Does the US military still use homing pigeons?
952099
No we can electronically encrypt radio traffic now.  It makes pigeons obsolete.  As for using them to deliver chemical or bacterial agents, our bombs are much better for this purpose.
960140
Here is a bunch of links, responding to all of your questions:\nhttp://www.closertonature.com/outdoors/bird-migration.htm
936113
I'm on a destroyer and we have had our CIWS train on seagulls before.  Ha!  Yours is probably a Block 1B or greater, and has probably had some software upgrades that will enable it to track objects that small.  When you consider that it's designed to counter antiship cruise missiles (the nose-on aspect of which is only slightly larger than a mortar round) you shouldn't have much to worry about as far as the radar.  From my experience though, it's a really buggy system especially if you have the pneumatic drive vice the hydraulic system.  You get 4500 rounds a minute, but the tradeoff is less reliability.  What's more important?  Keep your head down out there, dude.
718848
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_flight
627820
I just tested that theory. I put my two parakeets in a pop tart box and threw a big stone at it. It works!!!!! They are both dead. Now I'm sorry I did it. They were nice birds and I miss them. Especially Jake. He could recite the Gettysburg address.
1072843
Rooster Tails, Meps Spinners, and Panther Martins
11721
First of all, it depends on the bird size. The bird has an initial advantage of flying away. If the bird is big like a hawk, it would be a winner without any questions. But if it is small, it would fly away. And you know, The winner never runs away from the battlefield.
919277
Yes im a british hunter, I shoot moust things that are legal, i belive if i shoot i should eat it, That dose not go for genral vermin though, on the other hand pigeon make good eating.\nAll my kills are took home where i clean them and propear them for the pot/pan.\nIf you want details then please e mail me
481966
The Air Force could cover Marine movements but Marine pilots train right along with the ground pounders.  They have a unique perspective on the needs of their ground units.\n\nI am retired from the Air Force and think highly of the organization.  But we do ask a lot of our Marines and in giving it they want their own cover.  I'm willing to give it to them.
1054442
Back in the 60's? We used to see those blimp things a lot then (airships they call them now) the army and air-force used them a lot for paratroop training and weather observation. They were very quiet unless you were directly under one. When they turned away from you they just disappeared because of the optical effect of the skin they were made from, plus they were mostly grey so they blended into the clouds very easily. We lived near a base where they flew three of them from and they often seemed to disappear (sometimes as you were watching them!). This would be my guess!
124099
To answer you question, I will say "Not so much anymore"  When the craft first came out, they couldn't seem to keep it in the air.  I think there are still a few things to work out with this aircraft.  My brother is a helo pilot in the Army.  He talks about this craft and all the things it can do to support ground troops.  This bird will open up new doors in aviation.  I do belive this is something that should have money put into it.
1026570
Normal cruising speed is about 30-40 miles per hour.  However, if they're being chased by a hawk, they get easily get up to the 65-70 mph range for a while.  With a wind behind them, pigeons have also been clocked over the distance (hundreds of miles) at over 50 mph and in rare instances up to 80 mph.\n\nThere are many people who enjoy racing pigeons and speeds are well documented since they birds are clocked over the distance and have been for many, many years.\n\nPigeons are some of the fastest flyers around - in level flight - and only some of the shorebirds can equal them.
713886
Hard to say how effective they are. Is it pointless? I don't think you can make a determinatioin on that for at least another five-ten years.  But they are deployed. Army Delta was charged with targeting high value individuals such as the hunt for Saddam and his sons. Special Ops personnel were on the ground and targeted Al Zarqawi for the air raid when he was killed. Also, SF units are charged with training Iraq's elite counter terrorism units.
1109849
Actually this is true.  The Hurricane Hunters, an air wing of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration routinely flies P-3 Orion and C-130 Hercules Aircraft into the eyes of hurricanes to do weather observations.  They also commonly report seeing birds in the eyes of hurricanes.
108481
When hunting ground birds, a dog normally runs out in front of the hunters.  When the dog goes on point, the hunters get an idea of whee the birds are (in this case it was a covey of quail).  The hunters move forward and at some point the prey is flushed (they startle out of their nests and fly away, toward, up, all directions, although usually away.  Usually when hunting ground birds two hunters go with one dog, but a line could be used....  \n\nThe dangerous part is when a bird flies back through the shooting line.  The shooter have to be disciplined enough not to shoot outside of their arc, in order to avoid the other hunters.  Now the arc changes slightly as the shooting line follows the outriders and the dogs.  If someone is out of line or a bird flushes toward a hunter, there is a risk of getting shot.  In this case, the man who was shot was out ahead and to one side.  \n\nWhen one tracks a ground bird, one tracks from where the bird flushes and aims a bit ahead with the shotgun.  So the muzzle of the gun moves from down to up.  It is easy to get hit when hunting quail, pheasant, partridge, etc.  Safety rules must be observed and the guide has to keep track of where everyone is.  \n\nIf you hunt birds you are going to catch some bird shot from time to time, I have been hit twice, although at longer range and with fewer pellets.  The more you hunt, the more likely you will get hit.  Other factors influence as well.  This incident happened late in the day when people were tired and the sun was low.  This is when a lot of accidents happen?  Hope this helps.
514534
No. It's in the Bohemian grove and now it's only symbolic. They pay homage to "Moloch" an owl. Check out infowars.com
1073256
There are several.\nhttp://birding.about.com/library/weekly/aa060797.htm