Musings at Altitude

For the last two years, we’ve had a couple of pigeons that have nested in the nooks of our roof.  Early in our relationship, they were kind of cute as they built their nest, laid their eggs, and then welcomed their young ones to this world.  In the last couple of months though, the cuteness of the pigeons has been replaced by a desperate desire to get rid of them.  In fact, when I called my wife while in route home last week, she said, “I want them dead!”

When I got home, the evidence of the population explosion was everywhere.  Our window sills were covered in pigeon crap – literally:

As you looked just a bit further from the house at the hose in the rocks of our garden, even more evidence was visible:

I smiled just a little bit because my wife is one doesn’t tolerate that kind of crap.  In fact, in those rare times where she gets this mad, something serious always happens. 

As I scanned the house and looked further up, the evidence of the increased population of these unwanted birds was everywhere; but, there were no pigeons.  With that much crap all over the house, I would have expected to see pigeons everywhere. 

I shifted my gaze away from the roof and the roost and looked down towards the door.  I quickly realized why there were no pigeons:

Alas, my guess is that the pigeons that so enjoyed their roost on our roof have decided the attack from the super soaker placed them and their friends at risk.  Since there are 500 other roofs in our neighborhood, it won’t take them long to find friendlier confines. 

I do sort of miss the cooing in the morning and the beaks poking out from the crannies in the roof.  But that sense of loss will quickly be replaced by a sense of glee when my wife gets me to clean up all the crap!