Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 25th February, 2021)

Oh no not Pigeons!!!!
I need a very very large sherry.

Flying Rats, please don't feed them.

The poor pigeons get a bad press, look at the beautiful colours of the feathers...we have a couple of resident pigeons in the garden. They make us laugh with their antics especially when courting !

Morning . I'm Stan and I represent all pigeons in this park . Now , before you all start , I'd like to point out that we're all getting a bit tired of tidying up after you lot have left all your junk food scattered about everywhere . And this pigeonist language about us being flying rats is frankly offensive . Do we call you lot upright baboons ? Do we heck us like . We've more class than that . Right have said me piece . Good morning .

I see 15 pigeons ....

Every time I'm in Wigan park, I ride through these pigeons as fast I can to see if I can it one, but Ive never managed to hit one yet.
Ive got close a few times because Ive felt there wings brushing up against my face.

“Welcome to our Pigeon Food Bank, not much on the menu except bread, but there’s plenty of it”

Poet (Stan) .. Good for you.

There's one thing about pigeons ( besides that lovely colouring) they have character- as Helen says it is fun to watch their antics. There's two that come in my garden, they walk along the fence shake their tails, rub one another up, walk away, come back all the while watching each other. When one flies off the other follows, then the panto starts all over again. There's always one more loving than the other. They really mourn if their 'partner' dies or goes missing, you can see this as they keep coming back as if looking for them.
Here endeth the tale of two cooing pigeons!

I do see pigeons picking up food in the park and in Wigan town centre. It is food that idle humans have finished with and would rather drop on the floor than carry a few yards to a bin. I have witnessed supposedly intelligent young lads from the college, (who are hardly young children), throwing their bags at the innocent birds. or running at them with the intent of kicking them. Rats come in many guises. Tell it like it is, Stan!

Please stop feeding them and we'll have a much cleaner park.
People who leave food about after a picnic etc, should be find.

Mick,do you believe in Karma ?.

The last time I went to the park I noticed how the pigeons have taken over the side of the pond. There's far more of them than the ducks and wildlife. I don't remember so many pigeons in the park years ago.

Nice shot David.

Obviously Military Pigeons - all in uniform. They're organising a coo :-)

I do Maureen . Very much so . Say , act or deed , good or bad , you WILL , be paid back
in equal measure .

In my garden, the pigeons are bullies, they keep pinching the small birds food, and running them off.But at the end of the day, they are still God's creatures. That's what the Lolly Pop lady said to the vicar of St Catharine's, when he was telling her off for feeding then on duty crossing the children over.When I was picking my son up from school.

Let's not forget, their close relative the homing pigeon, was crucial up to and during D Day. They were used to avoid radio communications that could have been intercepted by the Germans.

I've tried putting that point across John D,but someone seems to think that they're a different species altogether,how's that for bird knowledge.

Edna you've brought to mind happy memories of Annie the lolly pop lady, there wouldn't be a pigeon to be seen anywhere of a morning, but as soon has she walked out to her crossing point there would be swarms of pigeons swooping down onto the grass where she would begin to throw down bread, I left there because of that vicar, he was always interfering into what had nothing to do with him. The iridescent coloured feathers on Pigeons are wonderful especially in sunshine and scientists still don't know how their homing instincts work, they've even tried baffling them with magnets and different light waves all to no avail. A former pet shop owner, I can't remember his name, would in the 1980s go around town putting down bird food for the Pigeons and Sparrows, he was often told to stop doing it by those in the Civic Centre who considered themselves to be above all, but he too just ignored them and carried on.

Cyril,both myself and my hubby used to buy a pie from the shop at the bottom of the Arcade,break them up and feed the pigeons where we couldn't be picked up on the cameras..if everybody else can stuff their faces we can feed the birds..you can bet all the authorities banning the feeding of them will be putting food down their throats so......there you go.

Mick maybe motorists will have the same attitude when they see an idiot on a bike scooting around Shevy , be nice to see your face brushed against a windscreen

Well said all of you who have been positive about this bird. Poet - you made me chuckle, thank you. One of my dog-owning friends, obviously not keen on pigeons, pointed out that they will eat anything, including sick - how disgusting. I couldn't help pointing out that dogs will eat poo!! That shut her up.

God love all of you who have a soul.

Cyril, There is a photo somewhere on Album of Annie,with her Lollipop.Her daughter Jean put it on, and commented about the pigeons.. When I have put the birds food out, I put the pigeons food on the garage roof, then they have their own " table" They've got the message!!

Sometimes when I've been waiting of a train on Wallgate Station, I've seen pigeons limping and their feet are crushed, whether it's because they haven't got out of the way quickly enough of a moving train I don't know. It just shows the tenacity of them to keep on going though. You see loads of them on the station, picking up the detritus of left over food on the station. They will eat anything ...

Stringfoot, maybe?

Cheers rainh. Stringfoot explained here - https://www.pigeonrescue.org/faqs-2/how-do-pigeons-feet-get-injured/

did you find they had a preference Maureen, or were they just happy to be offered any pie for lunch.

Veronica that's why they are called flying rats. You've just summed it up.

Cyril, they enjoyed the meat and potato,but then they did seem to prefer the flaky pastry from a cheese pasty..bless.

Arthur,let's hope and pray you never get so hungry that you'll eat anything you see.

I don't think it will come to that Maureen.
Go back and read public health warnings about Gulls and Pigeons.

Morning . Now since we last spoke , I must inform you that I've now been made shop steward for the Wigan branch of the Amalgamated Union of Pigeons and Seagulls . A motion was carried last night that if these tiresome flying rat allegations continue , our members will have no option but to withdraw their labour . We shall simply cease to clean up after you.
This will inevitably lead to great smelly piles of waste food lying about everywhere , attracting all sorts of unwanted types ; Mice , Rats , Foxes , Penguins . All sorts of undesirables .
Therefore notice is here given , that if we hear any more of this rather platitudinous remark , the A.U.P.A.S will be coming out . Good morning .

Arthur,please don't tell me what to read..you see I read everything under the sun,always have done..I could probably tell you a few things that you've never read about...you'd be amazed.

Stan..you'll do for me.

Even fish in the sea eat anything ... it's nature. Human beings if they are starving will eat anything they can get hold of. POW's in the last war ate cats,dogs, snakes and insects, even grass. Hunger is the most powerful urge.

Motto - Humans should not drop unwanted food on the ground... not only pigeons but rats, mice, foxes anything that walks in the animal world will eat it. In other words humans are their own worst enemy.

Your probably right Mo, I'm going to call it a day on this subject, most agree with me about the pest, even the Public Health Society. But I do admire you, your like a dog with a bone, you don't let go.

Thank you very much Arthur..I am like a dog with a bone when it comes to animal welfare..they have a heart just the same as we do,and have always said I would hate to stop a little heart beating..any type of animal cruelty disturbs me,and in my wisdom it's cruel not to feed anything that's hungry..this is my last comment on this subject..I hope.lol

Oh Poet you are so funny, I love the angle you're coming from. And Maureen I completely agree, all creatures have just as much right to be on this planet as we do, and also they do a lot less harm.

Thank you Gill,when all is said and done,who are we to condemn any animal when we mortals have committed murders,created wars,go on the rampage when things don't go our sweet way etc..I would defend animals no matter what. In my lifetime animals,and yes pigeons have given me nothing but love and affection,have been more loyal than plenty of humans..I know I do go on a bit,but I just feel so strongly when people put a tag on them,especially 'Flying Rats',it just so annoys me..like you wouldn't know how.