The bird-brained business model
Move over, Liberty Bell. If you’re hitting up Philly, you’re missing out if you aren't checking out the local pigeons. Hannah Michelle Brower and her partner, Aspen Simone, have officially launched Philly Pigeon Tours, a 90-minute experience that is lowkey blowing up—it’s currently ranked the third most popular tour in the entire city on TripAdvisor.
Why are people actually doing this?
So, what are you paying for? The tour takes you through "pigeony areas" of the neighborhood to explain the secret life of these city birds. Ever wonder why they all stand facing the same direction? Simone breaks it down: it’s because their feathers streamline from front to back, and they prefer facing into the wind. Real talk, it’s actually kind of fascinating.
It’s giving main character energy
The whole business started because of a bird named Primrose. Four years ago, Hannah Michelle found an injured pigeon and nursed it back to health. She went from hating them to being a total bird stan. Primrose is now a house bird who gets blowouts and likes to be petted. Hannah Michelle and Simone admit that having a pigeon in their apartment is pretty absurd, but it’s clearly their new normal.
Why it matters
It’s not just about the birds—it’s about changing your perspective. The tour is a reminder to stop moving so fast and actually pay attention to the things you walk past every single day. If you can learn to appreciate a city pigeon, you can get curious about anything. Say less, we’re booking our tickets.
