Would you like to know how to help our beautiful urban birds? These are classed as mostly pigeons and doves. Some people get frustrated with them, but if they come into urban areas and eat dropped food, that’s not their fault. Like all wildlife, they are opportunists.
Our main urban birds are pigeons and doves. Also see how to help our beautiful seagulls. There are two types of pigeons (which are actually doves too). Wood pigeons tend to live in trees, while feral pigeons tend to live on the streets. They save a lot of money for councils as they eat up a lot of dropped food. It is a myth that they spread a lot of disease. They are beautiful birds with interesting personalities. One boy who lived near a pigeon had the bird dive-bomb a gang, who were bullying him!
- London Pigeons has a really interesting guide to pigeons
- Live in London? Save the Pigeons can help injured birds.
- Don’t feed urban birds artificially (unless they are starving) or they will come to rely on you. They could then die if you die, get ill, go on holiday or move. If you already feed them, reduce food gradually (in summer, with plenty of crumbs around).
- PiCAS can offer skilled help for humane deterrence of pigeons, gulls and other roosting birds. Their methods involve ‘bird spikes’ that stop birds landing on roofs, and dummy eggs. Their methods are cheaper, quicker, kinder and more effective than lethal control or using birds of prey (which can sometimes rip birds to pieces) and their services are used by many offices, schools, hospitals and council buildings.
- Crows is a book about the wise guys of the avian world. You may know they sometimes sit on your garden fence, are very intelligent and that the Tower of London will fall, if the crows leave. The tower has six (plus a ‘spare’) that live at the tower. Their wings are clipped so they can’t fly far (as their wings are unbalanced). They are free to roam the power precincts during the day, and are fed a diet of raw meat (and bird formula biscuits, soaked in blood?) each day.
This is the ultimate guide to this fascinating bird, one of the most intelligent species in nature. This bright-eyed, black-winged member of the raven family is enhanced by paintings, drawings and photos, as well as fascinating first-person stories and poems about remarkable encounters with crows. Based on 20 years of research, this book offers a glimpse into the birds’ emotional, social and intellectual lives. These amazing birds will take your breath away.
In one story, a pack of crows brilliantly thwarts an attack by a Golden Eagle. In another, a mischievous crow rescues the author from grief. And in a third piece, a woman hauntingly describes her ‘altered awareness’ after nursing a battered baby crow back to health, until it flies off with other crows.
So what’s the difference between crows and ravens? Ravens have larger bills and tails, while crows are not much bigger than pigeons. Ravens tend to live in more rural areas. Both are related to rooks, jackdaws, jays, magpies and choughs. Woodland Trust has a good guide, to let you know who’s who!
Is it bad luck to only see one magpie? No, that’s nonsense. Artist Sophie Corrigan covers this in her lovely book The Not Bad Animals (seeing black cats is good too!) It all stemmed from some old superstitious nursery rhyme. In fact, if you see a lone magpie in China or Korea, it’s good luck!
About the Author
Candace Savage has written over 12 books, and won prizes. She lives in Saskatchewan, Canada.
