What is a Dovecote?
A dovecote or dovecot is a structure designed to house pigeons, doves, and other small birds. Numerous examples of historic dovecotes can be found at various sites all over the world, and modern dovecotes are used to house racing pigeons and other hobby birds. These structures provide a safe environment for pigeons to nest in, as well as creating a clear home base for the birds which encourages them to come home. Historically, pigeons and doves were important food animals, providing both eggs and flesh. They were also used to carry messages, and their manure was a great form of fertilizer. People kept varying numbers of birds in their dovecotes, and in some parts of the world, a flock of doves was a status symbol. In these regions, dovecote construction was regulated, and ownership of the birds was restricted to people of certain social rank. Some very fine examples of ornate dovecotes can be found at old manors in Europe. Several basic design features are common to all dovecotes. They
Forgive me if you consider this common knowledge, but it certainly wasn’t to be found anywhere on my school curriculum. A dovecote is a glorified bird house. It would normally house pigeons or some species of dove, but even a bat box accomplishes the same function: it’s a single point of collection for nitrogen-rich bird dropping fertilizer. And that, it turns out, is a very valuable function. A dove or pigeon will produce somewhere in the range of one pound dry weight of droppings a week—roughly the same as what they eat in the form of grains and insects. So a dovecote that houses a hundred doves will produce over the course of one year about 5000 pounds of fertilizer. Maybe these roof-top Mafiosi were on to something? They can also be quite stylish: But that said, a more theoretical analysis: dovecotes act as an attractor, channeling already existing natural forces to create an accumulation of energy at a place, and in a form, that is highly useable to small-scale, localized endeavor
Forgive me if you consider this common knowledge, but it certainly wasn’t to be found anywhere on my school curriculum. A dovecote is a glorified bird house. It would normally house pigeons or some species of dove, but even a bat box accomplishes the same function: it’s a single point of collection for nitrogen-rich bird dropping fertilizer. And that, it turns out, is a very valuable function. A dove or pigeon will produce somewhere in the range of one pound dry weight of droppings a week—roughly the same as what they eat in the form of grains and insects. So a dovecote that houses a hundred doves will produce over the course of one year about 5000 pounds of fertilizer. (19 February 2006) Another from Big Gav of Peak Energy in Australia. Sauntering toward a post-oil era Replacing cars with feet has benefits for humans and nature Tim Holt, SF Chronicle In the not-so-distant future, as worldwide demand for oil supplies continues to escalate and gas prices spiral, we’re going to be drivin
