ABC Wednesday—P is for "pretty pink pigeon perch"

. . . in the piazza.  I think Venice has some
 of the most beautiful street lamps
in the world.

[To see more abc posts, go here.]

in the wrong spot

Parisian pigeons on a wire that stretches 

across the rue Montmartre.

If they flew one street over to the right, to 

the market street of rue Montorgeuil, 

they'd find some yummy things including snails at

l'Escargot Montorgeuil (founded in 1832)

and the original baba au rum at Stohrer, Paris's

oldest patisserie (there since 1730).

[Linking back to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.]

dirty birds!

Yes, I did disturb these pigeons so I could
get this shot.  But they went right
back to their feast—and who goes out of
their way to feed them, I wonder?
One well-known New Yorker famously
called them "rats with wings" and
that does seem to be the general consensus.

[To see more b/w images, visit
Dragonstar's meme.]

after-school snack

French kids like to enjoy a little gouter
after school.  Looks like this boy
decided to share his with the pigeons
in the Jardin du Luxembourg. 

[Linking back to Ruby Tuesday
and Our World Tuesday.]

ABC Wednesday—P is for "pecking order"

Or maybe that should be "pigeon power."
Have to hand it to this little bird,
though, who didn't hesitate to go up
against the big boys.

[To see more ABC posts, go here.]

Fly By Night

Last night my kids and I went to seek Duke Riley's Fly By Night,
an homage to the rock doves (aka pigeons) that have 
been used since Biblical times to transfer messages
under the safe cover of nightfall.  

[Linking back to Blue Monday at Backyard Neighbor.]

some for me, some for you

. . . and it looks like the pigeons have learned that
this sweet horse knows how to share.
There's a group of people who are fighting to ban
horse-drawn carriages in the city—and
I can't say I disagree that this is no life for these
animals (especially in extreme weather).  
When I walk along  Central Park South, I have
to pet (and maybe get a nice nuzzle
from) some of these hardworking horses.

[Linking back to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

This photo was taken when it wasn't against the law 

to feed the fat pigeons in Piazza San Marco. 

[See lots more more shadow shots here.]                                                                                                                

smart bird

Personally, I wouldn't dream of feeding
one of these lousy (as in pigeon lice)
birds, but this one knows that the sign
won't keep any self-respecting New
Yorker from tossing him a piece of their
bagel if they really want to. P.S., NYC is
full of pretty little pocket parks like this
one—Jackson Square, in the West Village.

the birds

I've mentioned that the city of Venice has (wisely) outlawed

the feeding of pigeons in Piazza San Marco. Yet they still

 live there fat and cozy—mainly thanks to deluded people like 

these folks who actually think it's fun to have these 

birds sit on them and have no idea they could be 

heading back home with a serious case of pigeon lice.

Siena

Thinking we might take a little side trip

today, just to wander around Siena a bit,

check out the duomo and the campo, of

course—where you find the Fonte Gaia

(Fountain of Joy) and the cleanest (AND

most joyous) pigeons.