Surrounding of the nest

This week, while observing Roderich and Elizaveta, I have been keeping a closer eye on the surroundings.  During my observation,I have noted the two evergreens that are to the right of the nest.  Both have an abundance of branches, which have themselves an abundance of little needles, making them look like a big cotton ball. The one closest to it has the normal green you expect of trees, while the other one has a blue-gray tone imbued in the green which makes it look sharper. 

The two evergreens, top left of building is the nest.

                                                                           

 

Right in front of first evergreen

                                                                                

From my position in front of the trees, the branches hung to about my waist. I ducked under and immediately noticed the warmer feel to the air.  These branches, they made a sort of overhang, seem to be blocking out the elements somewhat.   

View from inside branches, branches blocks out view of outside as well as in it seems

 I saw the advantage of using this as my new observation point and looked up to try and spot the nest.  I was disappointed as I only saw the umbrella-like limbs, but i had grown curious because I started to hear a pair of birds.  I never thought, until that moment, that two or more different species of bird could be so close to each other so carelessly. I saw the advantage those birds had due to the shelter the branches provided, and that caused me to wonder why the pigeons' didn't do the same. The trees limbs were great as they protected against the elements, while the nest they have now, If the weather was in the right direction would harm them.  Maybe the birds don't like sharing the exact nesting areas', so two nests can't be in the same tree? Or, the pigeons just aren't suited to nesting in a tree like an evergreen, or they just don't like something about the tree? As my observations of these birds increase, I seem to be gathering more questions rather then answers, and seem to be getting more confused rather than gaining an understanding of them. Though I am getting rather fond of them, especially when I see them on chilly nights, fluffed up against the cold, and content with each other.

Routines

      For this weeks set of observations, I was solely focusing on the structure of the pigeons routines or schedules. For all the times I've been able to assign what the pigeons are doing, I've not been able to see where they go or what they do for the times they are away. All I have been able to nail down is when they arrive at the nest. They arrive at six pm give or take a few minutes to settle down for the night. For the times I've went out to check on them in the morning they are never there, and and have seen that they are gone before seven, but are there before five, so they leave around five/six in the morning. They stay out until they come back for the night. I have not seen where they go or what they do, but presume they are scouring for food.
     I have decided to name them as calling them the female, first male, and new male, is getting to be quite the mouthful and tiring. I have named the original male Roderich, the female is Elizaveta, and the new male is Gilbert.

Wonder in the Roost

     For the nature project I am partaking in for English, I have decided to observe the pigeons roosting in a little alcove slightly below the roof on the west side of my apartment building.  I have decided upon the pigeons as they have a negative connotation associated with them.  Most people think of them as annoying pests, or 'rats with wings' if you will.  some people think they are just plain stupid, while others ignore their existence altogether.  Not many people look at them and think about how pretty they are, or wonder about their many strange behaviors.
     One of these strange behaviors that I have recorded is that although the male is content to use the same nest each day, the female only comes every other day or so.  I had wondered why that was, and a few days later had stumbled upon the answer.  There is another nest on the east side of the building where a different male resides.  I spotted the same female with this new male.  I went to check the other nest, and there the male was sleeping alone.  I went and researched a pigeons mating habits and found that they mate for life. I find that to be a very interesting contradiction and wonder what this means with the pigeons.  I am finding these pigeons more and more fascinating with each passing day, as although I have researched pigeons quite extensively, some of the information isn't quite matching up with what I am seeing in my observations.  This makes me want to observe them even closer and gain a deeper understanding of these under appreciated birds.