[obol] Band-tailed Pigeon vocalization while feeding

[Marcia Marvin]

OBOL -

At my house, the Band-tailed Pigeons feed at a tray feeder near the  
front door.  They are always snippy when sharing the feeder, and the  
pecking order has to be reestablished each time a new individual  
arrives.  Since it was warm yesterday, I had the door open and, for  
the first time, I heard the many and varied sounds they make as they  
feed.  Mostly I heard a louder and much kvetchier version of the  
rachety noise they make while flying.  This sound was usually  
accompanied by pecking of the intruder.  Today I thought I even heard  
something like cooing (is that what we call that deep, liquid "ooooh"  
sound?).  The greatest number of birds that have been allowed on the  
feeder at once this year is five.  Maybe I haven't heard the sound  
before because competition hasn't been so great.  I agree with  
previous observations that there are more BTPI this year than in  
recent years.

May there be no kvetching at your feeding station.

Marcia



--
Step out onto the planet.
Draw a circle a hundred feet round.
Inside the circle are
300 things nobody understands, and maybe
nobody's ever really seen.

How many can you find?

-Lew Welch (1926-1971)