kitchrat Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 As you may (or more likely not) know, I have been laid up for a few weeks following a total hip replacement. During this time, as I laid in bed watching endless TV progammes about antiques, this pair of pigeons have taunted me, as they have the past 2 or 3 years. They sit on the same branch outside my window, wake me at 1st light cooing, cuddle up, groom each other's head and neck and make more pigeons. They go off to pillage the local rape, back to cuddle for a lunch break, back to the fields, then an evening cuddle and off into the cupressus trees to roost. In spite of myself I have grown fond of them, I took the photo only last night. BUT, today, only 1 bird!! He (or she), sat on the branch nearly all day, waiting and waiting, cooing for the partner. Now I have seen a pile of feathers in next door's garden.... Cat or sparrowhawk??? I'm gutted!! Am I going soft?? On another note, now I'm quite mobile on 1 stick, I can get down the road to see what is happening in my local rape field. There are a few dozen birds still on it, using the sitty trees then dropping into the wheel marks or areas where the crop is short. Those in the crop are well hidden in there, you have to watch for ages (I've got all day!!) Yesterday, as I came round the corner, a couple of birds in the trees took off, glided away from me over towards the feeding birds and did the warning CLAP CLAP of wings over them. All 30ish came out of the crop and away. The warning claps were done, maybe 80-100 yards from the trees, (120 yds from me) they didn't come out of the trees in a panic, I THINK THEY WENT OVER THERE TO WARN THEIR MATES!! I know you think I'm mad when I talk about scouts etc, but his didn't look like a coincidence to me. I saw it!! PS It's not April 1st!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 After careful consideration of your post I have come to the following conclusion You are indeed mad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted April 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 After careful consideration of your post I have come to the following conclusion You are indeed mad Fair enough!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 Stir crazy of that there is no doubt. I hope that your recovery goes well and that when you are fully fit your left hand is unable to press 'Caps Lock'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted April 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 Stir crazy of that there is no doubt. I hope that your recovery goes well and that when you are fully fit your left hand is unable to press 'Caps Lock'. Thanks JD! As long as my right thumb can get the safety off..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 I used to think that the middle finger of my right hand was my most important digit, but now I have seen the light I know that it is actually the thumb on my right hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted April 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 I used to think that the middle finger of my right hand was my most important digit, but now I have seen the light I know that it is actually the thumb on my right hand. Correct!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 Hi Kitchrat........... Glad things are getting back to normal, it started to get a bit boring keep writing about sensible topics...........no I am only kidding, glad your on the mend and getting out and about in the countryside again. I am sending your get well card by pigeon post, don't shoot it...might have a young family to go back home to..........all the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 I feel the way you do. Maybe its kitsch but I have the pigeons on the lawn and nothing but foxes gets shot on my bit of UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 I would only contemplate rats and squirrels in the garden, if I wasn't so soft a dozen woodies would be doable in a typical day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karpman Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 Pigeons are a beautiful bird and funny to watch, if they were in short supply ya would love to have em around. Since there not and they **** a lot yes your losing it lol Karpman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted April 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Hi Kitchrat........... Glad things are getting back to normal, it started to get a bit boring keep writing about sensible topics...........no I am only kidding, glad your on the mend and getting out and about in the countryside again. I am sending your get well card by pigeon post, don't shoot it...might have a young family to go back home to..........all the best. Thanks for your concern Guys! I will be able to drive again in 2-3 weeks, then I should be able to get over this "cabin fever". The lone pigeon is still waiting......... Do they mate for life? I don't think so but will kep you posted. I can't shoot it to put it out of it's misery as my garden is only about 30ft x 60ft and the neighbours are a bit "green". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbower Posted April 8, 2014 Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 I watched a program on Pigeons, Woodie , and Ferals. Some do mate for life, ie , they just don't eat apparently. But I cannot remember which is Which. There is a syndrome, ?(Helsinki) I think, where hostages become very fond of their Captors. Sod it , Just shoot it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJW Posted April 9, 2014 Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 Longbower its Stockholm syndrome where the hostage/ victim loves or idolises their captor. I know a few people who love shooting but allow their own gardens to become somewhat of a sanctuary for the odd woody. At the very least, seeing them in the garden encourages them to get out again soon, reminds them of good times perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted April 9, 2014 Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 (edited) I have nesting woodies in our Scotch Pine annually... and frankly l look forward to.them each year .. though the Magpies in the garden do nothing but harass them. If l ever get round to borrowing my mates pop gun, they will be shot as will the crows, but the woodies are a part of my garden environment. I miss the hegdehogs, not visited for a few years now. On the up side, numerous green finches/goldfinches/wrens/dunnocks/house sparrows and the usual common tits, plus the sparrow hawk that patrols regularly .. tho they mainly take the starlings and blackbird lve noticed over the past couple of years ... but the woodies are safe in.my garden Edited April 9, 2014 by hoggysreels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 Woodies are a big bird, even for a hen Sparrow Hawk, though they will take them. Way too much for a Musket though. I have nesting woodies in our Scotch Pine annually... and frankly l look forward to.them each year .. though the Magpies in the garden do nothing but harass them. If l ever get round to borrowing my mates pop gun, they will be shot as will the crows, but the woodies are a part of my garden environment. I miss the hegdehogs, not visited for a few years now. On the up side, numerous green finches/goldfinches/wrens/dunnocks/house sparrows and the usual common tits, plus the sparrow hawk that patrols regularly .. tho they mainly take the starlings and blackbird lve noticed over the past couple of years ... but the woodies are safe in.my garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 no, I think you have equated them with your own fragile mortality. Dr Kent On a serious note I had a mated pair Mallard come and nest on one of my ponds at home, they were the same pair each year as the duck was a part white mongrel with more a buff than a brown colour to her so we called her Ginger and the natural coloured drake Plum. at first they were very nervous but after their third season even the dog could approach them. Anyhow spring 2013 the dog pulled a very dead mother duck from under the bush were it had died on the nest, it was quite upsetting. I think he also saw it a bit more solemnly as it was just gently pulled out from under for me to see not retrieved just because we kill something should never mean we hate them, indeed I feel when we have no respect or appreciation of our quarry we become merely killers not hunters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 'just because we kill something should never mean we hate them, indeed I feel when we have no respect or appreciation of our quarry we become merely killers not hunters' Bang on the mark Kent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 just because we kill something should never mean we hate them, indeed I feel when we have no respect or appreciation of our quarry we become merely killers not hunters +1 on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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