Crested Pigeon close up
Crested Pigeon
We love having the Crested Pigeons in our garden and on our two hectare (5 acre) block. They are a resident breeding species here and we see them every day. I’ve never really done a census count on how many there are around here, but we always seem to have at least a a half dozen or more. On a few occasions I have counted up to about 40 perching on the power lines running along the road side.
Crested Pigeons make a flimsy nest of a few sticks and it always surprises me how the eggs can possibly stay in the nest. An even greater mystery is how the chicks remain in the nest. They must be able to cope because they are very successful birds, breeding frequently.
Our local resident pigeons regularly visit our bird baths. This gives me many opportunities to do photographic studies of this species. Yesterday the bird in this set of photos posed nicely for me, first in the shade (see below) and then closer to me in the sunlight.
Crested Pigeon
Crested Pigeon
These crested pigeons are beautiful. I know it’s always a special treat when a species allows you closer to get a great shot. And you’re right…the one looks like he’s posing for you-LOL!
Thanks for your comments, Jeff. It helps when you have a 20x zoom on your camera. I almost feel like I’m cheating at times. Still, to be serious about it, the extra zoom on my camera enables me to get close up shots without overly disturbing the birds. This is quite important for their welfare.
That’s going to have to be my next upgrade. I have only about 12x at best and the camera is pretty much consumer grade. I have nowhere near the number of species I’m sure you see in your travels but need to start documenting them better.
Hope you’re daughter is doing better.
I have only this year upgraded from 12x when a local camera shop had the Canon Powershot 20SX IS on special (half price). Couldn’t resist the bargain; very pleased I bought it.
Never made a count of the number of species I’ve taken. My photo files need some desperate work on them. Perhaps several cold, wet wintery days later in the year?
My daughter is doing much better. Thought she had severe sciatica and couldn’t stand, sit, walk or drive without pain. Not good for a classroom teacher! I’m almost over my recent problem with sciatica but she’s only 40 whereas you can expect it in the more mature years (like me). Turns out she has a problems with one side of her pelvis being 2cm lower than the other. Her physio is working on it.
I bought my first “real” camera in 2004. It was a Powershot S1 IS and I loved it in spite of having batteries to recharge and old storage technology. Now, I use a Kodak EasyShare P850 that was actually a gift to my wife one Christmas.
I’m thinking my next camera will be another Canon. Even the older S1 had way more features than the Kodak.
I’m not a big lister myself. I keep track of species in my guidebook and note the date I encounter them but I’m not focused on that right now. I’m more about creating the ultimate backyard for the birds that need my help while experimenting with ways to discourage nuisance birds. I’ve been very successful at that.
Glad your daughter is doing better. I’ve had problems with a hip that physio and exercise have done wonders for. It’s going to need cleaned out at some point(I’m 50 this past December)but I think I’ve got a few years before I’ll need that.