I am sitting in a cafe, watching this collared dove bring sticks to the wisteria roof that covers the terrasse.
The honeymooners of pigeons. They're always in twos!
this post was submitted on 12 Jun 2025
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Pigeon
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All things pigeon, just no pigeon hate.
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The ferals too really, that is if they're not sitting on eggs or young chicks. Almost all but young ones are coupled. And since they're bred to breed year round, you don't see them as often as a couple. When the chicks are old enough the parents hang out all day together, preening each other etc. But maybe even before the father teaches the kids to fly, the mother might already be sitting on a new pair of eggs. π
You certainly know a thing or two about this subject!
A hobby for crazy people π
I just observed them thoroughly when they were breeding on my balcony, that made me real interested in pigeons. And when I could tell a few pigeons from another it was kinda easy to see what they're up to, they're always hanging out at the same spots etc, so I started following the family dramas of three couples.
And then I caught a sick pigeon and the person I handed it over to is deep into the pigeon scene, as in help and care, so I kinda slid into that too a bit and now do some pigeon work with the other crazy pigeon people.
That's a sweet story and really good of you.
What's your attitude when you see lonely people feeding white bread to flocks of them?
Puuh. I have not completely wrapped my head around the ethics on quite some pigeon things, I know there are a lot of grey zones and I'd like to discuss this when we do a round table with the pigeon gang and I also want to read up a bit more about it.
I am personally not the biggest fan of feeding them without swapping eggs. As in, I don't want to do it myself, but I do not judge people doing that, and I love watching people feeding pigeons. As for white bread.. not optimal. People feed them some weird stuff though, moldy pasta etc, I guess prefer white bread over that or the other trash that they eat and makes them sick, but of course seeds would be the way to go.
Yeah, IMO even feeding seeds is a bit of an ethical conundrum given that the offspring you facilitate will probably be eating trash. My go-to factoid is that pigeons can live to 17 but typically only manage 2 in urban environments.
quite some
Unless this was a typo, it betrays a non-native! Your written English is pitch perfect so I was a bit curious. No need to say, it's unimportant!
I am waiting for my bus connection, so I have time to reply, haha.
What's up with the "quite some", is this not in the right context or what? Tried to look up its use but cannot really figure it out.
From what I read, half of the feral pigeons die before they're a month old and 90% don't make it a year. It is pretty tough shit, from the sheltered nest into the big city. When you see those clueless creatures on the streets, just trying to mirror the moves of the older pigeons, pecking at random ground, not even picking up any food, and also not knowing what is edible yet. It may look cute and funny but it is a real struggle. Not like the adults will care for them either, they'll peck at them, even the parents once they're old enough.
I tried figuring out how old wild rock doves, the wild ancestors of ferals get, it is kinda hard to find information because my rock dove research almost always turns into feral information. And there's a lot of conflicting information too. But what I currently think is the case, is that they get way older, more like wood pigeons or collared doves.
I definitely want to learn more about that, and what actually is going on with the rock doves.
Whatβs up with the βquite someβ, is this not in the right context or what?
It's just non-idiom, the sort of thing that really good non-native speakers will say that instantly betrays them! Like the tricky difference between present perfect and past tenses - it's all but impossible for foreigners to score 100% on that. Or when I get a gender wrong in a Latin language - something no native would ever do! Anyway, I like languages but it's of zero importance.
When you see those clueless creatures on the streets, just trying to mirror the moves
Had never noticed this. I am not as observant as you. But I like to think more observant than most people when it comes to pigeons.
My pet theory on pigeons, part of the reason I'm interested in them, is that they are the mirror reflection of humans. Which is why so many people hate them. They're scruffy, they eat junk, there's too many of them, they're literally the same shade as concrete and tarmac. People kick them away because nobody wants to be reminded of of how feral we are. They throw back in our face everything that we hate about ourselves. And maybe also because we subconsciously need an underclass to hate and despise. They fill the role of peasants and serfs in feudal society.
But perhaps I'm overthinking it!
Intersting thoughts. Honestly I have a hard time to understand the hate some people have for pigeons, like real weird amounts of hate.