One of my favourite days is finally upon us!

Pigeon Appreciation Day!!

Spread the word – spread the love – it’s time to celebrate Columbiformes around the world!!

Today is about showing our appreciation – worldwide – and letting other people know that we appreciate pigeons for what they are: loyal, funny, loving, and intelligent birds who, given the chance, will make a strong connection with people.

Our disabled pet pigeons, Elmo and Georgie, would like to wish everyone a very Happy Pigeon Day! They gathered all their pigeon toy friends to join in the celebration:

Elmo

Georgie

It has been raining the past few days but today the sun peeped out and chased the rain away, so the visiting pigeon flock enjoyed their bountiful breakfast in our garden in the glorious weather, although the squirrel scared them away from the seed dish to scoff his face (never one to miss a free breakfast!). I knew this was most likely going to happen so I spread the seed throughout the garden to ensure that everyone got something to eat.

On Facebook 656 people have indicated they will celebrate today: Pigeon Appreciation Day 2012

To find like minded people:

• Pigeon Angels
• Pigeon Talk
• Mickacoo
• Pigeon and Dove Rescue

Happy Pigeon Day everyone!

Yummy cakes!

To show our gratitude and love towards pigeons on this day, Pigeon Appreciation Day, we first gave Elmo and Georgie, our two disabled feral pigeons, a big hug and a kiss. Being extremely tame and imprinted to humans, they both reciprocated with wing waggling, cooing and gentle pecking.

We then covered the garden with peanuts. Not a blade of grass to be seen! The visiting feral pigeon flock descended and proceeded to pick the ground free of peanuts. Unfortunately, being in a rush to get to work, I didn’t have time to take a photo.

The injured and orphaned pigeons at my work, a wildlife rescue centre, received lots of treats and affection from me. Dora practically leapt into my arms when she saw the peanuts and other treats I brought over. There was a feeding frenzy as they all jostled around the feeder to get the best bits. (Dora is tame pigeon who used to live with us but is now living in an aviary with some fancy and disabled pigeons at my work.)

When I returned home I immediately put out some more peanuts, as well as sunflower hearts and other seed, however, to my amazement, not a single pigeon flew down!! I think they’ve been going round to other pigeon parties, stuffing their crops full before coming back to our home for a rest.

Later when I looked out the window I saw this fella eating the treats:

Elmo and Georgie received a jar of one of their favourite treats: sunflower hearts! We also bought some mini-cakes to enjoy. Don’t worry, the chocolate ones were for us! (Chocolate is poisonous to many bird and mammal species.)

Georgie didn’t seem to want any mini-cakes (I think she was full from all the sunflower hearts she gobbled up!), and Elmo simply tried to mate with them – silly boy! So there were more for us humans.

Georgie (left), Elmo (right) and our newest addition, Mr. Pigeon (front right)

I hope you all have had a wonderful day filled with pigeons and love!

Everyone has their day and today, the 13th June, should be the day that we humans appreciate pigeons.

Why? some of you may ask. Well, to put it simply, why not?

Pigeons are beautiful birds that have their place in this world just like any other creature. They don’t deserve the negative views (that are often founded on incorrect information) some people have of them.

Pigeons are:

• Complex – they have a rich social life, bonding to each other, often for life. They are dedicated parents; both male and female look after the young. Pigeons also bond easily to humans.
• Intelligent – they are one of the most intelligent birds around, being one of only six species (and the only non-mammal!) able to recognise their own reflection in the mirror. Scientists have also shown that pigeons are able to carry out tasks on the level of a three-year-old child.
• Beautiful – not only are feral pigeons beautiful with their various colourations and patterns, but other pigeon species come in a multitude of colour as well. (Check out: Dove identification. Ps. Doves and pigeons are the same. There is no scientific difference.)
• Clean - pigeons are not disease-ridden and do not spread disease wherever they go. That is simply a myth propagated by greedy pest control companies. (For more info on the subject: Feral pigeons and disease.)

You’ve got to admire the fact that feral pigeons are taking over the world. They are highly adaptive to different environments. They are found almost everywhere in the world (except for Antartica).

Pigeons can be highly amusing and playful. They can be friendly yet aloof, however, once you begin to observe them you’ll see that they are full of character. They are complex beings with rich social and emotional lives. Give them a chance to live their life peacefully without our prejudice.

So today is a day to celebrate pigeons all over the world!

Why not have a pigeon party? Invite the local pigeons down for peanuts, sunflower hearts and other nutritious treats, then sit back and watch them gobble it all up with true pigeon vigor and enthusiasm!

HAPPY PIGEON APPRECIATION DAY EVERYONE!!

Today is National Pigeon Day!!

(or the proposed day in the US. It’s not official yet. It should be International Pigeon Day really!)

However, technicalities aside, today is a day to remember those pigeons that selflessly served us humans, especially in WWI. Whilst every day should be a day to love, honour, respect and celebrate all pigeons around the world, today is the ‘official’ pigeon loving day.

Here in our humble abode we decided to give the visiting feral pigeon flock some extra treats to eat, which they happily gobbled up.

Even though I don’t think it’s possible since they get so many already, Elmo and Georgie got extra cuddles and kisses. We feel very lucky to have two such lovely pigeons living with us and wanted to let them know how much we love them. … I feel my crazy pigeon person side shining through for all to see now!! I feel a touch embarressed.

Here’s our little pigeon party:

Us crazy pigeon people? Never!

Elmo's ready to blow out the candles

Elmo didn't like the look of the balloons so he flapped and destroyed the nicely set table. Georgie doesn't look too impressed with him.

Don’t worry, we blew the candles out before Elmo panicked. We weren’t going to take any chances with fire and feathers!

We let Elmo and Georgie have a fairy cake each but Elmo liked the brioche more. George on the other hand LOVED the fairy cake and went bananas over it!

Elmo takes a bite out of the fairy cake

Elmo likes the brioche more than the fairy cake

Georgie loves fairy cake!

I hope everyone else had a lovely day with their pigeons! I’d love to hear from you what you did.

For more info on National Pigeon Day please go to: National Pigeon Day blog

This coming Sunday, the 13th of June, is National Pigeon Day. It is a day to celebrate and remember pigeons around the world, those long gone and those existing today.

National Pigeon Day was created by the New York Bird Club so that pigeons can be properly recognised as heroes. The reason for the date, the 13th June, is because that is the date when Cher Ami, the famous carrier pigeon, died (in 1919) after serving the US army in World War I. For more information on this special day please go to the following website: http://www.nationalpigeonday.blogspot.com/

There are two events on Facebook advertising this great day: National Pigeon Day and National Pigeon Day in New York

I hope that wherever you are on Sunday the 13th June you’ll be giving pigeons extra treats and praise! Invite your friends and family round to have a party and spread the word that pigeons aren’t dirty and diseased – rather that they are wonderful, clean, beautiful birds that, given the chance, will melt your heart by their friendliness, fiestiness, loyalty and courage.