My Bird Of The Day # 21 (Rock Dove)
Nov 4, 2017 20:10:24 #
Day # 21 - Date : Saturday, November 4, 2017
This will be my last posting on this series of Backyard Birds that had the occasion to visit me this fall. This is the Rock Dove, more commonly known as the Common or Feral Pigeon. This is one of my nemesis, along with the grackles, squirrels, raccoons, and black bears whom like to attack my feeding stations. Most people do not think that this bird should be called a Backyard Bird including myself. However, in the truth, the ones up here if allowed would spend all day there. Usually I don't take many pictures of these birds but for this posting I found a few to show you. Two are of the regular Pigeons while the other white one was a Racing Pigeon whom stopped off for a bite to eat uninvited. I didn't really mind this one as it only stayed for a day or two before it returned to his home base.
Most of these pests can be thwarted by positioning the feeders in areas that they can't get to by using baffles or hanging them from overhead wires. However, those flying pests don't worry about such tricks, so for most of these stations I make it impossible them to land on them. I prevent this by using wire cages to cover them. These cages usually allow the smaller birds up to the size of a Blue Jay to enter to feed but prevents the pigeons and crows to do likewise. The last picture shows just one of my platform feeders with the wire cage.
Like I said above, this is my last posting of my Backyard Birds. Even though I have many more species birds come into my yard over the year I only used them that I had the opportunity to photograph them this fall while I was convalescing from leg surgery. Because I was immobile for most of the fall and restricted to the back deck while I mended the only opportunity I had to use the camera was doing this. Twas better than nothing.
I hope some of youse took a bit of pleasure from the pictures I have posted.
LittleRed (Ron)
This will be my last posting on this series of Backyard Birds that had the occasion to visit me this fall. This is the Rock Dove, more commonly known as the Common or Feral Pigeon. This is one of my nemesis, along with the grackles, squirrels, raccoons, and black bears whom like to attack my feeding stations. Most people do not think that this bird should be called a Backyard Bird including myself. However, in the truth, the ones up here if allowed would spend all day there. Usually I don't take many pictures of these birds but for this posting I found a few to show you. Two are of the regular Pigeons while the other white one was a Racing Pigeon whom stopped off for a bite to eat uninvited. I didn't really mind this one as it only stayed for a day or two before it returned to his home base.
Most of these pests can be thwarted by positioning the feeders in areas that they can't get to by using baffles or hanging them from overhead wires. However, those flying pests don't worry about such tricks, so for most of these stations I make it impossible them to land on them. I prevent this by using wire cages to cover them. These cages usually allow the smaller birds up to the size of a Blue Jay to enter to feed but prevents the pigeons and crows to do likewise. The last picture shows just one of my platform feeders with the wire cage.
Like I said above, this is my last posting of my Backyard Birds. Even though I have many more species birds come into my yard over the year I only used them that I had the opportunity to photograph them this fall while I was convalescing from leg surgery. Because I was immobile for most of the fall and restricted to the back deck while I mended the only opportunity I had to use the camera was doing this. Twas better than nothing.
I hope some of youse took a bit of pleasure from the pictures I have posted.
LittleRed (Ron)
Rock Dove - Canon T5i, Canon 300mm prime, 1/2000, f7.1, auto ISO @ 800, dist 12M
Rock Dove - Canon T6i, Tamron 150-600 @256mm, 1/640, f5.6, auto ISO @1600, dist 10M
Local Racing Pigeon owned by Ralph Kinder
Example of one of my caged feeding platforms
Nov 4, 2017 21:46:27 #
Ron, I have enjoyed each of your daily posts from your backyard. Your photos are excellent and it has been nice to see a variety of shots of each species. These Doves are beautiful birds even if they are pests. I hope your leg has fully healed so you can get out and shoot wherever you please! I'm kind of in a similar situation with a seriously broken kneecap. Immobility is no fun at all!
Nov 4, 2017 23:41:16 #
Cwilson341 wrote:
Ron, I have enjoyed each of your daily posts from your backyard. Your photos are excellent and it has been nice to see a variety of shots of each species. These Doves are beautiful birds even if they are pests. I hope your leg has fully healed so you can get out and shoot wherever you please! I'm kind of in a similar situation with a seriously broken kneecap. Immobility is no fun at all!
Yes Carol, being immobile is a pain in the butt. But my leg needed the surgery and hopefully I will next year be out and about doing my favourite hobby of birdwatching. However, for the first time in quite a spell I will be stuck up north in the snow and 20 below weather instead of being south where the sun shines warmly. We had planned on your neck of the woods this year before my leg went bad. We love birding and taking pics at places like Viera Wetlands, Circle B Bar Reserve or St-Marks NWR to name a few. Usually we spend a copla months at least south at either the Rio Grande Valley/Gulf Coast of Texas, Dauphin Island area of Alabama or all of Florida. But even if my leg heals well enough to be able to walk in order to get health insurance for your country I have to be stable (healed completely) for at least 4 months. This countdown will probably start the end of December so I couldn't travel south till after the end of April. So for us it wouldn't be worth it as a great number of the birds we would be looking for would be heading north. Can't travel in the good old USA without health insurance as we couldn't afford the cost of your doctors and/or hospitals if something went wrong with my leg. Maybe next year.
Anyhows, thanks for looking in and I'm happy you enjoyed my birds. Take care, may God bless you and have a terrific Holiday Season.
Ron
Nov 5, 2017 06:07:35 #
Nov 5, 2017 06:48:16 #
LittleRed wrote:
Yes Carol, being immobile is a pain in the butt. B... (show quote)
I'm sorry you are going to have to winter in place. I'm sure you will miss your winter travels but full recovery is most important and you are so right about the medical situation down here. Maybe you will have some great snow shots to share!
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