“You have to accept the fact that sometimes you are the pigeon, and sometimes you are the statue.”
Cold again but sunny-the weather is in a rut.
The red spawn can fly. Yesterday I noticed he was at a different feeder and was sitting and dining al fresco on the backside so he couldn’t see me. I could see only his tail hanging below the feeder. I went slowly across the deck making no noise so he couldn’t hear me. When I got to the feeder, I was so close I could have touched him. His eyes got huge when he saw me and realized he was stuck. I was by the rail, his usual escape route. I stamped my foot to scare him, and he jumped off the feeder and sort of flew to the ground, two stories below. He landed on all fours then ran to the back part of the yard. Sadly, yesterday’s experience will have no affect on that spawn. He’ll be back. I just know he will.
When I was a little kid, feeding the squirrels on Boston Common was exciting. My dad would buy a couple of bags of peanuts and give us each some. I’d shell a few then I’d toss them. A stampede always ensued. Several of the grey squirrels would scurry over, stand in front of me, some on hind legs, and wait for a handout. I thought it was kind of neat to have wildlife so close to me, almost eating out of my hand. I swear the squirrels living on the Common had to waddle from place to place because they were so well fed.
I remember London and Trafalgar Square and the pigeons. My dad and I went touring a bit by ourselves one afternoon. I don’t remember where my mother was. We bought some seed, and the birds attacked. I swear they were Hitchcock extras, hungry and out of work. They jumped on our hands, shoulders and even our heads. I threw the seeds. My dad held on to his, and he was soon covered in pigeons. They were flying around him, and I took pictures. He was laughing in every picture. When he was finally out of seed, we sat on a bench for a bit and concocted a plan. We’d get my mother there, act innocent and have her hold some seeds in her outstretched hands. We did, and the pigeons attacked. I took pictures, great pictures of flapping wings circling around my mother. She was screaming as the birds settled on her head and shoulders. We yelled for her to save herself and throw the seeds. My mother was really upset. This was her first attack by birds. My dad and I acted innocent and solicitous, but I suspected she knew.
I took slides back then and we always had a slide night a month or two later. The pigeons pictures were hysterical, even my mother had to laugh.
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This entry was posted on May 2, 2015 at 12:01 pm and is filed under Musings. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments.
Tags: attack of the pigeons, bird seed, Boston Common, cold, feeding the squirrels, flying squirrel, London Trafalgar Square, peanuts, pigeons, red spawn, throw the seeds
Both comments and pings are currently closed.23 Comments on ““You have to accept the fact that sometimes you are the pigeon, and sometimes you are the statue.””
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
May 2, 2015 at 12:34 pm
Hi Kat,
Talented squirrel, that red spawn. He has developed gliders. 🙂
You brought back fond (?) memories of every children’s petting zoo I have ever been to. Picture your crowd of Trafalgar Square pigeons composed of deer, sheep, goats, llamas and other largish four-legged mammals. As a kid, it was a bit overwhelming to have all these animals hemming me in, rearing up to get at the chow, following me around until I gave up all my chow just to get away. Exciting, though. Especially when the llama which had been stalking me for my chow backed me into a big salt block which I fell over only to land in a group of kangaroos that were resting under the tree.
Today is sunny and cool. I have errands that I should do but I think I won’t do. Maybe tomorrow. 🙂
Enjoy the day.
May 2, 2015 at 1:50 pm
Not many can say that they have landed in a group of Kangaroos though 🙂 Sorry but I did laugh out loud while reading that 🙂 llamas are nasty animals with a too goo reputation to be honest, they are vicious devils to be honest 🙂 🙂
May 2, 2015 at 6:11 pm
Christer, I have been attacked by chickens, had my hair eaten by a horse, been spat on by llamas, gotten a cold from an elephant, fallen into kangaroos, been bitten on the butt by a pregnant ass, had my arm completely slimed by a camel, repeatedly chased by a territorial turkey and have tripped over pheasants that were trying to hide from me. I have many an animal tale to tell. 🙂
May 2, 2015 at 3:44 pm
Hi Caryn,
That’s all I need, a talented red spawn!
I used to go to the petting zoo in Melrose where I got butted a few times by a goat as I was standing by the fence. I don’t think he liked me. I now what you mean hemmed in by hungry or not so hungry animals knowing where they might find a few tidbits!
I just came back from errands, and it is a bit nippy still.
May 2, 2015 at 1:19 pm
It’s another beautiful day here today with forecast highs in the lower 80s.
Wasn’t there a song in the movie ‘Mary Poppins’ about feeding the birds in Trafalgar Square? Pigeons in big cities are a nuisance at best and carriers of diseases at worst. If people wouldn’t feed them they would fly away because they don’t have any natural food supplies in big cities. They’re droppings contain acid that eats away at monuments and statues as well as ruining car paint. The droppings are ugly and require constant clean up which is another expense that city budgets could reduce. Because they have no natural predators in cities their populations grow until they become a major problem. Pigeons, unlike other birds have no redeeming value to mankind.
