Humans have lived with pigeons for over 10,000 years, making them one of the first birds ever domesticated.

Archaeological evidence from the Fertile Crescent suggests that the Rock Dove (Columba livia) was domesticated as early as 8,000 BCE in Mesopotamia. These birds were initially attracted to early human settlements by grain stores, leading to a mutually beneficial relationship. Humans began breeding them for meat, known as squab, and used their nutrient-rich droppings as a high-quality fertilizer for crops.The pigeons' remarkable navigation skills were recognized early on. By 3,000 BCE, ancient Egyptians were using them as messengers, and by 776 BCE, the Greeks utilized them to carry the results of the Olympic Games to various cities. This homing ability relies on a combination of magnetoreception, solar cues, and an acute sense of smell to find their way back to their nests from hundreds of miles away.In the 19th and 20th centuries, pigeons played critical roles in global conflicts. During World War I and World War II, the United Kingdom's Carrier Pigeon Service and the U.S. Army Pigeon Service deployed over 250,000 birds for communication. One famous pigeon named Cher Ami saved nearly 200 soldiers by delivering a message despite being severely wounded.The ubiquitous 'street pigeon' found in modern urban environments like New York or London is not a truly wild species. These birds are technically feral, meaning they are the descendants of escaped domestic birds that were brought to various continents by European settlers. Their ability to thrive in cities is a direct result of their long evolutionary history living alongside human architecture and food sources.