The relationship between humans and pigeons is one of the oldest on the planet. They have been our co-workers; delivering messages, assisting during the war, providing a source of food, a sport and obsession for many, and a suitable religious sacrifice. They helped Darwin with his theory of Natural Selection, have become a powerful symbol of peace and helped us unravel some of the mysteries of navigation. Yet many of us still regard them as vermin, as “rats with wings”. Brett Westwood and Verity Sharp probe into this paradox, and explore how pigeons have helped us and what they can reveal about the homing instinct and what it means for us to feel at home.

Contributors
Dr Jon Day – Lecturer in English, Kings College, London and Author of 'Homing - on pigeons, dwellings and why we return'.
Ian Evans – Executive Director of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association
Barbara Allen - Author of 'Pigeon'
Gordon Corera - BBC Security Correspondent and author of 'The Secret Pigeon Service'.
Amy Dickin - Awards and Heritage Manager for The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA)
Tim Guilford - Professor of Animal Behaviour, Oxford University & member of the Oxford Navigation Group

First broadcast in a longer form 22nd November 2019
Original Producer (2019) : Sarah Blunt
Archive Producer (2024) : Andrew Dawes Show less