The Great Pavlov Pigeon Prank.
While it has never been properly verified we think this is a fantastic story regardless:
“The legend goes that an MIT student dressed in a black-and-white striped shirt went to the Harvard football stadium every day of one summer, blowing a whistle while scattering breadcrumbs or birdseed to coax neighbourhood pigeons down onto the field. At Harvard’s opening game of the season, upon the referee’s first whistle, it’s said that hundreds of pigeons descended onto the field, causing a half-hour delay.”
This may seem like a lot of work for a simple prank. But it’s little effort compared with the ingenious project of Yale students who, in 2004, managed to coordinate the Harvard crowd to spell out their own shortcomings…
Read more from us
Seasonal Bounty: Asparagus
Delicious simply pan fried in butter or olive oil, the elegant asparagus also features as the star of many springtime recipes. Here are five of our latest favourites.
Gift guide for bird lovers
From the sieving whio to the sipping korimako: what do beaks tell us about a bird’s diet?
Ever watched garden birds feeding and wondered what they’re pecking around for? We got you.