First Steps

Even More Pics

More Pics

Crafty Teachings

The parents are hanging out on the balcony rail and the red table in an attempt to coax the chicks to use their wings and follow them which they seem ready to use but haven't yet left the ground enough.

Georgina has left the ground slightly in a mad flap after her father came onto the ground and left but it looks like the parents are making them work for their food today. Very crafty, but probably necessary after I have waited on them all week.

Feeding with Father

Georgina (the more confident and aggressive fledgling) has taken to being very dominant on the porch this week when it comes to feeding. I have gotten them on a strict diet of Sesame seeds from Somerfield (recommended by Kate Moss as the latest chic slimming plan) and is often the one that hassles the parents for a feed around the seeds first. Michelle will more likely hang back at the nest and not bother the parents but they have both now began to help themselves to seeds now. Their wings look very strong and am expecting they may even take their first flight in the next week. This will be the sad time as not long after that, the parents will be thinking about pushing away both chicks to start their own lives.

It was sad enough when it happened with the one pigeon, I don't think I can allow the parents to stay if they are going to do to Georgina and Michelle what they did to Kevin.

Georgina with Father Stumpy
Michelle (the more shy and less demanding fledgling)
Georgina and Father S

Pigeon Portraits

George/Georgina

Over the last couple of days, Georgina (on the left) has acquired a white neck as well as them both having the matching white back plumage. Also she/he has a white tint by the eyes also.

Pics from the Weekend

George and Michael may be girls. I'm not sure. They have both developed a white streak on their backs that may turn into tail feathers like their mum. They are also pottering around quite happily around the rear corner behind the nest, especially when I either come near to take photos or fill up their water dish. I'm still also putting bread down twice a day and the parents seem to be guarding the nest really well as they spend most of the time off the nest now and either on the table or on the balcony beam, giving both chicks room to breathe.

The chicks seem more or less fully formed now, its just a matter of growing up and pluming. Their wings both seem quite big as they like to give them a good stretch while their parents feed them. Neither are more eager than the other and they both seem to be getting the nourishment that they need and I don't think it will be long until they move from the nest and potter around the balcony and feeding themselves. I think that will start this week sometime, perhaps at the weekend.

The parents are actually really intimate at the moment. They spend a lot of their time pruning each other while looking over their nest. Must be the time of year, after all everyone is having them, aren't they?

So we might have a Georgina and Michaela, who knows?

Thurs Pics

Oh George and Michael, How you have grown....