Pigeons Follow Clouds
by Kym Backland
Title
Pigeons Follow Clouds
Artist
Kym Backland
Medium
Photograph
Description
As I followed the clouds yesterday, so did the Band-Tailed Pigeons. The clouds would move, so did these Pigeons. It was quite interesting.. I have this group of Band Tailed Pigeons that live here. There is a group of about 12 now. They are quite the regal look Pigeon, some call them Rock Doves, which sounds nicer! (actually Rock Dove's tail are not as long).. Anyways I was mostly looking at the clouds against that dark blue sky.. But here are some facts about the Pigeon, (that you can barely see).. Maybe I should write about the clouds instead? The large, heavily built gray pigeon frequents the forests and woodlands of the West; most often seen in flocks of varying sizes in rapid flight. Wings make a loud clapping sound when flushed. Polytypic. Length 14.5" Identification Larger, with a longer tail than a rock pigeon; blue-gray on the upper parts with contrasting blackish gray flight feathers; a blackish gray tail with a broad, pale gray terminal band. Paler-gray greater coverts show as a broad wing stripe when in flight. Adult male: gray on the head, and breast tinged pinkish; narrow white half-collar across the upper hind neck, with iridescent greenish below. Iris pale yellow; narrow orbital skin purplish; bill yellow with a black tip; and feet yellow. Adult female: like male, but pink color somewhat subdued, and with less iridescent green. Juvenile: paler than the adults, with narrow whitish fringes on the breast and coverts; half-collar reduced or obscured. Geographic Variation At least 8 subspecies. Nominate fasciata breeds in the Southwest from Utah and Colorado south into Mexico; and monilis breeds in the Pacific states from British Columbia, uncommonly in southeast Alaska, to Baja California, Mexico. Subspecies are not separable in the field. Similar Species Rock pigeons have blackish tails; most have black markings on the wings and conspicuous white rumps; at close quarters the bill lacks yellow; and the feet are reddish rather than yellow.Voice Call: a low-pitched whoo-whoo delivered several times. Status and Distribution Locally common in low-altitude coniferous forests in the Pacific Northwest, and in oak or oak-conifer woodlands in the Southwest; presence dependent on availability of food; increasingly common in suburban gardens and parks. Breeding: nest is a platform of twigs lined with grasses placed in a tree well above the ground; bears 1 white egg. Migration and winter: most birds breeding in the Southwest winter in Mexico, and most breeding in the Pacific Northwest move south into California in winter. Vagrant: casual across southern Canada east to Nova Scotia and New England; also along the Gulf Coast from Texas to western Florida. Population Pacific population formerly threatened by overhunting, but with the introduction of controls, population is recovering
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April 15th, 2013
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Comments (31)
Kym Backland
BOB AND NADINE, NADINE AND BOB, (which name goes first?) Thank you for the feature of my photo PIGEONS FOLLOW CLOUDS in your group ARTISTS NEWS...You know I appreciate your time and dedication Bob. Happy Hump Day as they say...
Marija Djedovic
Hi dear Kym:) This is so beautiful... I love sky and pigeons... Very special moment u captured. Voted:)
Christine Burdine
I love the split contrast of this. Very zen.
Kym Backland replied:
Christine, Thank you so much for your "Zen" comments...hehe.. I appreciate it..
Anne-Elizabeth Whiteway
P.S. I appreciate your in-depth descriptions. Taking time to write the interesting information is quite commendable of you. F/V
Kym Backland replied:
Anne, Funny I just wrote YOU the same thing. Well, not written as well, but that was the phrase I should have used for your pictures.. In depth descriptions.. I appreciate your time as well!
Anne-Elizabeth Whiteway
Kym, This is a very appealinig composition. YOu really know what you are doing...(of course). The way you have positioned the fluffy white clouds, the tree with the pigeons off to the right side gives this extra eye appeal. You go girl!! F/V
Kym Backland replied:
Anne, You write so well! I so appreciate your long and complimentary words! This was a new style of compositon I was trying out.. Thanks for your vote and favor too!
Kym Backland
ELLEN, (and last but not least) Thank you for the feature of my photo Thank you for and I appreciate the feature of my photo PIGEONS FOLLOW CLOUDS in your wonderful group WHAT WOOD YOU DO? I am most appreciative today of all the time you took to look at so many of my photos Ellen!
Kym Backland
FOR THE LOVE OF ART, Thank you for the "triple times two feature"..I appreciate the feature of my photo PIGEONS FOLLOW CLOUDS in your wonderful group FOR THE LOVE OF ART GALLERY most appreciative today.. I think your name is Sherrie?
Kym Backland
BAJAN, Ding, Ding, Ding...Thank you for the "triple feature"..I appreciate the feature of my photo PIGEONS FOLLOW CLOUDS in your wonderful group GROUP OF PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.. most appreciative Bajan!
Kym Backland
BRUCE, Happy Earth Day to you! Thanks for the feature today! I appreciate your giving my photo PIGEONS FOLLOW CLOUDS a feature in your group COMFORTABLE ART-LIMIT- 2... I'm always trying to think to myself... "Is this comfortable or not?" I appreciate your time Bruce!
Kym Backland
SHAWN, Wow, so many features, so little time...(you must have...) Happy Earth Day to you both! Thank you for the feature of my photo PIGEONS FOLLOW CLOUDS in your group SEASONS OF BEAUTY. You know I appreciate your time and dedication and your Sunday night work schedule Shawn!
Kym Backland
BOB AND NADINE, NADINE AND BOB, Happy Earth Day to you both! Thank you for the feature of my photo PIGEONS FOLLOW CLOUDS in your group ALL SEASONS NATURE MOUNTAINS WOODLANDS...You know I appreciate your time and dedication Bob. Happy Sunday Night!
Kym Backland
OMASTE, Happy Earth Day over there on the east side...Wintrop! Thank you for the feature of my photo PIGEONS FOLLOW CLOUDS in your group ABC GROUP-J-JOURNEY.. most appreciative Omaste!
Kym Backland
NADINE AND BOB, Thank you for the feature today! I appreciate you giving my photo PIGEONS FOLLOW CLOUDS a good spot in your group ALL NATURAL BEAUTY OF THINGS!
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