Using the News in your Classroom
Homing pigeons are known for their abilities to return back to a destination but it sees that one particular bird took a detour during a 600 mile race in Japan.  Last week, the  year old racing pigeon,that left during a race on May 10th, was found on Vancouver Island, Canada-5000 mile away from Japan! It is believed that the unnamed racing pigeon may have hitched a ride aboard freighters to get needed water and food along its flight across the Pacific Ocean.Thanks to an identification band around its leg, the marathon racing pigeon's owner was contacted. The owner doesn't want the misdirected bird returned so it has been adopted by a racing pigeon club in Canada.

Fun Facts:
Did you know that homing pigeons(also called carrier pigeons) were used during ww1 in France to transfer messages by soldiers over enemy lines?

Pigeons can fly an average of about 50 miles per hour.

Unlike all other birds, pigeons don't have to lift their head to swallow water!

In 1992, a pigeon was sold for $132,000.00.

Pigeon droppings were so valued as a fertilizer during the 16-18th centuries that  armed men guarded the coops!




Extension Activities:
* How do homing pigeons find their way home? Read this article and summarize it: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/13/130130-homing-pigeon-navigation-animal-behavior-science/

* Pretend you were the homing pigeon that flew across the Pacific. What did you see, hear, feel as you were making your journey
 
* What would be a great name for the unnamed homing pigeon. Write a reason for why you selected the name.

* Draw/color a picture of a pigeon. Write four facts learned about homing pigeons. 
 Lots of interesting facts:http://www.deterapigeon.com/21-amazing-facts-about-pigeons.htm
Gail
http://pinterest.com/gailhennessey/gails-tpt-store-see-my-resources

Photograph from Dailymail.co.uk