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Why plant nutmegs from pigeons?

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By Chelsie Vandaveer

December 3, 2003

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The Torresian Imperial pigeon (Ducula spilorrhoa Gray) is native to the Oceanic Islands migrating between Papua New Guinea and the reef ks north of Australia. This relatively large pigeon (to 45 centimeters or 18 inches) forms huge nesting colonies on the mangroves of the reef islands. The birds feed on fruit and leaves foraging in rainforests and return to their island
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Torresian Imperial Pigeon, Australia by Kenneth Day Buy Print at AllPosters.com

colonies at sunset.

Torresian Imperial pigeons, like most of the other 37 species of Ducula, are capable of swallowing large seeds. An alternative name for this elegant bird is the nutmeg pigeon because it feasts on nutmegs that have recently fallen out of the fruit and still have the aril or mace attached. The mace is digested and the nutmeg passes unharmed through the digestive tract. Nutmeg pigeons are the major means of the spread of nutmeg trees (Myristica fragrans) to surrounding islands.

The nutmeg pigeon has a number of legends. It is said that when the birds have gorged on the mace-covered nutmegs, the flesh takes on the mild mace flavor. In the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, this resulted in thousands of the birds slaughtered
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Nutmeg pigeon feasts on nutmegs that have recently fallen out of the fruit and still have the (red) aril or mace attached. Fruit of Wild Nutmeg, Barro Colorado Island, Panama Christian Ziegler Buy Photographic Print at AllPosters.com

for their meat. (The Passenger Pigeon in Pennsylvania, John C. French, 1919) During the European colonial era, nutmeg pigeons were slaughtered to prevent the loss of mace which brought a higher price than nutmeg in the European market.

According to Chris McCall, the nutmeg pigeon is believed a discriminating connoisseur, selecting only the finest mace to consume. Consequently, nutmegs that have passed through pigeons are sought for planting to perpetuate the best of the spice. ("Indonesian Nutmeg Isles Save Fruit Trees of Kings", Chris McCall, Reuters Ltd. 1999)

The International Dove Society has a photograph of the nutmeg pigeon taken by Tetsu Sato and a closely related species, the pied imperial pigeon taken by Ian Montgomery. Some authorities consider the two species as variations and classify them both as Ducula bicolor. To view the photographs, click on the link:

http://www.internationaldovesociety.com/FruitSpecies/TorresStraitPigeon.htm

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