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Like a bird on the wing
PETER FROST introduces a pair of bird lovers and some of the birds they keep at home

MY FRIENDS Judith and Richard are just mad about birds. Many years ago I worked with Richard and still remember when he rescued an injured bird — a thrush, I think. He kept it in a comfy nest in a cardboard box and over several weeks nursed it back to health and eventual release.

Jude and Rich used to have couple of dovecotes in their garden that attracted both white doves and various kinds of wild pigeons. I was always amazed by the diversity of pigeon like birds that visited the dovecotes, even some top-flight racing pigeons.

Officially there is no division between pigeons and doves. Depending on the situation and your views, both can either be attractive pets or ’orrible pests. Worldwide there are more than 250 distinct types of doves and pigeons.

The stock dove with its green neck band
A rock dove
A collared dove eats a snack
A turtle dove / Pic: Shelley Abbott/Creative Commons
A wood pigeon
Two male bantams
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