Pigeons

[Champagne]

My taxi driver set me a little brainteaser this morning:

He said that very early in the mornings when the sun comes up, around 6 to 7am, you often see pigeons in the middle of roads pecking at the ground as though they are eating something. You never see this later on in the day, only in the mornings. So what are they doing?

[burnhal]

Two possibilities that I can think of. Either there is a source of food still on the road at that time of the morning- seeds or insects -though pigeons are nominally seed eaters they will eat anything- or more likely it is a good source of grit. Birds need to eat grit to help with digestion- they swallow seeds whole and need something to help grind it up.

[SuperPigeon]

Well, Pigeons are stupid aren't they. They probably think the stones on the road are edible then realise they aren't. By the next day they have forgotten this and start eating them again. This carries on forever till the species of Pigeon is extict due to

1. Petrol Poisoning on the road
2. Not eating food

The pigeons where I live forget they have just had it on the fence. They look at each other strangely, do it, then walk away. One will then look at the other as if to say: what are you doin' 'ere? Pigeons are thick!

[Gef]

Pity that they don't stay there all day and get flattened by the traffic- horrible vermin.

[brachiopod]

They probably get up early to clear up the remains of the previous night's post-pub kebabs, McDonalds and KFC.

[Champagne]

I'm going with burnhal's answer.

I shall suggest this to my taxi driver and see if he agrees. I shall keep you posted.