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Original poster

I have a pigeon nesting just outside my sitting room window and she is so cute

131 replies

TiredOfCleaning · 21/05/2023 16:56

We have watched her and her partner build their (rickety) nest and she has been sitting on it for about a week.

She looks into our sitting room like we are her television and entertainment (what else to do I guess).

Every now and then a magpie comes in and tries to threaten her and we bang on the window to ward the magpie off. She seems to know we are helping. (I like to think anyway).

She is currently having a nap. I got up this morning at 5.30 and she was absolutely fast asleep for a good while.

I said to DH; 'What are we going to do tomorrow when we are working and she needs help to scare the magpie?'. He said he will bring his laptop up to the sitting room (he WFH) so he can be on guard.

I really love her.

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Original poster
TiredOfCleaning · 23/05/2023 05:47

So many lovely pics! This was the pic from yesterday that did not load.

I have a pigeon nesting just outside my sitting room window and she is so cute
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SinnerBoy · 23/05/2023 05:51

Do you put wild bird seed mix out for them?

Original poster
TiredOfCleaning · 23/05/2023 05:53

And asleep fluffy butt.

I have a pigeon nesting just outside my sitting room window and she is so cute
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Original poster
TiredOfCleaning · 23/05/2023 05:57

No we never really have put food out for them. Neighbours have alot of bird feeders out but we never did as we have cats who are hunters. For some off reason our main outdoor cat climbs up the tree the pigeons are in to come in at the window I am taking photos from- so a metre or two away from the nest and they all seem to ignore each other. They did last year as well, it was the magpie that was the problem. It's quite odd. Cat is more a mouser than a pigeoner though. But we are watching her closely too.

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SinnerBoy · 23/05/2023 06:00

Well, that all sounds very exciting!

Original poster
TiredOfCleaning · 23/05/2023 06:13

I hope we can see the babies in time. Like I said last year an egg was taken and there was a dead baby plus another injured older baby we took to a bird sanctuary. If they usually only have 1-2 eggs i am wondering if the older one was from another nest. The bird sanctuary lady said it injuries consistent with being attacked by a bird of some sort.

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Chestnut12 · 23/05/2023 06:29

@SinnerBoy I’ve started putting out wild bird seed mix from Tesco and they seem to love it! However the packet doesn’t list pigeons as a bird type the seed will attract so I did wonder if there was something else I could put out for them that they’d prefer.

@TiredOfCleaning lovely photos! We also have a big boy cat which I try and keep an eye on. He’s usually fast asleep all day so doesn’t bother the pigeons. But I do worry!

@Girliefriendlikespuppies I’m glad the pigeons brought you joy at a rubbish time! We’ve had a crap few weeks and there is something very soothing about diverting your attention to pigeon activities.

i was up at 5am with my toddler and could hear one of my pigeons doing the “take two cows davey” but I think I prefer “the sky is orange” 😁

one thing I want to work out is which one is the male vs female. From what I’ve googled there isn’t much difference in their appearance. There are some great names here. So far I have Pidge but need another!

Original poster
TiredOfCleaning · 23/05/2023 07:16

Yes I would like to know which sex is which.

I am starting to think that Anjelica should be renamed Princess Fluffy Butt.

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Roselilly36 · 23/05/2023 07:56

My late MIL had pigeons nest in the same place every year, they never had a chick survive, she was really upset one year, when she found a baby chick dead on her path and another bird pecking at it. She also got fed up with the constant coo-ing and the birds mess down her wall. She had bird defence put up to stop them nesting there again, once they had gone from the nest.

SinnerBoy · 23/05/2023 08:14

Chestnut, pigeons will eat any grains and seeds. We take B&M seed down to feed the ducks and swans, they love it.

stinkingbishop · 23/05/2023 12:30

Our local loft owner gave us a lesson in sexing birds, but we still can't do it reliably. The cocks have thicker beaks, and a bigger sticky out bit on top. For those who said squabs look like Saran in bird form...And then Autumn and Clifford the Big Red Pigeon. Just lovely. Showed this thread to DD last night who was very pleased the vermin comments were rebutted, and is talking about setting up a Pigeon Appreciation Society and making you all members 😀

I have a pigeon nesting just outside my sitting room window and she is so cute
I have a pigeon nesting just outside my sitting room window and she is so cute
SirVixofVixHall · 23/05/2023 12:58

MySugarBabyLove · 21/05/2023 19:04

I can’t imagine people encouraging rats into their gardens in the same way they encourage pigeons, and pigeons are vermin in the same way that rats are.

