catgate Posted June 27, 2010 Report Share Posted June 27, 2010 We have a pair of collared doves that have been here for several years. They may well not be the original pair, because a couple of years ago we found a load of collared dove feathers left by an avian predator (there are various of those about including kites and buzzards) so there may have been more than one "partner swapping" episode.For a few years they seem to have favoured a tall cupressus, about twenty feet from the back door, for nesting, right up until a few weeks ago. Then, one morning, I opened the bathroom window only to find a collared dove staring back at me from one of the lowest branches of an old apple tree. (the bathroom is on the ground floor seeing as we live in a bungalow) He/she was sitting on a few twigs which were hung together to make a very basic "nest". Instead of leaping off and rushing away it just sat there, about six feet away from me. This pair have become much more trusting over this winter and since that first encounter we have walked past on many occasions and the bird has just sat there apparently quite unconcerned. There is a paved walkway up the dide of the bungalow which passes almost under the tree.A week or so ago the bird had gone, so I went and had a look. There were two balls of fluff, so I left quickly. The bird must have gone to deal with a natural function, because when I looked again shortly after there was a bird protecting the balls of fluff. That pleased me because I would not like to have had to try to hand rear them.They are now no longer balls of fluff and are left to their own devices for much of the day. I suspect in a few more days they will be gone.Edit:- spill chock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted June 27, 2010 Report Share Posted June 27, 2010 Pigeons(doves) have the reputation of being very unbecoming in their appearance (in other words, ugly) and their parents realise this and so keep them from the human gaze. I've never seen an un-fledged pigeon/dove so, tell me, are they ugly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rong Posted June 27, 2010 Report Share Posted June 27, 2010 Pigeons(doves) have the reputation of being very unbecoming in their appearance (in other words, ugly) and their parents realise this and so keep them from the human gaze. I've never seen an un-fledged pigeon/dove so, tell me, are they ugly?When the cat brings them it they areCatgate I don't think the edit worked unless a dide is something different to what I thought you meant "There is a paved walkway up the dide of the bungalow which passes almost under the tree." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted June 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2010 When the cat brings them it they areCatgate I don't think the edit worked unless a dide is something different to what I thought you meant "There is a paved walkway up the dide of the bungalow which passes almost under the tree." I must have been thinking ugly birds, and the Dodo is an ugly word, but dido isn't, and any way it is far too hot to think, isn't in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandalph Posted June 27, 2010 Report Share Posted June 27, 2010 Nice photo catgate! . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted June 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2010 Pigeons(doves) have the reputation of being very unbecoming in their appearance (in other words, ugly) and their parents realise this and so keep them from the human gaze. I've never seen an un-fledged pigeon/dove so, tell me, are they ugly?Here is todays picture. Judge for yourself, pops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted June 28, 2010 Report Share Posted June 28, 2010 Those are OK in appearance. Perhaps it's the much younger ones who are not appealing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rong Posted June 28, 2010 Report Share Posted June 28, 2010 When the cat brings them it they areCatgate I don't think the edit worked unless a dide is something different to what I thought you meant "There is a paved walkway up the dide of the bungalow which passes almost under the tree." I must have been thinking ugly birds, and the Dodo is an ugly word, but dido isn't, and any way it is far too hot to think, isn't in? Thanks for using the in I got wrong, the equilibrium is now restored Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted June 29, 2010 Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 I love most birds, especially song birds and birds of prey. HOWEVER, I hate collared doves. Their repetitive call is one of the most irritating sounds in nature. They will insist in sitting on the chimney pot going on and on for minutes on end. I also dislike their shrill shriek just before they land. i wish to hell they had never spread north to this country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Posted June 29, 2010 Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 I love most birds, especially song birds and birds of prey. HOWEVER, I hate collared doves. Their repetitive call is one of the most irritating sounds in nature. They will insist in sitting on the chimney pot going on and on for minutes on end. I also dislike their shrill shriek just before they land. i wish to hell they had never spread north to this country.I just wish they would stop practising (and making) babies in our garden. The female is a right little hussie - continually baring her rear end, tail feathers high, head down!! :0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted June 29, 2010 Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 You should borrow my local magpie, Irene. Any sign of shenanigans and it swoops down like a guided missile and stops any goings on with a hefty peck on the neck of the bird on top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted June 29, 2010 Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 You should borrow my local magpie, Irene. Any sign of shenanigans and it swoops down like a guided missile and stops any goings on with a hefty peck on the neck of the bird on topSend it round here for the collared doves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted June 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 You should borrow my local magpie, Irene. Any sign of shenanigans and it swoops down like a guided missile and stops any goings on with a hefty peck on the neck of the bird on topSend it round here for the collared doves.It may need some additional training otherwise it may just cramp your style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Posted June 29, 2010 Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 You should borrow my local magpie, Irene. Any sign of shenanigans and it swoops down like a guided missile and stops any goings on with a hefty peck on the neck of the bird on topWe have numerous local magpies. Do you think you could persuade yours to come and give ours a bit of training? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted July 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2010 Thet will be away any day now. It has surprised me how tolerant they are. I can get to within a couple of feet of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandalph Posted July 2, 2010 Report Share Posted July 2, 2010 They are a pretty docile bird catgate. There are some white Dove's come into our back garden and we can walk up to them with bread and they just take it out of our hands. They don't seem to be afraid one little bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted July 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2010 Thet will be away any day now. It has surprised me how tolerant they are. I can get to within a couple of feet of them.The parents of these two are away if we get too close, particularly if they are on the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandalph Posted July 2, 2010 Report Share Posted July 2, 2010 The White Doves we have around here are all pretty docile. It may be the fact that we are only 100 yds from the local park, they could have become used to people taking bread and other feed to them. Another good picture by the way catgate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted July 3, 2010 Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 Thet will be away any day now. It has surprised me how tolerant they are. I can get to within a couple of feet of them.I wish I could, I could wring their damned necks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted July 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 I wish I could, I could wring their damned necks.Funnily enough I am sure I heard one of them mention your name only yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted July 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 I wish I could, I could wring their damned necks.Funnily enough I am sure I heard one of them mention your name only yesterday.It is now 12.40 and I have just been informed by management that the birds have flown.Look out andsome, they may be heading your way. They set off in a south westerly direction, and they had their tin hats on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rong Posted July 3, 2010 Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 I wish I could, I could wring their damned necks.Funnily enough I am sure I heard one of them mention your name only yesterday.It is now 12.40 and I have just been informed by management that the birds have flown.Look out andsome, they may be heading your way. They set off in a south westerly direction, and they had their tin hats on.Did you fit them out with microphones so that they can be heard better when they arrive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted July 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 I wish I could, I could wring their damned necks.Funnily enough I am sure I heard one of them mention your name only yesterday.It is now 12.40 and I have just been informed by management that the birds have flown.Look out andsome, they may be heading your way. They set off in a south westerly direction, and they had their tin hats on.Did you fit them out with microphones so that they can be heard better when they arriveI do not think they will need them. The species is of Indian origin i believe. I saw one carrying a sitar and the other one seemed to have something resembling a tabla. They have been trained in classic caterwauling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted July 3, 2010 Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 They didn't seem to have their collars with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandalph Posted July 3, 2010 Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 They didn't seem to have their collars with them.Perhaps they haven't been ordained yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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