Cyn's Nature Notes: Pigeons

Tuesday 25 January 2011

Pigeons

Occasionally we have several pigeons in the garden, if No-tail is around and notices them he becomes very territorial and sees them off. I must admit I don't welcome groups of pigeons in the garden, because they eat so much, so quickly and the smaller birds don't get a look in. It is difficult to shoo them away without also scaring our resident pigeon No-tail and his partner.

A few days ago we were visited by a pigeon who had been hit by a car, his breast was very muddy and he had lost some feathers. He wasn't very steady on his feet, but I thought he was probably just dazed, he found the food and then settled under a bush. Later that day he reappeared and came for some more food, already he looked stronger and ate with more relish, he also flew up into a tree when he had finished. Next morning he again appeared, but so did No-tail, who was having no stranger eating at his table. No-tail moved over close to him and spreading his wings jostled him, the new pigeon moved a few steps sideways. No-tail followed him wings slightly raised and arched, again the new pigeon gave way.The third time this happened the new pigeon moved right away and hid under a shrub, he stayed there until the coast was clear and then made his way back to the food. Alas No-tail saw him again, and this time flew swiftly at him, The new pigeon took flight and we haven't seen him since.

This morning another solitary pigeon dared to enter No-tail's territory, he was obviously hungry and managed to keep dodging No-tail while grabbing beaks full of food. Eventually No-tail tolerated him no more and it was fascinating to watch the interplay between them. It was almost balletic at times.

No-tail would edge closer and closer to the intruder, when he was almost touching, they would both lift and fly about one to one and a half feet up before descending further apart. They would then slowly edge closer and closer, repeating the performance time and time again. This was interspersed with a lot of wing lifting, at each other, mostly a single wing but sometimes both. They would also walk across the lawn keeping about two feet apart and at the same pace, they would take two or three steps toward each other, then slowly lift into the air, come down and start waking back across the lawn again. These moves were all performed in a very slow and controlled manner.

In some ways what I had witnessed was very like a courtship dance.

Suddenly No-tail became very territorial, feathers flew and a few minutes later so did the intruder. This photograph shows damage inflicted on the intruder by No-tail.

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About this Blog

When we moved to our present home in December 1987, I was very ill and bedridden. My garden was a life-saver, although it was very different then. The first thing I did was to put up bird-feeders, and long hours were spent lying indoors in a recliner. This was when I discovered many things. Do you know the underside of every blue tit’s tail is differently marked? Gradually, over the years, the garden changed. We put in shrubs and plants that would not only enhance the garden, but would also be good for wildlife. The first rabbit we saw was so joyful for us. The deer eat the flowers, prune the apple trees, eat the marrow, and are wonderful to watch. Foxes have been a major part of our wildlife. We have fed them each night for more than 20 years. They are such a delight, especially in late summer and early autumn when there are youngsters. They behave like puppies and are great fun to watch.

I love all wildlife: the mason bees that nest in the brickwork of the bungalow, the hornets that last year made their home in the roof above our bedroom, the bees currently nesting in the roof above the bathroom. On a hot evening, if you stand quietly in the bathroom, you can hear this amazing sound: it is very rhythmic and reminds me of the waves at the seaside. It is made by the beating of the bees’ wings as they fan their nest to keep the temperature at the right level -- how many people have heard that sound? I feel so privileged.

Obviously, I feed the birds. When I open the window in the morning I call “Come on Bobby and Blackie”, and one followed swiftly by the other they fly immediately to the bird table. Each morning, on rising, I make my way to the kitchen and find the squirrels already sitting on the window ledge waiting to be fed. Winter brings the moorhens and spring time the mallards. Our pond is a poor effort from a human point of view, but wild creatures see it differently. On summer days, the grass snakes spend long hours in the pond: eating the fish, froglets, toadlings, newts, and any other living creature they can swallow. Although I hate to see the pond emptied this way, I do enjoy the snakes and feel they are an important part of the balance of nature in the garden. Watching a dragonfly nymph climbing out of the pond, up a plant stalk, and then over the next few hours gradually transforming into a beautiful dragonfly -- these are contented hours well spent.

It has been my pleasure to write and publish a nature column each month. I am always delighted to hear how much pleasure this brings to my readers. I have often been asked if I have written a book, so I am making more of my writings and photography available through this web site and blog.