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Original poster

To Love Pigeons

112 replies

itsnotmeitsu · 19/08/2022 21:32

theconversation.com/in-defence-of-pigeons-187216?utm_source=pocket-newtab-global-en-GB > Putting a link on here but I don't think it works. The article came up on on Firefox. I love to see the pigeons in my garden, and can work out the pairs. I love to see the fat fools rambling about. I don't leave out food for them, but they peck at my apple trees. I also love to hear them calling to each other from far away. There'll be a pigeon sound and, a few seconds later, one back, saying 'I'm here'.

We have a heirarchy of what creatures are acceptable to humans. It infuriates me when I see adults encouraging their children to go for pigeons by kicking at them etc, rather than teaching them to respect all forms of life.

OP posts:
cakewench · 19/08/2022 22:41

Me too! Another whose DS loves them and has made me appreciate them so much more.

Battlecat98 · 19/08/2022 22:50

I believe the white ones are called feral pigeons, well that is what my son's pigeon calendar says.I Iove how chubby they look ,no grace and the best fights.

Bonjovispjs · 19/08/2022 22:53

I like them, I feel sorry for them as so many people hate them, all they're trying to do is survive like every other creature on the planet. Makes me eye roll when people call them flying rats because I like rats too😁

PickAChew · 19/08/2022 22:55

figmaofmyimagination · 19/08/2022 22:08

I love pigeons, especially the nesting ones. They make me feel better about myself 😁

🤣🤣🤣

Lancrelady80 · 19/08/2022 22:56

wonderingwhatsnext · 19/08/2022 21:34

I hate them. They wake me up by cooing down the chimney and shit all over the garden seating and play equipment. Gross.
However we have a sweet one nesting in a tree at the bottom of the garden and I totally respect her right to be there and raise her family.

This.

I have spent hours this summer cleaning up pigeon poo from the swings, climbing frame, garden furniture, swingball post, basketball hoop etc. They poo copiously all over the lawn, which the children then traipse into the house. Absolutely disgusting.

We do nothing to encourage them but still the buggers come. Have tried shiny stuff, hanging CDs, pretend bird of prey, powder on surfaces they land on. Can't put bird spikes on children's play things but am getting sorely tempted.

Horrible things.

PickAChew · 19/08/2022 22:57

Battlecat98 · 19/08/2022 22:50

I believe the white ones are called feral pigeons, well that is what my son's pigeon calendar says.I Iove how chubby they look ,no grace and the best fights.

Feral pigeons are the ones that eat your sandwich crumbs before they hit the ground in the market place. They come in all sorts of colours and occasionally have all their toes.

BitOutOfPractice · 19/08/2022 23:00

I’m not a pigeon fan. But never ever have I seen anyone encouraging or even the condoning kicking them. I suspect you haven’t either op. I’m not a fan but I’d never hurt one.

whatdodos · 19/08/2022 23:03

I love them even more now my toddler names them all "pidgenton" from Paddington Bear. "LOOK MUMMA PIDGENTON"

Theantsgomarchingtwo · 19/08/2022 23:03

Pigeon lovers here OP! Agree with the other posters above - absolutely love hearing woodpigeons on the morning. Many happy summer mornings rocking my newly born dc in the 5am light listening to the coo of the woodpigeons. Happy days.

Dh and I also have a soft spot for the one legged pigeons that are all over the town centre.

SpaceyCake · 19/08/2022 23:06

I've always loved pigeons. They're so chill and plump and adorable. 😍 We used to get them nesting on the roof at my old workplace and I was always looking after them when my ridiculous colleagues tried to get rid of them (rather brutally 🤨). I was named the unofficial Pigeon Protection Officer back in the day. Haha. Fine creatures.

LesOliviers · 19/08/2022 23:07

I love pigeons too. I think they're marvellous creatures. The sounds they make are so soothing, they're funny to watch and I also like watching their little mating rituals...sounds pervy but they're just so sweet and comical.

