What are the pigeons doing?

[Playplayaway]

We get a lot of pigeon visitors but lately I've noticed they just seem to be sitting around in little groups for hours on end. A group on the garage roof, a couple of pairs on the fence and an odd one in the bird bath. There's nothing wrong with them as they fly off when we go outside. Then they quickly reassemble when we go back inside.

It's a tiny bit creepy , like they're planning something 👀

Government drones, just preserving their battery life.

Either that, or they are hoping that you will feed them.

It's just what they do! I love the pigeons. They nest in the trees in front of my top story balcony (neighbours over the backs trees) I love watching their comings and goings on the same level.

Id like to tag them so I know for sure they're the same ones each year! One definitely is as he has an identifiable foot!!

so far the worst thing they've plotted is mass poo on the balcony. Probably in protest that I don't feed them up there 😫😂

Can you apply for an ASBO?

That's an ASPO, no?

@Squiff70 bloody typos!

Not sure how effective ASPOs are but at least it forms a paper trail of potentially criminal behaviour

Has anyone noticed just how dim wood pigeons are? Every year without fail, they nest in the same spot in the same tree outside my living room window and every year without fail, their nest gets predated by magpies.

I've also watched woodies fly into fences and walls when trying to land. They are just SO stupid. I do like them though, and would help one if it needed help. I just fail to understand how a wild bird given the gift of flight can be so utterly dense.

I’d trade sitting nicely to noisily shagging which is what the feckers like to do on the conservatory roof!

They're funny little characters and I'm rather fond of them. One has a limp so of course he's called Limpy. We feed them very well.

I think some might be youngsters. Occasionally a little scrap breaks out but generally they're all very calm, just sitting in their designated spots quietly watching.

@Squiff70 we have the same! In all the tears I've been here they set up: a frankly rubbish nest that gets raided by magpies and yet they are back every year! Can wood pigeons survive 10 years? Or are they different silly pigeons?

[Grin]

Basilbrushgotfat
Can you apply for an ASBO?

I notice this too.

Also, it always seems to be the wood pigeons that collide with our patio doors when they are shut. Never any of the other birds. They scare the crap out of me when they do that.

They are also shit nest builders. The ones I see are just like a hopeless jumble of twigs wedged in somewhere (used to often be behind our satellite dish, but that is now blocked off). The nest would often fall down, usually wit chicks in it.

They do seem quite stupid, but very numerous.

Id like to tag them so I know for sure they're the same ones each year!

If it's green it's Paul.

Seriously though you could ring them, they also sell trackers, pigeons are surprisingly easy to catch.

Every year at least one wood pigeon flies full pelt into our swing set. Every year.

they also like to do their baby making stuff on our fence. Then the magpies eat the eggs / chicks. They are properly thick.

I've raised this before, pre pandemic we were overwhelmed by parakeets, haven't seen one for two years at least. They used to keep the magpies in check. Now it's Magpie, crow, wood pigeon,

We don't see a lot of magpies thankfully. We get big groups of starlings moving through and occasionally a huge gang of seagulls descend. There's a Robin that hangs out on one of the patio chairs. He let's us get really close. I swear it's the same one that's been there for a few years but apparently they only live about a year.

Love our little bit of nature.

I see your wood pigeons and raise you collared doves.
For the last two years the dozy buggers have tried to nest in my gutter. Each time the barely-balanced half a dozen twigs or so have sat there until the wind has blown them down, at which point the doves decide it's a bad idea...

GB and Ireland longevity record for a wild Woodpigeon is 17 years and 8 months...

We do have some magpies around here too, plus crows, a couple of robins (I like robins) and, I think, the odd jackdaw.

None so clumsy and stupid as wood pigeons though. They are the true plonkers of the local bird population. Utter dipsticks!

Makes me wonder how they're doing so well as a species!

The pigeons in my garden insist on shagging on my garden fence when I'm washing up.... it's right in my eyeline and very off putting. I normally shout at them to get a room.....

Yes why do they shag on fences? It doesn't look comfy for poor old Mrs Pigeon. Although it doesn't last long. Mr Pigeon looks a bit sheepish afterwards and sort of side steps along the fence to get a bit of distance.

www.reddit.com/r/birdsarentreal They're all a lie.

They watched that Hitchcock film, the birds and are trying to scare the shit out if you.

Agree with collared doves, every year they build a 'nest' with a few random sticks balanced on a roof beam. Lay an egg which then promptly rolls off and smashes on the floor. Sometimes twice in the season, thick as mince.

The wood pigeons here fly into trees when it's windy and knock themselves out. My dog's always on the lookout for stunned birds in the woods. He's raw fed and can recognise a good meal when he sees it, so if he finds one he eats it... saves me giving him his dinner.