On Halloween morning, a mysterious figure donned a never-before-seen costume and marched through the school gates. Underneath the blue mask, eighth-grader Ellie Park surprised strangers and impressed friends. The full-time bird aficionado insists on a nickname inspired by her favorite feathered friend: Pigeon. 

For as long as she could remember, the winged critters captivated Park. “I got into birds because they’re the only animals that can fly, with the exception of insects. Their shape is also aerodynamic and smooth. I mean, who doesn’t dream of flying as a little kid?” she said.

She marvels at how these creatures enable mankind to fly. “You know, the fastest living animal on the Earth is the peregrine family (ex. falcons). I think it goes around 237 kilometers per hour when diving. Yeah, it’s like a mini jet. And also, falcon’s also inspired the, I believe it’s the B2 stealth bombers design,” Park said. 

Despite her passion for all birds, she has a clear favorite—pigeons.

Though this particular species is infamous for their title as “rats with wings,” these fowls have always held a special place in Park’sheart ever since childhood – to the point where the usual posters of celebrities or characters that may line the room of any middle schooler’s room were replaced by pictures, cozy outfits, and a flashy eco-bag decorated with pigeons.

She chose to share her love with other friends as well. “Back in fourth grade when I got obsessed with pigeons, I started a pigeon cult that had 12 members at least. We ended up going out during every recess to surround this tree and march around it–we just called it the pigeon tree,” she said. 

To Park, happiness comes not from fame or fortune, but in the form of pigeons, a cute set of PJs, and a childhood memory of marching around the pigeon tree. What more could a bird lover ask for, anyway?