The Pigeons on Temple Square

Ever notice how there aren't any pigeons on Temple Square? Go ahead, look around... you will be hard pressed to find one. Now you might say, well maybe the grounds people put some sort of flying rat repellent on the square and it keeps them away or maybe there is some sort of bird force field around the square... both wrong.


Actually Temple Square has its own family of falcons. Yep, falcons. Falcons mate for life and there is a couple that nest each year in the Joseph Smith Memorial building. They "take care" of all the pigeons on the square. In fact, cleaning crews have to go clean up all the carcasses of dead flying things (since falcons generally only catch airborne prey) on the roofs of the buildings a few times during the year.

The falcons just had two babies. Here is a web cam of them. Just click on one of the camera links.