When I worked at the airport pigeons were a major problem because they would nest in the rafters of the hanger and crap all over our airplanes and equipment. We tried everything to get rid of them without any success. Strobe lights, fake snakes, loud noises and rat shot all failed to get rid of them. They’re smart critters and not easily fooled. Birds in the vicinity of airports are a threat to airplanes because they can stop a jet engine if they are ingested in large numbers or are large enough birds. Remember, the US Airways flight that hit birds and lost both engines over the city after ingesting Canadian Geese. Capt. Sully Sullenberger was able to land the Airbus A320 in the river with no fatalities.
May 2, 2015 at 3:53 pm
Bob,
Chilly here but still a pretty day with lots of sun.
Feed the Birds was a song sung on the steps of what I think was St. Paul’s Cathedral. There are no pigeons around here. They may be some in Hyannis or P-Town, but I think that’s it on this side of the cape. My mother used to get them at her bird feeders, and we’d joke and call them country pigeons.
I know birds are a major problem at airports. I remember that crash caused by birds sucked into the engine.
Canada geese used to be on the baseball fields and left bird droppings which the custodians cleaned every day so the guys could play. They threw out fake dead geese, and that seemed to keep them off.
May 2, 2015 at 6:47 pm
The fake birds worked because the geese were just passing through. If they live in your hanger they figure it out and ignore them. They’re smarter than people think. Having a bird brain’s not so bad. 🙂
May 2, 2015 at 7:04 pm
Bob,
The birds hang around most of the year. I think they are just stupid.
May 2, 2015 at 1:48 pm
I can’t but admire that squirrel 🙂 🙂 🙂 Without a doubt it chose a possibly dangerous way to escape, made me think of James Bond 🙂 🙂 🙂
I’ve heard of those pigeons on Trafalgar Square. We have lots of them too but I’ve never heard of any behaving like that 🙂 🙂 We have a few coming to the village from now and to late autumn. They nest here and I guess there’s less competition for food here, they are very shy though, not so shy in the cities. I’m alway happy to see them when they decide to land on the field outside my cottage.
I went to Falköping this morning (photos in my blog) but I didn’t see a single pigeon but several Jackdaws, Jackdaws are my favorite birds but they tend to be too many in towns and cities.
Rainy and cold most of the day but the sun is now shining but it is too little too late.
have a great day!
Christer.
May 2, 2015 at 3:57 pm
Christer,
It was a long way down, but the squirrel landed safely.
Those pigeons see humans as food sources so if one silly person buys peanuts, those pigeons go after the food. The people get covered by those pigeons.
I’ll go by later to check out your photos. I love your nature and animals ones but I love the buildings more.
The sun has shone all day but it isn’t warm. I saw people wearing t-shirts and shorts, and I now they had to be cold.
Have a great evening!
May 2, 2015 at 3:30 pm
As a tourist I always liked your squirrels, so cute and also a challenge to take nice photos, but -generous as always- you can keep them 😉
One summer in the Alps it was funny and scary when some cows wanted to adopt my friend. I finally got him back but of course I took photos before I helped him 🙂
No mercy for magpies, they found the nest of “our” blackbirds and robbed all 4 eggs!
May 2, 2015 at 4:01 pm
Birgit,
I don’t want them, but I guess I’m stuck regardless.
Funny about those cows taking a shine to your friend. I had to laugh that you took pictures first. I would have done the same thing.
We don’t have magpies here on the cape, and I’m glad we don’t.
May 2, 2015 at 3:47 pm
As I’ve mentioned before, I have several squirrels that seem to live in my yard or nearby and I’ve been paying closer attention since you hate them so much. My observation is really one of pity for the poor creatures. It appears their entire lives are nothing but foraging for food. Unlike cats and dogs (and even birds), they never seem to just lounge about and enjoy the sun or fresh air. It’s go go go all the time, never stopping any longer than to catch their breath. Then it’s back to searching for food. I don’t think you’re ever going to be able to “scare” them off so they don’t return. It’s in their DNA. Maybe you can find a little feeding place for them away from the bird feeders and give them a little treat once in a while. Poor things must stay exhausted and would really appreciate a break once in a while.
May 2, 2015 at 4:06 pm
im6,
I used to feed them ears of corn in a special squirrel feeder, and I’d throw seeds and kernels of corn down for them. Did I get any thanks? Nope!
I hate them because when they are at the feeders the birds won’t come.
There are large squirrel nests toward the tops of the trees, and I think they are for grey squirrels so they do more than forage for food. Gracie caught a baby squirrel last year. I saved it and put it on a high branch to keep it away from Gracie. I’m not all bad!
May 2, 2015 at 3:52 pm
I had a squirrel (or two) go UP my jeans to get at peanuts. That’s a little TOO close to nature.
s
May 2, 2015 at 3:53 pm
I should say, up the OUTSIDE of my jeans.
Up the inside of my jeans would’ve been WAY too close to nature.
May 2, 2015 at 4:07 pm
Scott,
I have to admit my first thought was up the inside, and I was horrified for you. Thanks for the clarification!!
May 2, 2015 at 4:35 pm
Friggin Deer.
May 2, 2015 at 6:23 pm
MDH,
Okay, what deer?
May 2, 2015 at 7:18 pm
The buggers that swarm my garden and destroy everything that they can. A real pest.
May 2, 2015 at 7:32 pm
MDH,
Oh, those deer!
May 4, 2015 at 2:31 pm
I love your pigeon story.
May 4, 2015 at 3:26 pm
Thanks, sprite. I remember that pigeon incident vividly.