Whoever said that pigeons were stupid clearly has never been to Istanbul.

The Eighth Wonder of the World: Istanbul's Law-Abiding New Mosque Pigeons.


The New Mosque (which, having been built over a century before the birth of my country, does not seem so new to me) is a perfect example of what I am talking about. It is incredible. There are more pigeons in this tiny space than there are cats in the greater Istanbul area, yet they are almost trained in regards to when they are and are not allowed to eat.

Notice the old people above and below selling bird seed. They are selling bird seed. As in, seed that BIRDS EAT. And what do the pigeons do? They act like there is an invisible force field around the wide open plates of free food. They don't even make a move towards it! They actually wait for people to go up, buy some from the old folks, and then scatter the seed on the ground.

It's like, hey pigeons, JUST GO UP TO THE PLATES WHEN THEY'RE SITTING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU! Why must they wait for the seeds to be scattered on the ground?

"They probably have learned from experience that when they steal the seed from the tables, they get punished," Elizabeth said, her mouth unbelievably not agape by what was unfolding in front of our eyes.

"I think you're overestimating the ability of pigeons to learn lessons like these," I said. Some things defy explanation. Like a group of pigeons -- pigeons who don't speak Turkish -- understanding unwritten social rules. The Eighth Wonder of the World: Istanbul's Law-Abiding New Mosque Pigeons.

I just couldn't get enough of it. The old Turkish people who pass by the New Mosque every day are either used to the spectacle by now, or simply take for granted the idea that groups of pigeons are capable of adhering to a social contract. But I had to actually turn around and go back for more pictures of this phenomenon at work.