Pigeon Island formerly Bird Island

There's a small island in the bay at Kuşadaşı (Turkey) that is now known as Pigeon Island. In fact it isn't an island at all since it is connected to the mainland by a mole now. Back in Byzantine times that wasn't the case and the island was fortified and used as a defence against seaborne attack by pirates, hence the name of the fortification, Pirate Castle.

The island got it's name from the seasonal migration of birds and was known as Kuşadaşı, “Bird Island” in Turkish. During Ottoman times the island was given to the town, which then also became known as Kuşadaşı (Bird Island). To avoid confusion the island was renamed Pigeon Island.

Kuşadaşı or Bird Island from which the modern city takes its name

It makes me wonder whether the migrating birds were actually pigeons? If so perhaps the modern city of Kuşadaşı should be renamed Pigeon City, which would be apt given the number of pigeons on the streets of the city!