u/amendCommit

So, this is Birbara. My wife has this amazing relationship with her. My wife is also 40 weeks pregnant, and unfortunately Birbara has got the idea that she is now her new midwife.

She literally spent the last two days watching my partner through the window, and only takes breaks for stretches and a bit of loafing. She's constantly looking at her belly, she watches her when she eats or stakes a nap.

It is all very cute, but Birb has her own responsibilities, and I'm afraid her natural schedule is getting disturbed (never had this issue before in the two years and a half we've known her, she usually eats - seeb twice a day -, drinks, sticks around for a few minutes, then flies away).

It should be fine as long as she takes her nest rotation after Monsieur (her partner), but how do we help her keep an okay and healthy schedule despite her intense interest in my wife?

Birbara (left) and Monsieur (right) came to say hello, an early gift as I'm celebrating my birthday soon.

I confirm they are definitely back together, we spotted them kissing and mutually preening, and I've heard Monsieur calling Birb to check out a new nesting spot.

The action got them in the mood for some seeb, so this turned into a dinner date.

I realise I have not posted news from Monsieur in a little while. He came a little earlier than usual this morning, and decided to loaf and take it slowly before breakfast and his morning routine.

Lots of happy beak snaps and nuzzling. That is one chill bird.

Birbara comes later in the day, so we think they're back on their brooding schedule (despite Monsieur having been very naughty and mounting the neighbour's mate - again - a few days ago).

I've known for a while that Monsieur is a masterful singer: pitch perfect, louder than the neighbours, and above all more persistent - he will consistently out-sing the competition.

He's just camera shy, most of the time.

This morning, I was out for a hike, and my wife sends my this. He blessed her with this absolute banger.

Birbara is trying out the nest for their fifth attempt this season, hope it works out this time. Pigeon love still going strong.

Third nest attempt didn't work out for Birbara and Monsieur.

They are now taking a bit of time to reconnect, started dating again with a visit to their humans🌹

New ad campaign seen in Paris métro today, for luxury department store La Samaritaine. Featuring woodie love. Obviously.

Sound on for sipping noises! Monsieur likes his thyme tea, Birbara prefers plain water 🥤🐦

"Sip sip sip, shake shake, burp, satisfied snap snap"

This bird just fell down a chimney across the street (they were gathering moss and slipped). Their partner is checking the opening every few minutes, just hanging there.

I have no way of contacting people living there, the outside gate is closed and I can't ring the apartments.

Ideas?

I was warming up to the idea of having stock dove regulars 😭

Update: I ended up leaving a note on their door.

Sorry for the bad picture, this was up in a tree and I only had my phone with me, bad lighting because of heavy rain (I was actually sheltering under that tree).

I've been wondering who these boxes were for in Jardin des Plantes, Paris. Does anyone know if Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle has a dedicated programme for stock doves?

Birbara and Monsieur just visited! ❤️

She's the one with a scar under the eye, he's the one with bent fingers.

Une vraie petite mine d'informations sur la grossesse, presque aussi riche que si on avait interrogé un homme.

(Trouvé par ma femme - joli ciblage pendant sa grossesse, par une page fb.)

A small flock of feral pigeons comes to visit me every day, and I'm very confused about their genders.

There is Rourou (white wings, white tee shirt), used to be a loner, but very dominant when with the flock. They "talk" to humans with a series of short "rouuu".

We thought they were a male, because of the dominant displays (inflated neck feathers, loud noises, some aggression).

But then came Chouquette. Also dominant, although less than Rourou. Noticeably ruined tail feathers probably because of mating displays, all day every day.

Rourou went "flat" for Chouquette, quite a few times. Then Rourou disappeared for a few weeks, and brought back a baby who looks a lot like them.

So we assumed Rourou was biologically female (can lay eggs and brood), and male in behaviour, most of the time.

Today, Chouquette went "flat" for Rourou and we are super confused. How often do feral pigeons just switch preferred positions? Are Rourou and Chouquette both biologically female? Or male? Were they gay all along? Did they adopt the young one?

I guess we might never know, but gender in feral is fluuuuuuid. 🏳️‍🌈