Pigeons and doves
<05/03/2004>

Origins: Pigeons and doves have been around for a long time-long before humans. Rock Doves are thought to have originated in southern Asia several million years ago. Compare this to modern humans that first appeared about 120,000 years ago.

Size and weight: A pigeon is about 13 inches (32 cm) in length from bill to tail and weighs a little less than a pound (0.35 kg). Males are slightly bigger than females.

Nests: Pigeons build their nests with small twigs. A cock brings the nesting material to his mate, one piece at a time, and she builds the nest. Nests are usually well-hidden and hard to find.

Eggs and incubation: Pigeons usually lay two white eggs. The parents take turns keeping their eggs warm (incubating). Males usually stay on the nest during the day; females, at night. Eggs take about 18 days to hatch.

Food for young: Both male and female parent pigeons produce a special substance called "pigeon milk," which they feed to their hatchlings during their first week of life. Pigeon milk is made in a special part of the bird's digestive system called the "crop." When hatchlings are about one week old, the parents start regurgitating seeds with crop milk; eventually seeds replace the pigeon milk.

Colors: There may be as many as 28 pigeon color types, called "morphs," but Project PigeonWatch groups them into just seven morphs. Pigeons also have colorful neck feathers. These iridescent green, yellow, and purple feathers are called "hackle." Adult males and females look alike, but a male's hackle is more iridescent than a female's.

White "color": White feathers are actually feathers that have no color pigments. So, when you see white on pigeons you are actually seeing no color. Pigeons that are all white are usually albinos. These WHITE DOVES are frequently released during ceremonies to symbolize love and peace

SIKAP HORMAT PERGURUAN

Mengangkat 2 jari tangan kiri [telunjuk dan jari tengah] di depan kening, bersamaan itu sambil menarik nafas halus disertai tangan kanan mengepal di depan dada agak kekiri, tepatnya didepan jantung [tidak menempel], badan tegak, lurus kedepan, pandangan lurus ke depan, kaki selebar bahu sikap sempurna.

Dua jari di depan kening, mempunyai makna bahwa sebagai anggota Merpati Putih harus mendahulukan pemikiran sebelum bertindak, dengan tidak menurutkan hawa nafsu. Tangan mengepal di depan dada bermakna keteguhan hati dan menyatukan diri dengan alam sekitar kita. Sikap Sempurna mempunyai makna kekokohan berdiri di atas sendi-sendi dasar hidup yang baik dan benar sehingga tidak mudah goyah.