I love the tits and the robins and finches and actively discourage the pigeons.

These are Woodpigeons. Not feral pigeons. All pigeons are beautiful though.

Soonenough · 23/05/2023 13:32

I have a half dead leyandri in the garden that I desperately want to get rid of . But I can't as two fat wood pigeons keep coming in and out of its deeper parts . Thought I would wait until nesting season over but now wondering if they stay all the time ? They seem to mate quite often on the garden wall. Then they separate and one looks like they are whispering to each other and gets a sharp rebuff and a shirk .

Original poster
TiredOfCleaning · 23/05/2023 15:58

OMG @stinkingbishop those photos are lovely. :) i will happily join a Pigeon Appreciation Society.

Not alot has happened here today. Marmaduke and Princess Fluffy Butt have swapped posts again. The cat sat on the windowsill next to the open window and meowed to be let in Hmm and the pigeon looked at her with some askance. Not enough to move though. They both still look at me as if I am the entertainment, but to be fair I am looking at them too.

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Original poster
TiredOfCleaning · 23/05/2023 16:00

There are definitely eggs though as one is on the nest at all times. It seems like just last week they were cooing at each other and doing strange things with legs and wings. (PG explanation for @stinkingbishop 's daughter)

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Original poster
TiredOfCleaning · 23/05/2023 16:15

Oh I have just googled 'bad pigeon nests' and feel so sorry for the poor incompetent yet hopeful pigeons with their two twigs and a single egg on someone's welcome mat.

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Original poster
TiredOfCleaning · 23/05/2023 16:58

Slightly different angle.

I suspect that Princess Fluffy Butt is now posting on Birdsnet. 'AIBU. My human neighbour keeps taking photos of me. WIBU to report her for voyeurism and stalking?'

Mostly unanimous response; 'YANBU' with the odd deviation into 'Humans are wierd'.

I have a pigeon nesting just outside my sitting room window and she is so cute
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HelpMeGetThrough · 23/05/2023 17:21

Ours have been pretty quiet today, have only seen the comings and going's a couple of times.

I've got an overhanging branch I want to get rid of, but can't, as they now use this to get in the tree. It's like a them having a gated residence.

Vitriolinsanity · 23/05/2023 19:23

I have a starling nesting under the eaves next to my office window. I've hung out a bird feeder with meal worms in it.

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 23/05/2023 21:54

Is it just me or do baby pigeons look a bit like Dodos?! 😂

janeinthewild · 23/05/2023 22:21

i absolutely love pigeons! my favourite animals by far
here's the pigeon i see every day outside my house

I have a pigeon nesting just outside my sitting room window and she is so cute
SinnerBoy · 24/05/2023 04:54

Nice action shot, janeinthewild !

SinnerBoy · 24/05/2023 04:56

*Girliefriendlikespuppies · Yesterday 21:54

Is it just me or do baby pigeons look a bit like Dodos?! 😂

No, they do! And there's a very good reason why....

Ta dah! Dodos were a species of pigeon.

Original poster
TiredOfCleaning · 24/05/2023 14:05

So one of the pigeons flew off the nest in such a haphazrd way that the egg (I think there is just one) was pushed up right to the edge and I was worried for it's safety. Sadly I have managed to snap a bit off my memory card for the camera so cannot take a photo. But I have seen the egg! I am not sure what Princess Fluffy Butt or Marmaduke (whichever one it was) was doing. But within moments the other one saw the issue and settled everything back to where it should be and is now sitting on the nest and appears to be watching me type.

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Hoppinggreen · 24/05/2023 14:11

MySugarBabyLove · 21/05/2023 19:04

I can’t imagine people encouraging rats into their gardens in the same way they encourage pigeons, and pigeons are vermin in the same way that rats are.

I love the tits and the robins and finches and actively discourage the pigeons.

I don’t mind rats either.
They don’t bother me and I don’t bother them and none of us have caught The Bubonic plague yet (although rat involvement in that is unproven)