Pink pigeon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pink pigeon |
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| on Île aux Aigrettes, Mauritius | |
| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Nesoenas
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| Species: |
mayeri
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The pink pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri) is a special type of pigeon found only on the island of Mauritius. This beautiful bird almost disappeared completely in the 1970s and 1990s. It is still quite rare today. It's the only pigeon from the Mascarene islands that hasn't gone extinct.
In 1991, there were only 10 pink pigeons left in the wild! Thanks to the amazing work of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust since 1977, their numbers have slowly grown. By 2011, there were fewer than 500 birds. However, conservation efforts have helped. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) changed its status from "Critically Endangered" to "Endangered" in 2000. Then, in 2018, it was changed again to "Vulnerable." This means it's still at risk, but doing a bit better.
Contents
About the Pink Pigeon's Family Tree
Scientists first thought the pink pigeon was a "true pigeon." Later, it was placed in its own unique group. Recent studies of its DNA (the genetic material that makes us who we are) suggest its closest relative is the Malagasy turtle dove. This dove lives nearby.
Some experts thought the pink pigeon should join the Streptopelia group, which includes most turtle doves. However, the pink pigeon and the Malagasy turtle dove form a special group. They don't quite fit perfectly into Streptopelia or Columba (another pigeon group). So, keeping them both in the Nesoenas group shows they have their own unique evolutionary path. The extinct Réunion pink pigeon is now thought to be a type of pink pigeon.
What Does a Pink Pigeon Look Like?
An adult pink pigeon is about 36 to 38 centimeters (14 to 15 inches) long from its beak to its tail. It weighs around 350 grams (about 12 ounces). These pigeons have soft, pale pinkish-grey feathers on their head, shoulders, and belly. Their feet are also pink.
Their beak is a dark pink color with a white tip. They have dark brown wings and a wide, rust-colored tail. Their eyes are dark brown, surrounded by a ring of red skin. When pink pigeons first hatch, they have thin, white fluffy feathers and their eyes are closed.
The pink pigeon has a special voice. When it flies, it makes a short, strong "hoo hoo" sound. Male pink pigeons make a series of cooing sounds to mark their territory.
Where Do Pink Pigeons Live?
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The pink pigeon lives only on the island of Mauritius. Mauritius is a small island east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. They also live on a tiny island nearby called Île aux Aigrettes. This small island is special because it doesn't have many predators. A type of pink pigeon that lived on the nearby Reunion Island died out around the year 1700.
As of 2016, there are five places where wild pink pigeons live. Four of these spots are in the Black River Gorges National Park. The fifth is on Île aux Aigrettes. The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation watches over all these groups. Pink pigeons do not migrate, meaning they stay in the same area all year.
These birds prefer forests that stay green all year round, especially in the uplands. But they can also live in coastal forests. The important thing is that the forest has native plants. They don't do well in areas taken over by plants brought from other countries, like Chinese Guava or privet. Losing their natural forests has been a big reason why their numbers dropped.
Pink Pigeon Behavior and Life Cycle
The pink pigeon's breeding season usually starts in August or September. However, they can sometimes breed all year long. The male pigeon tries to attract the female with a special "step and bow" dance. Pink pigeons usually mate for life.
The pair builds a simple nest that looks like a platform. They defend a small area around their nest from other pigeons. The female usually lays two white eggs. The eggs hatch after two weeks. The male pigeon sits on the eggs during the day, and the female sits on them at night and early morning. They can breed often, laying five to 10 eggs in a season. They only stop breeding in the wild when they are molting (losing and regrowing feathers).
There are more male pink pigeons than females. This is because males tend to live longer, about five years more. Also, in the wild, females have a higher chance of being hunted by predators. One reason for the shorter lifespan of females is that producing eggs takes a lot of energy from their bodies. Since female birds are almost always making eggs, even if they aren't fertilized, this can be very tiring for them. In zoos, males can still have babies until they are 17 or 18 years old. Females can have babies until they are 10 or 11.
Here's how pink pigeon chicks grow:
- 1 – 7 days: Chicks have their eyes closed. They are fed only "crop milk" by their parents. This is a special liquid food.
- 7 – 10 days: Chicks start to eat solid food.
- 2 – 4 weeks: Chicks grow feathers and are ready to fly a little. But their parents still feed them.
- 4 - 6/7 weeks: Chicks stay in the nest. After this, they leave the nest.
What Do Pink Pigeons Eat?
The pink pigeon is a herbivore, meaning it eats plants. They eat buds, flowers, leaves, shoots, fruits, and seeds from both native and non-native plants. These birds often look for food on the ground. They move and turn over fallen leaves to find food and small stones. They swallow these stones to help their stomachs grind up food.
Because the pink pigeon's natural home has been damaged, there isn't always enough natural food for them. This can make it hard for them to breed and raise their chicks. So, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF) and other groups provide extra food for them. They offer things like whole wheat at special feeding stations. To stop other birds from eating all the food, these stations are designed so that mostly only pink pigeons can get to the food.
Saving the Pink Pigeon
The IUCN currently lists the pink pigeon as "Vulnerable." This is an improvement from "Endangered" in 2018 and "Critically Endangered" in 2000. The pink pigeon almost disappeared because its home was destroyed and new predators were brought to the island. In 1991, there were only 10 left in the wild.
The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust started a program to breed pink pigeons in captivity and then release them back into the wild. The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation has done a lot of this work. Thanks to these efforts, there were about 400 pink pigeons in the wild in 2018. There is also a healthy group of pigeons living in zoos, which acts as a backup.
Many groups and organizations have helped save the pink pigeon. Besides breeding programs and providing extra food, scientists are also studying the pigeons' genes. This research helps them find even better ways to protect the birds.
Since October 2021, the pink pigeon has been classified as "Critically Depleted" by the IUCN. This means its population is still very low and needs continued help.
What Harms Pink Pigeons?
The biggest dangers to pink pigeons are losing their natural home, predators that were brought to the island, and diseases. Only about 2% of Mauritius's original native forest is left. Most of this is on the slopes around the Black River Gorge National Park.
Common predators that hunt pink pigeons include the crab-eating macaque (a type of monkey), the small Asian mongoose, rats, and feral cats (wild cats). Invasive plants, like the Chinese guava and privet, grow very fast and take over the native forests. This stops the native plants from growing. Without these native plants, pink pigeons have trouble finding good places to build nests or find food. Very strong storms, like cyclones, can also damage their habitat even more.
The feeding stations that provide extra food can sometimes cause problems. If many birds gather there, diseases can spread more easily between them. For example, a disease called trichomonosis was brought to Mauritius by other pigeons. So, these feeding stations must be carefully managed to keep the birds safe.
Another worry for the pink pigeon, like many endangered animals with small populations, is inbreeding depression. This happens when animals that are too closely related have babies. It can lead to weaker animals that are less likely to survive.
Pink Pigeons in Culture
The book Golden Bats and Pink Pigeons by Gerald Durrell tells the story of the efforts to save these birds.
Mauritius has also released a series of postage stamps that feature the pink pigeon.
