PIGEON BUILDS THE MOST GLAMOROUS NEST AFTER STEALING POPPIES FROM MEMORIAL

Since poppies were observed sprouting on battlefields following World War I, they have come to represent the tenacity and resilience of injured warriors. They are most noticeable on Remembrance Day, which is observed throughout the Commonwealth and the United Kingdom to remember those who have lost their lives while doing their duties. Since 1919, when World War I came to a close, organisations have sold cotton or silk poppies to generate funds for soldiers. One animal in Australia made the decision to honour them by utilising poppies in a very unique way.

Since early October, the workers at the Australian War Memorial had noticed that poppies were vanishing from the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier. Before the workers looked up, there was some uncertainty. On the sill of a stained glass window, they observed a pigeon meticulously building a nest. Considering the role that pigeons played throughout wartime, it was actually a welcome surprise that the pigeon was the poppy thief.

Dr Meleah Hampton, a historian, notes that early wars made communication challenging because the technology we use now was just not available. When soldiers were unable to transmit information effectively, pigeons were employed to deliver vital messages, just like horses were used to transport troops and supplies. Even during World War II, when environmental factors continued to hinder communication, their role persisted.

According to Dr Hampton, "we frequently consider the Second World War to be a period when technology has taken over." Instead of using horses, we now use trucks, wireless radios, advanced radar signals, and other technologies. Pigeons were actually the most efficient means of transmitting signals over the Owen Stanleys and throughout the islands, especially in the Pacific, where the mountains and dampness made wireless radios less effective.

The Australian Corps of Signals Pigeon Service was established in 1942 because pigeons were such a useful military tool. 13,500 pigeons were taught as carriers over the course of two years, and Australia even provided the U.S. military with advice on how to begin their own service. Ultimately, pigeons performed so well that a number of them received the Dickin Medal, which was given to animals who showed exceptional levels of dedication and service during World War II.

The nest assumes a whole different meaning in light of the unique bond between pigeons and the military. The pigeon honoured the service of its forebears and their human handlers in its own unique manner.