Wombat100 · 19/08/2022 23:07

Bonjovispjs · 19/08/2022 22:53

I like them, I feel sorry for them as so many people hate them, all they're trying to do is survive like every other creature on the planet. Makes me eye roll when people call them flying rats because I like rats too😁

Me too! Always think rats are quite cute. Maybe less so if they were carrying bubonic plague but I’ve never met one that was 🤷‍♀️

SpaceyCake · 19/08/2022 23:08

figmaofmyimagination · 19/08/2022 22:08

I love pigeons, especially the nesting ones. They make me feel better about myself 😁

I love the crap nests too! So relatable. 🥰

MrsAvocet · 19/08/2022 23:09

We love all birds in this family, including the unpopular ones like pigeons, seagulls and crows. We have lots of jackdaws nesting in the trees in our garden and they do make a lot of noise, and poo all over the cars, but they are so clever and I love watching them.
I can't understand anyone hurting birds or any animal come to that. We were out sailing on a local lake at the weekend and I saw a bunch of adult men throwing stones at ducks. Just why?? If I could have got close enough I would have given them a piece of my mind. 😡

PickAChew · 19/08/2022 23:12

Can't get on board with feral rats. One visited our garden, last week. It spent ages trying to work out how to get at the bird feeders (the wood piggies do, too, but more comically). It was hunch backed and scabby and not in the least part endearing.

TwoMonthsOff · 19/08/2022 23:14

saved lots of lives during WW2

‘Homing pigeons served the AAF very capably and valiantly during World War II. They transmitted countless messages within numerous theaters of operation and, as a result, contributed much to the Allied war effort. During this war, 32 pigeons were decorated with the Dickin Medal’
🐦❤️

PickAChew · 19/08/2022 23:17

We have a massive clattering of jackdaws that passes over our house, every night. they stop and gather on nearby roofs before moving on. Sometimes the local rooks join them.

We have a few magpies that aren't allowed to join in so sit on the roof tops calling them names.

Not always been a jackdaw fan, though. We had a family, at our last house, that trashed all our attempts to keep them out of our chimney and circled in large numbers when I was in my back yard. Really unnerving.

FavouriteMug · 19/08/2022 23:19

Another pigeon fan here - their utterly shit nesting technique is a thing to behold.

shrodingersvaccine · 19/08/2022 23:26

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ.

TheWayoftheLeaf · 20/08/2022 01:01

I like them because they're fat and cute and live humans

JustMaggie · 20/08/2022 01:20

"The Rest is History" podcast did a whole episode on pigeons recently. It was actually quite fascinating!

Original poster
itsnotmeitsu · 20/08/2022 01:39

Come back on here because I can't sleep, and thrilled to know how many posters actually like pigeons. @shrodingersvaccine > I'll definitely be looking that website up. Pigeons are a bit useless as scavengers, so they hang around to pick up food that other creatures have dropped. Another thing I love about them is they warn off other birds by flapping their wings at them if they come close to where they're sitting. How benign could a creature be? And to the people who say they don't believe I've seen parents encouraging their children to kick at pigeons and abuse them, well I have, lots of times, and worry what that is teaching those children.

OP posts:
SwapPlaces · 20/08/2022 01:57

I have a soft spot for pigeons too.
This is lovely listening on them. podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/the-rest-is-history/id1537788786?i=1000574569158

CockSpadget · 20/08/2022 02:19

I have a pair of wood pigeons nesting in my garden, I've named them Clarice and cliff. Messy swines but I love them, bought them a large birdbath in time for the heatwave and they make good use of it. They are so territorial as well, any outsider pigeons who dare to go near their feeders get seen off sharpish!

NCHammer2022 · 20/08/2022 02:44

JustMaggie · 20/08/2022 01:20

"The Rest is History" podcast did a whole episode on pigeons recently. It was actually quite fascinating!

I loved this episode! Was telling DH all about it and he just looked at me like I was insane, but I found it so interesting.

There’s a really chill, round pigeon called no neck who has hung around in my garden since my cat died. I like them.