Will my pet wood pigeon survive the Beast From The East?

Such a beautiful photo. Your pigeon looks well nourished in comparison to the pigeons in Trafalgar Square. The wood pidgeons outside my house are feasting on Ivy berries. It would appear that it's one of the few remaining sources of natural food during this 'extended' winter.

I fear dear Cyril's days are numbered.

Wild animals are resilient and will do whatever is necessary to survive. Your pigeon looks pretty 'fat' and should have enough fat reserves to last several weeks without food. It will probably find a nice warm hole to snuggle up in and 'hibernate' until the big thaw.

Nice post Fatcat,

I have a seagull that waits every morning and always throw up catfood which hasn't been eaten. On to my roof,Its nice having a creature you can help in this chilly weather.

Not a wood pigeon ... but I'm amazed my chickens are preferring sleeping outside than in their coop.

The UK wild bird population will be seriously affected by this weather,  the smaller birds suffer more.  It looks like I've lost both my robin 'pairs' & I haven't seen the regular log tailed tit flock since sunday.  Wood pigeons seem to be well able to take it.

 Very heavy snowfall this morning in Suffolk. I've just been out & cleared off an area of our patio table and loaded it with nuts and seeds. Bird feeders all topped up. A Fieldfare's

 just come down to the table; lots in the fields hereabouts but they seldom venture into the garden.

Just done the same Tony, cleared off the snow and refilled with peanuts and fat balls. Not seen a field fare or redwing in years, used to be fairly common during cold snaps. Time to put some music on.....nice being retired during rotten weather, even better when it’s nice.

I've got sunflower hearts in feeders and also suet, likewise just put nuts and raisins on my birdtable.

Hi Gazza, we used to get large flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares here, then they seemed to disappear, but this is the first time in years that they've returned in numbers. A good sign.

Good to see so many people looking after our feathered friends - Don't forget to put some water out for them too.

Unfortunately my bird bath has been a bird skating rink for some days.

Fat balls and sunflower hearts out for my sarf London birdies here.  

I wish Southern Rail was as robust as Fatcat's pigeon.  Their employee's comment to me this morning was "It's all fallen apart". I trudged back home and logged on. At least the dog was pleased to see me back very early. 

Fieldfares & redwings are UK winter migrants from northern Europe & Asia,  I believe a few redwings are resident (breeding) in northern Scotland.  My area had a lot of redwings up to a month ago,  haven't seen one since mid january.   

Robins, dunnocks, tits (great, blue, coal and long tailed) all doing well here in the balmy south west, feasting on fat balls and peanuts. No snow yet but forecast for tomorow.

My first snowman in over 30 years. The birds seem to be playing out there too: their footprints are all over the snow. They have been out looking for food since first light.

Reminds me of the old joke - one snowman to another: "Can you smell carrots?"

MDS posted:

Reminds me of the old joke - one snowman to another: "Can you smell carrots?"

Please excuse my ignorance but I don't understand this joke... ????

What do snowmen use for a nose, Minh?

MDS posted:

What do snowmen use for a nose, Minh?

Carrots? 

Mike, My original response was supposed to be interpreted as a joke. I told your joke about the snowman to my brother and his friend and it provoked no response from them. I had to repeat the joke again and all they said was oh. They didn't laugh so I assumed they didn't find it funny. However, the joke about the hippie and the nun, it's rather naughty but it had them rolling on the floor laughing. 

I hope you can see the funny side of it. However, I can understand how it could also be misinterpreted.

I can, Minh.  The snowman joke is safe to tell to young children and sometimes gets them thinking 

More snow today had to abort a planned trip to south essex. But the consolation was a field fare and a redwing, very nice.

Tabby cat posted:

Nice post Fatcat,

I have a seagull that waits every morning and always throw up catfood which hasn't been eaten. On to my roof,Its nice having a creature you can help in this chilly weather.

 

Seems a bit ironic that two cats on the forum each have a tame bird. Both fattening them up for some ulterior purpose, perhaps?

No advice for a pigeon... but it’s so cold here one of my chickens laid a frozen egg!  The weather isn’t stopping them sleeping on the outside perch though from what I’ve seen!

(okay so it probably wasn’t frozen when laid)