The wood pigeons visiting our garden seem to be undergoing something of a population explosion lately. They first bred two summers ago, raising one pair of squabs, and did the same last year. This year they have bred twice already – and it’s only June. I’m rather fond of their soporific coo-cooing on warm summer evenings but what I find particularly interesting is the way they feed their squabs. The parent birds park them in secluded spots in the garden and when they return the excited squab first raises its wings then shuffles up to the parent and puts one wing around its back, as though its hugging a long-lost friend. Then comes the less cute part, where the squab pushes its head down the parent’s throat to induce it to regurgitate food. This ‘hugging’ performance goes on long after the young are well fledged, although as time goes by the parents become less responsive, until the youngsters are forced to fend for themselves. These pictures show the mother-and-child performance on our garden seat this evening.
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A lovely series of shots. You can keep the squabs though. My two fat greedy Wood Pigeons is enough for me. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat captures of bird behaviour Phil.
ReplyDeleteNever seen that before. Interesting to see how the wing is raised over the adult.
Lovely series of pictures!
ReplyDeleteThey're certainly gredy John - cost me a fortune in feed in the winter. No other bird in the garden can hoover it up so quickly.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to get some shots of their courtship behaviour too Keith - it's quite comical, with the male bird puffing himself up and bowing to his mate.
ReplyDeleteThanks Les, they've become so accustomed to garden life that they've become very approachable.
ReplyDeleteI very much like your Woodpigeon pictures - I am starting to see the young birds venture into the garden so hope I might get some pictures of them.
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