeons were trained to deliver messages. During World War I and World War II, many homing pigeons from lofts across the U.S. were critical for communication. These pigeons are famously known for saving lives this way. As agricultural changes caused the loss of dovecotes and lofts, many once domesticated pigeons escaped and established feral populations in human-made environments.

Conclusion

While these pigeons were once a vital elemental for survival in the Appalachian region, they have since become thought of as an inconvenience. It is critical that we evaluate our history and environmental impacts, both as a collective and as individuals. While we can no longer bring back the once thriving passenger pigeons, we can support wildlife conservation and reduce our personal pollution and environmental impacts. The next time you see a pigeon, consider its history and appreciate the contribution they made to our survival in Appalachia!