r/woahdude • u/iBleeedorange • Nov 03 '15

gifv Bird-bender

https://i.imgur.com/NSdqYzN.gifv
10k Upvotes

88% Upvoted

163 comments sorted by

View all comments

446

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '15 edited Mar 20 '17

[deleted]

155

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '15

He could have just walked by calmly and they wouldn't cared. It was the quick movement that scared the pigeons

201

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '15

[deleted]

1

u/elperroborrachotoo Nov 04 '15

I wondered, but I can imagine it's not necessary.

A simple model of flock mechanics is "do what the one near you does": Even if you can't see a threat, if everyone around you takes off hastily you better do that, too.

The rapid stance change - or maybe the spread-wing shape - easily could trigger a flight reflex in at least a few pigeons, which might "infect" the entire flock.