Would you stop for a pigeon??

[BigGreenApple]

So, driving along today, pretty wide country road which I know very well. Driving within the limit. I came round a band and there were several pigeons in the road. I braked, a couple flew up, one was too slow and I hit it.
Damaged the front grill of the car which is apparently going to cost £££.
There was a car behind me, and I was taught that it was better to hit something small than stop suddenly (unless it's a person, large animal) and risk being rear ended. And PIGEONS NORMALLY FLY OFF.
DH is pissed off. I have in the recent past kerbed the car (twice ) which I admit was my bad judgement.
But today I think I was right to do what I did.....yes?
Also, I had DC in the car! Surely better to hit a bloody bird than do more than slow slightly and risk a bump??

We've had to do an emergency stop for a deer before. It leapt into the road, out of forest, and then froze in front of our car. It was big enough to have gone through the windscreen and kill us if we'd hit it.

I agree it's commoner for game birds to throw themselves in front of cars, but deer also do this occasionally.

Driving within the limit. I came round a band and there were several pigeons in the road. I braked, a couple flew up, one was too slow and I hit it.

Did you take the bend too fast op you could be well within the speed limit especially as vast sections of twisty country roads are National Speed Limit and you can still take a bend far too fast at 20 or 30 mph under that.

Thank yourself lucky it was only pigeons round that bend and not a HGV or farm equipment.