In March 28, 1979, a partial nuclear core meltdown occurred at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station outside of Harrisburg, PA. As the meltdown progressed, 2.5 MegaCurie of radioactive gasses were released into the atmosphere in the span of a week. For the humans living in the surrounding area, this radiation ultimately posed no harm and threat. But for a flock of pigeons that frequented the station for lunch leftovers, this radiation would change their lives forever.

A flock of twenty pigeons flew over the tall stacks of the nuclear plant that day as great clouds of radioactive gas poured out. Over the next few days the pigeons grew sick, and huddled at the edge of a river bank as the radiation took its toll. For these pigeons, the radiation had caused extreme damage to their bodies, nearly paralyzing them.  Five of the pigeons starved for lack of food. Five more washed away in the Susquehanna River. The remaining 10 pigeons clustered around a bag of stale pastries a worker had bought on a weekend trip to New York City and tossed away. For two weeks, the pigeons nibbled at the pastries and drank rainwater, as their radiation-bruised bodies slowly healed. 

As the second week progressed though, a curious development occurred. The irradiated tissues of their ‘lil noggins began to grow and change, until their mental faculties far surpassed those of any bird. Their tiny pigeon muscles knitted themselves into new fibrous shapes, the radiation twisting their bodies (and vocal cords) in ways any scientist worth his salt would deem medically impossible. By the end of the second week, the spark of consciousness had taken root in their souls, and they began to commune with each other as individuals, with understanding and love.

By the end of the third week, they had healed and began a pilgrimage. Traveling to nearby Harrisburg, they stowed away on a Greyhound bus bound for New York City. Along the way, one of them penned their scripture.