STUDY OF BIRD BEHAVIOUR
Jack Prescott
(as Published in Feathered World Mar 2001)
Our own magazine, 'Feathered World' is as good as the Editor can make it. Not much is written about the behaviour of 'pigeons and fowl' - for which the magazine exists.
Due to TV a vast number of people have become grossly interested in animal, bird, reptile and insect behaviour. The vat and pet rescue items attract a huge number of extremely interested viewers. There seems to be a great rift between the aviculturists, the bird watchers, the bird behaviour specialists and the pigeon and poultry people who subscribe to our Feathered World. I ask why?
Is it because pigeons and poultry have nothing to offer in the way of spectacular or interesting behaviour? If so, I completely disagree - because pigeons and fowls have vast and often complicated patterns of behaviour. We can find terrible aggression and even cannibalism in poultry. We can find a hierarchical .pecking order which can be of great interest to anyone who wants to take notice. When given the chance and space, poultry will appear crafty and wise. Their speed and escape techniques can be quite surprising. Did you ever try to catch a fowl in open space? I'm telling you - you have no chance!
The sound and behaviour of a couple of old hens and their broods of little chicks has always had a tranquilising effect on me and many other people. The care and motherhood of such old hens is perhaps one of the most ancient delights of the human race. Pre- historic man most likely felt the same pleasure that I feel when I stand and watch an old hen fussing and clucking to a dozen small chicks. Such an old hen will foster a brood of young ducklings and will become so worried when the ducklings take to the water for a swim. I am saying that the man who is not touched by the sight of such things, really has no soul. Nevertheless - who writes about it? Poultry, on the one hand so gentle and caring towards the young and yet, on the other hand. the most vicious of birds that will fight to the death, bully and even turn cannibal if mismanaged - or encouraged.
Pigeons have a fantastic range of behaviour almost as vicious and prone to moods. No aviary keeper ever sees the high flying which is quite common with our Tipplers, Rollers. Tumblers etc. Spectacular flying? I ask you, where in the world can anybody see the spectacular aerial acrobatics of our own Rollers and Tumblers? What aviary specimens can be re- leased to fly to pin-head size overhead and then return in good order? The pigeons are a fantastic subject for behavioural study - they have no equals. Just look at the range. Giant Runts. three and a half pounds in weight, and in flying exercises will scare the crows. They are seven times the size of Tipplers. and even a casual watcher with no pigeon interest will gasp at the sight of a few of these giants flying around. The tiny Hellstorks, Budapests. only six and a half ounces but so pretty and so full of character if flown and trained to high flying. The acrobatics of the Rollers and Tumblers have no equal anywhere in wild bird observation, Tipplers that fly for many hours and even navigate in the dark. the speed of racing pigeons. What about the Pouters with their clapping and balloon crops in flight? Surely no aviculturist has such a choice and such scope.
Pigeons and poultry certainly are an under-rated project for the people who are interested in behaviour. Mostly one can buy such specimens for a very few pounds. Then of course there's the other rift, between the strictly show people and the strictly flying people. The show people are terribly deprived of much behaviours observation. The back yard contesting flying man is socially deprived and no one really wants to know him. I do of course - but who else?
[Internet Published Apr 2001 at http://www.tipplers.com/jack/]