{
  "id": 15082828,
  "title": "Why visitors are flocking to Philadelphia's popular pigeon tour",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/why-visitors-are-flocking-to-philadelphias-popular-pigeon-tour",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T00:46:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CBS News",
    "slug": "cbs-news",
    "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tourists-flock-philadelphia-pigeon-tour/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tourists visiting Philadelphia often visit iconic landmarks like the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and the Rocky Steps. However, a new attraction has now joined this list: pigeon watching. Hannah Michelle Brower and Aspen Simone, the founders of Philly Pigeon Tours, offer visitors a 90-minute tour to explore pigeon-filled areas throughout the city.\n\nMost people see pigeons daily without giving them much thought, but Hannah Michelle explains that many people fail to appreciate them. Her company provides answers to common pigeon-related questions, such as why the birds always face the same direction. Simone clarifies that the pigeons' posture is due to their feathers being streamlined from front to back, allowing them to cut through the wind more efficiently.\n\nAlthough the idea of a pigeon tour might appear absurd, Hannah Michelle's enthusiasm is worth the price of admission. Her interest in pigeons began four years ago when she stumbled upon a sick or injured bird and decided not to abandon it. Instead, she nursed the pigeon back to health, which ultimately changed her perspective on these common birds.\n\nOne of the tour's most memorable aspects is the appearance of their domesticated pigeon, Primrose. Hannah Michelle and Aspen Simone treat Primrose like a pet, giving her baths, giving her manicures and letting her pet them. The tour also aims to teach visitors a valuable lesson: cultivating curiosity about the world around them, even in the most ordinary places.",
  "summary": "The 90-minute tour, which TripAdvisor now ranks as the third most popular in Philadelphia, answers all your burning pigeon-related questions.",
  "key_points": [
    "Philadelphia's pigeon tour attracts visitors to explore the city's pigeon-filled areas.",
    "Tour guides Hannah Michelle and Aspen Simone educate tourists about pigeons' behavior and care.",
    "The tour includes a domesticated pigeon named Primrose, who receives baths and manicures."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Reframing common urban wildlife as a point of interest transforms overlooked city creatures into a unique destination for tourists seeking unconventional ways to experience Philadelphia.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "How a Philadelphia couple turned pigeons into one of the city's most popular tours",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/how-a-philadelphia-couple-turned-pigeons-into-one-of-the-citys-most",
        "published": "2026-10-17T00:06:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}