Notable Recent Sightings

07/02 Whooper Swan 44, Lake Vyrnwy
31/01 Whooper Swan 51, Haimwood, Llandrinio
17/11 Firecrest 2, Castle Caereinion
07/11 Barnacle Goose 1 among Canada Geese, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas
07/11 Hawfinch a few, Lake Vyrnwy, also Bramblings
01/11 Short-eared Owl 1, Cefn Coch Wind-farm
01/11 Great Grey Shrike Gregynog
28/10 Great Grey Shrike Lake Vyrnwy, also 1 on 30th at Eunant
25/09 Gannet 1 juv grounded near Caersws
07/09 Nightjar 1, photographed near Pontrobert
17/07 Quail RSPB Lake Vyrnwy, also heard 20/06 and 08/07
24/04 Long-eared Owl 2, RSPB Lake Vyrnwy
16/04 Purple Heron 1, Cors Dyfi
05/03 Firecrest 1, Lake Vyrnwy
05/03 Short-eared Owl 1, Lake Vyrnwy
14/01 Pink-footed Goose 1, Dolydd Hafren
03/01 Waxwing 20, Meifod; also 5 Welshpool by canal on 01/01. Last: 6 Bwlch-y-Garreg 17/03
   
See Sightings Archive for older records

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Woodpigeon Mystery

 At the risk of getting a reputation for posting pictures of dead birds, we were surprised yesterday to see this woodpigeon beneath an oak tree on a Wern laneside, and wondered whether anyone might have a theory as to the reason for its demise. There appeared to be no damage to the bird, and only a small number of missing feathers alongside it. But in its beak, an acorn! It was just so unexpected, and we couldn't help wondering whether the unfortunate thing had choked to death?! Or maybe others can offer a better suggestion - maybe it just happened to be eating an acorn when it literally fell off its perch? 


                                                       


                                           







Posted by at

5 comments:

  1. Simon Boyes30 December 2020 at 21:43

    Sue, I'll send the close-up pic to a friend who is a vet. I'll ask if pigeons might suffer death by gobstopper. I'll post a reply if I get one.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Edd Cottell31 December 2020 at 08:36

    I'd be interested to find out the cause of death also. It's funny you should mention this as I found a Woodpigeon in a similar state (dead, no obvious feather/bone damage) under a yew tree, perhaps it also choked?

    ReplyDelete
  3. sue s31 December 2020 at 10:33

    Thanks Simon - it seemed strange to see so few feathers when woodpigeons seem to shed clouds of them so easily.
    Interesting that you've had a similar experience Edd - maybe the cold weather or old age have played a part in this (although I would have thought there were plenty of ivy berries etc about at the moment, and the woodpigeons have made a feast of our purple sprouting in the veg patch too)..................who knows?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Simon Boyes1 January 2021 at 09:18

    Thanks to Rosie MacDiarmid for this comment: "Poor pigeon, yes highly likely that it suffocated if this was indeed stuck.... They have quite interesting anatomy (as I'm sure you know!) and because they don't have a diaphragm, they don't have a cough reflex. Not sure how else they'd clear a blockage like that :( Probably obstructing the entrance to trachea, meaning it couldn't breathe.
    Sums up 2020 really, doesn't it!"

    ReplyDelete
  5. sue s1 January 2021 at 09:34

    Thanks Simon, and Rosie - that's interesting. I'm always fascinated by how one thing leads to another and we learn along the way.
    I mentioned the mystery on the phone yesterday to our son Luke, thinking that our young grandsons might be interested. It wasn't long before he sent a message back, with a link to an online article he'd found, (albeit 2007) suggesting trichomaniasis as a possible reason for swallowing becoming difficult and resulting in choking or starvation. Another possibility? (link below)
    https://www.shootinguk.co.uk/news/uk-pigeon-dying-of-trichomoniasis-8299

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)