Squab is baby pigeon. Although I have usually thought of pigeons as urban pests - destroying car enamel and leaving white splashes on city windowsills - I have always like seeing them in the city parks. Their close relatives are doves. So while I have long lived away from any city, I get a lot of Mourning Doves at the base of my birdfeeder. Kind of makes me homesick for Philadelphia's never-ending Fairmount Park.
Thanks for that post! It reminded me of the flocks of racing pigeons maintained on the main road in Ericeira, who flew a gigantic route each day, over and over the veranda of our rental house near the beach. You didn't exactly hear them flying past as much as you felt the air move with their perfectly timed wings. It was wonderful!
Oh this struck a chord! I don’t like birds and I attribute that dislike to the Hitchcock movie “The Birds” which gave me nightmares as a child. I do find the entire pigeon situation there rather strange, but I am certain it is one of those cultural things you just get used to( or try to get used to!!🥴)
I do recall seeing loads of them in Lisbon when I was there last August, but I never gave it much thought. This has been quite educational! Thank you!
I like the way you draw in the reader with your personal feelings about birds. I read the entire post because I was expecting something embarrassing to happen. That's ok, I'm glad I was wrong because as usual, I learned another lovable tidbit about this country we now call home. I looked into the "bands" you included in the list of prizes for the winners of the pigeon competition. They are diamond studded bracelets that go on the birds' right feet. They then retire and receive a generous government pension, which includes all the stale pão they and their loftmates can eat. The pão is sometimes stolen and given to less deserving birds. Robins are usually blamed for this transgression.
Had to laugh reading your post because I too am afflicted with the fear of birds and like you because of Hitchcock's movie. I know how important birds are in nature and appreciate them from afar but like the nursery rhyme I'm always afraid they're going to come try to pluck out my eyes. Ha ha. I did try to alleviate this lifelong fear, about 15 yrs ago our local college was honoring Hitchcock films and was presenting The Birds in our big old Fremont Theatre and I just knew it would help. I was surprised how nervous I was, yet all the college kids were dressed up in character....some with birds attached to their heads readying to pluck their eyes out or some with their eyes already moved and having a grand ol time. I thought...okay...you've got this. Alas, the college kids laughed and had a great time....I still watched through my fingers and left with the same feeling I had when I was 12. I wish I could be one of those people, sitting on a bench feeding the birds...I love to watch others do it. I love your stories w/photos and your willingness to share with those of us that have only been able to make the move to Portugal possible through them. I hope when I get there for my first visit (either this Sept or next) I'll be able to meet up with you both, thank you with a meal and hear some more stories first hand. (be sure to keep your eyes covered...ha ha)
Thank you for these articles. I’m a new subscriber. My friend Amy sent me your pigeon post. I’m a longtime resident of Portugal. I personally love the pigeons and I look for dovecotes whenever I drive through the older villages here. I wonder if keeping pigeons here is one of the signs of food insecurity. You see collard greens (couves) planted all over the place even though it’s relatively cheap in the stores. Keeping pigeons is a cheap way to not run out of poultry. They can mostly live off the land. I look forward to your next blog.
Squab is baby pigeon. Although I have usually thought of pigeons as urban pests - destroying car enamel and leaving white splashes on city windowsills - I have always like seeing them in the city parks. Their close relatives are doves. So while I have long lived away from any city, I get a lot of Mourning Doves at the base of my birdfeeder. Kind of makes me homesick for Philadelphia's never-ending Fairmount Park.
Thanks for that post! It reminded me of the flocks of racing pigeons maintained on the main road in Ericeira, who flew a gigantic route each day, over and over the veranda of our rental house near the beach. You didn't exactly hear them flying past as much as you felt the air move with their perfectly timed wings. It was wonderful!
Oh this struck a chord! I don’t like birds and I attribute that dislike to the Hitchcock movie “The Birds” which gave me nightmares as a child. I do find the entire pigeon situation there rather strange, but I am certain it is one of those cultural things you just get used to( or try to get used to!!🥴)
I do recall seeing loads of them in Lisbon when I was there last August, but I never gave it much thought. This has been quite educational! Thank you!
Air rats
I like the way you draw in the reader with your personal feelings about birds. I read the entire post because I was expecting something embarrassing to happen. That's ok, I'm glad I was wrong because as usual, I learned another lovable tidbit about this country we now call home. I looked into the "bands" you included in the list of prizes for the winners of the pigeon competition. They are diamond studded bracelets that go on the birds' right feet. They then retire and receive a generous government pension, which includes all the stale pão they and their loftmates can eat. The pão is sometimes stolen and given to less deserving birds. Robins are usually blamed for this transgression.
We wondered what kinds of animals were housed in what you have explained as pigeon lofts! There are so many of them.
Had to laugh reading your post because I too am afflicted with the fear of birds and like you because of Hitchcock's movie. I know how important birds are in nature and appreciate them from afar but like the nursery rhyme I'm always afraid they're going to come try to pluck out my eyes. Ha ha. I did try to alleviate this lifelong fear, about 15 yrs ago our local college was honoring Hitchcock films and was presenting The Birds in our big old Fremont Theatre and I just knew it would help. I was surprised how nervous I was, yet all the college kids were dressed up in character....some with birds attached to their heads readying to pluck their eyes out or some with their eyes already moved and having a grand ol time. I thought...okay...you've got this. Alas, the college kids laughed and had a great time....I still watched through my fingers and left with the same feeling I had when I was 12. I wish I could be one of those people, sitting on a bench feeding the birds...I love to watch others do it. I love your stories w/photos and your willingness to share with those of us that have only been able to make the move to Portugal possible through them. I hope when I get there for my first visit (either this Sept or next) I'll be able to meet up with you both, thank you with a meal and hear some more stories first hand. (be sure to keep your eyes covered...ha ha)
Thank you for these articles. I’m a new subscriber. My friend Amy sent me your pigeon post. I’m a longtime resident of Portugal. I personally love the pigeons and I look for dovecotes whenever I drive through the older villages here. I wonder if keeping pigeons here is one of the signs of food insecurity. You see collard greens (couves) planted all over the place even though it’s relatively cheap in the stores. Keeping pigeons is a cheap way to not run out of poultry. They can mostly live off the land. I look forward to your next blog.