Dear Doug,
RE: Clueless in Seattle, or Much adoo-doo about pigeons
I know why the pigeons of Seattle choose the white Acura for target practice. The key is in putting the car in context with the lush Seattle environment. From on high, the pesky poopers see a solid white zone against a dark green and gray backdrop. This tells them instinctively that this is the designated drop zone. This instinct kicks in just like the instinct that leads elephants to the fabled elephant graveyards, where they go to die.
How can I be so sure? Well...I used to spend a lot of time canoeing in Canada. Every once in a while, when I came upon a group of rocks in a lake, one rock would be completely white. From a distance it looked like a miniature snow-covered peak, but on close inspection it became abundantly clear that this white rock, below so many soaring sea gulls, was not covered in snow--but gull droppings! They drop toward a common target by instinct--called it flock mentality.
Take care.
Eric Becker
St. Louis
