It’s always a pleasure to write a blog entry about one of my favorite Downtown subjects: the pigeons.
Last night at the Saucer’s Trivia Bowl, I was talking with a friend who had lived in Chicago. He told me how falcons who live in downtown Chicago catch and eat pigeons. They’ll build nests on 60-story buildings, and then they’ll watch for pigeons flying around below. The falcons will then swoop down on them, grabbing pigeons in mid-air with their talons, heading straight for the ground at dizzying speeds. At the last second, the falcons let go of the pigeons and hit the brakes – bouncing the pigeons off the ground and killing them. I had no idea that’s how they did it. Pretty cool! I mean, unless you’re a pigeon.
Then the falcons take their catch back to their nests. My Chicago friend said he looked out his office window one day and there was a falcon, having a pigeon snack in full view of everyone. Would you like some mashed potatoes and slaw with that, Mr. Falcon?