Where do pigeons hide their chicks?

I wonder where the pigeons hatch the chicks? Many of us probably reflected on this, looking at the feathered birds about the squares and boulevards carelessly. But it's true, without pigeons it's hard to imagine an urban landscape, but we see, as a rule, developed strong birds. And where is their offspring then? Or do pigeons immediately become adults? Let's try to find a pigeon's nest!

Meet - a blue dove

So, where do pigeons hide their chicks in the city? But first let's find out what kind of bird - this pigeon, who looks at you curiously with one or the other eye, while you crumble his bread.

The blue pigeon (Columba livia) has been tamed by man since ancient times, adapted to life near it and abundantly populated the habitats of people. In the wild, this bird lives no more than 5 years, and with breeding and proper care can live up to 30 years of age.

As you can see, pigeons can appreciate the benefits of living next to people. But people have different attitudes to these birds - from admiration for their beauty and behavior, to a fastidious comparison with urban rats, they say, they also carry the infection (which is only partly true) and are also unclean (and here a lot depends on people ).

How doves build a nest

One of the most amazing qualities of these birds is doves - odnolyuby. They choose their own couple for life and honestly share with the chosen one the difficulties of building a nest, and then raising children.

Their family relations can be envied: having chosen a site for the nesting grounds, the pigeon waits for the dove to appreciate it. That, if it suits her, slowly settles on a still bare place and tries for a while. The pigeon patiently waits patiently for the sign and, having received approval, accepts to wear the building material, while the dove collects a nest from it (just by laying twigs and blades under it).

The female lays one or two eggs, and both parents incubate them alternately. True, the dove-father, sitting on the eggs, always eagerly awaits the departed dander and rest the dove and at the same time cooing, beckoning it (well, it's not a man's business!).

After 20 days, and sometimes a little earlier, a tiny 10-gram lump appears from the eggs, blind and covered with a thin fluff, - chicks of the pigeon. Within a month, this kryotule will be transformed into a presentable strong bird. Help him in this, of course, caring parents. So all the same, where do pigeons hide their children?

How pigeons find places for nesting

In the Mediterranean, where these birds come from, they build nests in coastal rocks, so in urban conditions, their descendants spread all over the world try to find secluded places reminiscent of their once native landscapes: ventilation shafts, emptiness in buildings, abandoned lofts, hollows in high Trees or piers under bridges. In short, all the places where you can find a closed space, are suitable for a pigeon family.

As you probably already knew, the birds about which the story is being conducted are not very neat. And regardless of where the pigeons hide the chicks, their nests look quite unpresentable - an unformed bunch of small twigs and grasses with a small indentation in the middle. Sometimes, if a pigeon's place to the family seems particularly successful, it returns to the same nest every year, only slightly restoring it with a pair of twigs or straws.

Where the pigeons hatch the chicks until they grow up

Unlike their rock relatives, who easily adapted to life with people, city pigeons learned to sit even on thin branches and wires. But they, as well as their ancestors, having found a suitable place for nesting, magically take care of their chosen one, fluffing their tails and performing a marriage dance with bows and pirouettes before the dove staring at them with enchanted eyes. And just as selflessly continue to feed their chicks, remaining in the nest until the moment of their transformation into adult individuals, capable of independent life.

Therefore, in huge flocks of pigeons, and not seen chicks or teenage birds - they are all just under the mother and father's wing in a safe hiding place.

Pigeon Education

Where the pigeons hatch the chicks, the last is sure to live perfectly. There are practically no enemies in these birds, and enough food around. So the baby does not hurry to stand on the wing.

In addition, the family of pigeons has one unique feature: it feeds its offspring with so-called "avian milk", which only flamingos and certain species of penguins can do among the birds.

Bird's milk is a special white kashitseobrazny secret, rich in fats, proteins and trace elements, which from the goiter are allocated both male and female, feeding offspring. The chicks get it for 18 days, and then go on to solid food. This process is rather smooth. At first the baby gets only the easily digestible "milk", but after 3-4 days, supplements of softened grains and grains of sand appear in a secret, and gradually, to the three-week-old age of the cubs, it turns into solid food and water that parents bring to their insatiable child.

How do pigeons grow?

If you accidentally find a place where pigeons hide their chicks, you may be surprised that in one nest the chicks vary greatly in size. But it turns out that in some pairs the pigeon can again start raising eggs after 2 weeks after the birth of the offspring. And already born babies at this time engaged in the father.

By the way, in case of death of a dove, the male is able to feed young animals alone, but in the same situation the cubs die most often in the same situation. And pigeons are usually abandoned by pigeons, thus saving the health of their population.

It's time to go out in a pack

Trying to find out where pigeons are hiding their chicks, do not forget that it is impossible to approach the places of laying of these birds, and even more to take small chicks in their hands. This can frighten off pigeons and force them to leave the nest, despite the fact that they are very calm about people at other times.

But, when everything is already behind, and young pigeons can start independent life, they are adjacent to the pack, which lives near the place where the pigeons hatch the chicks. By the way, they are very attached to their place of residence and always try to return there.

The school life of these birds is based on the benefits that it can bring to find food, water or protection from enemies. In the pack, pairs are always visible - they keep close to each other, do not snatch food from each other and constantly show their affection. Between other people's pigeons this does not happen - they try to stay at a distance that will not allow to get a kick with the beak.

Now it is clear where the pigeons hatch the chicks!

If you look closely at the pack, then in it an attentive observer will still be able to detect the young ones by the more dim plumage, the absence of iridescent feathers on the neck, and also by restless behavior.

The pigeons who left the nest at the age of 28-34 days, although they look like adults, continue to follow their parents and beg for food. Those who are already 34 days old are confidently flying with their parents in search of food and watering. Young birds often gather in flocks and begin to lead an adult life.

We hope, now, having learned, where pigeons hide their children, and also exactly how they feed their offspring, you will treat with great warmth to these glorious birds, filling our cities with special comfort and kindness.