I beati has a post up today with the above title, which I have shamelessly pirated (well … it’s a very good title!). It’s one of a series of picture posts she puts up to amuse us, and some of them are very amusing indeed. Anyway, this one reminded me of a series of photos I took on Pier 39 in San Francisco on our recent US holiday.
There are numerous restaurants on Pier 39, and among them is one which serves sour dough ‘bread bowl’ type food. Obviously someone found the bread bowl part a little too much, and after eating the good part from the middle, threw the empty ‘bowl’ down on the deck, where it was found by a pigeon.
This little guy was just so chuffed with his treasure. I watched him for about ten minutes and he just sat and ate and ate until I thought he would burst, and then he ate some more. If the Big Feet came a little too close, he’d hop off and run for it, but not too far, and when it was safe, he’d jump right back in.
I’m guessing that for this bird, the answer to the question in the title would probably be a chirpy ‘no’ - although maybe he’d have preferred a little more peace and quiet. You see, although these pictures don’t show it, the Pier was incredibly busy that day and people were walking, and pushing baby buggies, and chatting to each other, all within feet of this pigeon. Within inches, at times. I kept thinking he wouldn’t put up with it much longer, that he’d take fright and fly away, but I guess the lure of that enormous chunk of bread - which at one time he was sitting inside like a nest - was just Too Much.
He didn’t even mind me taking a ton of pictures of him. Although by the look of things, that did become a little intrusive after a while!
Ha ha. This is so cute. I think the bread bowl is an all-in-one for a pigeon. Eat on it for a while and then use it as a nest!
And at last, someone I can finally ask. What does “chuffed” mean?
Ruth Hull Chatliens last blog post..Dog Parables, VII: Don’t Take Your Pack for Granted
Oh, he looks as pleased as punch! And Ruth is so right, it’s a meal, perch and nest in one. Too cool.
Coastal Aussies last blog post..Sneak a peek at my veggie patch
Ruth HC - Chuffed means really pleased or proud of yourself, or both! Other similar expressions include ‘tickled to death’, and yes, ‘pleased as Punch’!
Aussie & Ruth - An all-in-one! That’s funny! LOL!
All he needed was some dill dip for the center, and he would have a complete meal.
Yeah, I saw a squirrel snag a piece of moldy bread out of the compost pile yesterday, then scamper up the power line with it. I could almost hear the little guy screaming “Victory is mine!”
Mr. Nighttimes last blog post..SLAP, SLAP, SLAP!!! Snap out of it!!
Jay:
I guess to a pigeon nothing is more important than food. When it comes to a slice of delicious warm bread, I feel the same way.
Happy trails.
Ah! Pier 39, that brings back memories. Such a wackie city!
I loved it.
anns last blog post..POLICING THE PROBLEM
Hi Jay,
These are the cutest pictures that I have seen during the entire day.:) Keep capturing. Any donuts for me?
Scratch Bagss last blog post..You’ve Gotta Trust Somewhere
Mr N - I can see him doing that! Cheeky little beggars, aren’t they?
Swubird - Food and sex, I think that’s all their good for - that and destroying young cabbage and broccoli plants. LOL!
Ann - I loved it too! I had the weird feeling that it wasn’t in America though, and I can’t put my finger on why that was!
Scratch Bags - Thanks! It’s always good to know people like my pics!
Beautiful pix—that last one is weird-looking, tho. Is the pigeon’s underside all silver?
That reminds me of visiting a park that sold those hot, crispy donuts. Birds would swoop down and take them right out of your hand. So mad!
JD at I Do Thingss last blog post..I Made a lolcat so you don’t have to
JD - that last one was so dark that I had to lighten the pigeon in Photoshop. Well spotted! There’s a little less contrast in that underside than there should be, but I couldn’t get it any better than that!
Damn - that’s one happy pigeon! LOL
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This is absolutely precious, Jay! He is so cute and sweet with his treasure!
Thanks, DM and Jenny - I thought he was really sweet! And determined! LOL!
I bet he was just bummed he couldn’t find the strength to lift the whole thing in the air and fly away with it to more private quarters. Unlucky for him, but lucky for you.
I have the worst luck with photographing birds. My back deck has a couple bird feeders and they hang out there by the dozens. Unfortunately, the minute I grab my camera, they scatter and don’t come back until the camera is safely back in its bag. They just *know* somehow! Good shots!
Kimberleys last blog post..Across the ages, the voices sing the same.
He was definitely thinking about it, Kimberley! LOL!
You know, I have the same trouble with butterflies! I see this wondrous thing, all spread out on a leaf, or as the other day, a car, and no matter how quietly I approach, or how hard I try not to let my shadow fall on it, I hardly ever get close enough for a decent shot!
that little birdie has it made. i wish my food came some easily. cute picture.
Naturals last blog post..High Priced Domain
aww….how adorable…good for the bird and his big bread bowl score
meleah rebeccahs last blog post..Bad News
I love birds, if you couldn’t tell by my recent foray into bird mothering. I’m not one of those psycho, pull out the book, watch the bird for hours, kinda person. I just really love to watch them, and the way they interact with the world around them.
I’m almost jumping for joy right now because the parent birds who let me raise 2 of theirs, have packed the nest full again. I’m almost champing at the bit, have everyone watching for me, waiting impatiently to see if some fall out. Sounds so very cold-blooded, but I have enjoyed few things as much as I enjoyed raising those babies. I would love to do it again.
Natural - Thanks - me too! But can you imagine waiting impatiently at the window for some giant being to drop a plate of steak and salad?
Meleah - I thought he was so sweet! It almost made me want to go and buy a sour dough bread bowl something-or-other and donate it to some poor bread-bowl-less pigeon. Especially if I could find one with the club feet they often seem to get. I feel so sorry for those little guys.
JT - I’m the same - not a fanatical card-carrying bird-spotter, but I love to watch them. I’ve never had any success with raising babies though, and I’ve tried. These days I just take them round to the wildlife refuge and let them do it.