Pigeon based thought experiment

[kierthos]

So, today, while walking to get lunch, I noticed something. There was this pigeon on the ground, pecking at some fragment of a bagel, right? But as I walked towards it, it moved away.

Not a big shocker there, right?

First it moved in the same direction I was going, then it's little pigeon brain realized that it was not getting away from me fast enough, and it moved away obliquely. Since I was not chasing the pigeon and continued on my original course, this served to keep the pigeon safe in it's own little pigeon world.

But what would happen if two people approached a pigeon from opposite directions? Well, it would move at some angle away from the two of them. Fine, lots of room for Mr. Pigeon to get away still.

What if it was three people, at the corners of an equilateral triangle? What would the pigeon do? What if you upped it to 5 or 6 people or whatever was enough to try and surround the pigeon.... would it put on a burst of speed to escape or just try and fly straight up?

Such are my thoughts when I'm hungry.

Comments

[gilmoure.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... pigeon...

[jblaque.livejournal.com]

Based on my experience as a wingshooter, the pigeon would - if he were smart - fly straight up at the point it was being approached in three directions.

Of course, urban pigeons have lost their natural fear of humans, so I'm probably full of shit on this.

P.S. You sure are observant/thoughtful lately.

[kierthos.livejournal.com]

It comes and it goes. Tomorrow I may well be trying to hammer square pegs into round holes and wondering why it does not proceed as envisioned.

[the-corruption.livejournal.com]

First, what you must understand is that Pigeons are dumb as fucking rocks.

I live with one (don't ask), and personally attest to this.

My thoughts, if a pigeon were surrounded by people approaching, it'd either attack the largest one approaching (and die from being bludgeoned to death by said large victim), or die suddenly of stroke/massive MI.