Photo copyright John McLellan
A pair of doves have built a nest giving them warmth and protection just in front of a red traffic light at a roundabout in Essex – braving plastic spikes every time they fly in and out.
The heavenly birds moved into their new home at Cuckoo Corner in Southend-on-Sea, despite the lights having anti-bird spikes fitted.
The RSPB said the collared doves were facing traffic coming from Priory Crescent and the light would provide heat.
Frank Varga, RSPB officer, said: “They are happy and using the deterrent to support the nest, so well done.”
This major roundabout has 21 traffic lights – It is thought the doves moved in a fortnight ago.
The RSPB said collared doves are used to nesting on cliffs. “This is a perfect area with plenty of grassland including Priory Park nearby as a resource for food,”
Mr Varga said. “From its origins in Turkey the collared dove has colonised the whole of Europe since the 1930s and my guess is they saw this spot and managed to move the spikes slightly to build the nest.
“In the wild, these birds live on cliffs so they are replacing the noise of all the other birds with the noise of traffic.”
Free as a bird,
it’s the next best thing to be.
Free as a bird.
Home, home and dry,
like a homing bird I’ll fly
as a bird on wings.
Whatever happened to
the lives that we once knew?
Can we really live without each other?
Where did we lose the touch
that seemed to mean so much?
It always made me feel so…
Free as a bird,
like the next best thing to be.
Free as a bird.
Home, home and dry,
like a homing bird I’ll fly
as a bird on wings.
Whatever happened to
the life that we once knew?
Always made me feel so free.
Free as a bird.
It’s the next best thing to be.
Free as a bird.
Free as a bird.
Free as a bird.
Post time: Jun-18-2017