Pigeons in Paris. What more can I say? They find their way anywhere and are but a permanent fixture in the city. This group was enjoying the sunny day, even if they were a little cold. But sitting atop the exhaust stacks at the Centre Pompidou probably helped keep their feathers warm.
Aah, these dirty birds are everywhere! These are pretty smart to perch here on a cold day.
ReplyDeletePigeons are my least favorite thing about Paris. When I was studying there one summer, the place that we stayed had a resident flock that would not leave us alone when we ate outdoors. I once had one walk across my foot and I was not happy about it. But I'd rather be in Paris with the pigeons than anywhere else without them!
ReplyDeleteI love the shades of blue in this photo and they contrast nicely with the gray of the pigeons.
Let's see.The first pigeon is Alexa, the second, Justine, the third, PHX-CDG, and the forth is.....
ReplyDeletehe he one for Olivier I think. Beautiful clear shot Eric.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the pigeon on the right is going to cause some ruffled feathers from the other three as it tries to join the gang in the top spot. Looks like you're having beautiful weather (as long as you don't stand directly below this exhaust pipe). I was listening to my iPod on shuffle today on my way home from vacation, and a certain old Tom Lehrer song regarding pigeons came on. (I won't mention the name of the song, so as not to offend any pigeon lovers.) What timing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for telling us where this is, Eric. The birds do look cold, but at least they have good taste.
ReplyDeleteWelcome home, Katie.
ReplyDeleteI sort of enjoyed hanging with the Parisian pigeons in various parks when I was there. I liked to share crumbs with them and watch their goofy little strutting "waltz". Love this photo of the birds against the Paris sky!
ReplyDeleteHmmmm....isn't that squab I see?
ReplyDeleteIf I were a pigeon, I could afford to live in Paris also.
ReplyDeleteI think its so perfect. They can live in whichever city they wish to!
ReplyDelete*sigh*
Oh man, Eric, what a great shot. I am so jealous! These birds look so cute and fluffy. What a bunch of cuties! Pigeon Story: Once I was waiting for a bus on California Street (that is a busy street in San Francisco). And a man jammed on his breaks and jumped out of his car and came running over to me. He had a pigeon in his hands that he had just hit with his car. I looked at the man in astonishment, and he put the pigeon at my feet. The man ran back to his car and drove away. The pigeon looked up at me, as if to say, "What do we do now?" I hide him in some bushes so a cat would not get him, and called my daughter who has a car. She came and picked him up and took him to grandma's house. Grandma nursed him back to health in a few weeks. She named him Tuesday because we found him on Tuesday. (She has nursed a few birds back to health, Monday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, etc.) She told me that she sees Tuesday and Friday and sometimes Monday or Thursday on the telephone wire with other birds. She said, contrary to what people believe, pigeons stay only in a few blocks radius in which they call home. That is why the pigeons who live downtown are so dirty and maimed -- downtown is a dirty and dangerous neighborhood for birds and other animals. Anyway, Seagulls on the other hand, migrate inland -- all the way to Mono Lake (outside of Yosemite) to lay their eggs. I was so surprised to see them there. They are real travelers.
ReplyDeleteAfter thought: The pigeons in Hawaii are white. They are so pretty that I thought they were doves. Hawaii is Paradise to humans and pigeons and other living creatures. (I love Hawaii.)
ReplyDeleteAnother pigeon story: Once when I was in Paris walking by Jardin du Luxembourg, a Parisian man told me that Ernst Hemingway (when he was a starving writer) use to stroll with a baby carriage there and sneak pigeons into the carriage and hide them under a blanket. Hemingway would go home and cook them for dinner. Those plump pigeons of the Jardin du Luxembourg saved Hemingway's life. The Parisian man said this was a known fact.
ReplyDeleteI like the pigeons, and these look cold and cute.
ReplyDeleteAnd the SKY, wow it's beautiful, almost spring like (I'm dreaming).
Lois I love your pigeons stories. The Hemingway one is great. I never came across that one in any biography. You should tell it to Paul from "Hemingways Paris" blog, he could make a post about it.
When I lived in New York it was the same - pigeons everywhere! Many of them do not even fly; they just seem to walk about on the sidewalk and street. There were even several times when I had to divert my path to walk around some stubborn pigeons who would not move out of the way:)
ReplyDeleteThose are very chubby pigeons. {So that's what Ernest meant by A Moveable Feast.} I can hear him making his dinner preparations... "I'm not a pigeon plucker, I'm a pigeon plucker's son ..."
ReplyDeleteLois, I'm not sure I would eat a Parisian pigeon. Beurk ;-(
ReplyDeleteI don't like pigeons, like everybody in Paris, but your picture is really cute! They seem to have found the best place to stay warm. And we can't reproach them a lack of taste as for the place chosen!
ReplyDeleteBeaubourg pigeons were noticed by us.
ReplyDeleteBefore roosting they made such a fuss.
When I looked in the sky
Something fell in my eye,
And at them I proceeded to cuss.
I love the abstract composition!
ReplyDeleteThe SoCal fan pod will recall I told them of having lunch at Le Pre Catalan in the Bois de Bulogne. It is a gorgeous, elegant restaurant. The food is adventurous and different.
ReplyDeleteMy husband, who is also adventurous and different, ordered the pigeon. He loved it.
Pigeons at Pompidou. Yes, good taste in art. Hmm, wait a moment...art... Pigeons...Paris...PDP post...CARD! OMG! Um, to you LA dinner companions, I just found...the card! I will mail it today on my lunch break. Sheesh, what a bird brain. No wonder I didn't get the little Ingres. Better late than never, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteThey look pretty chilly to me, wating for April I believe.
ReplyDeleteWhat would Paris (and other major cities in the world) be without pigeons?? I think they add charm to the city. And, I think Parisian Pigeons are by far the most elegant and refined. ;)
ReplyDeleteThat's because they are les Pigions des Printemps.
ReplyDeleteThat's because they are les Pigeons des Printemps.
ReplyDeleteWe have many an elderly lady who feed the pigeons around the harbour. Have to say they have made for a wonderful minimalist image with the strong white curve.
ReplyDeleteWhat a soothing shot Eric...
ReplyDeleteWonderful...
well if i were a pigeon in paris - i wonder which arrondissment i would hand out at? would i perch myself up on one of the towers at notre dame, or maybe on pont alexander III, how about above the moulin rouge or montmartre....sooooo many places.
ReplyDeleteLois -- I love your pigeon stories. I'm thinking that Hemingway may have mentioned eating Parisian pigeons in A Moveable Feast (good one , Shell). Will have to check when I get home.
ReplyDeleteI just re-read "A Moveable Feast" and I honestly don't remember this story. Please tell me if I'm wrong, Alexa.
ReplyDeleteSaying hi from mexico....
ReplyDeleteI have read the story of Hemingway and the pigeons, but I can't remember where. You are right, Bettina, it's not in "Feast". I wonder if he referred to this in an interview.
ReplyDeleteI have read the story of Hemingway and the pigeons, but I can't remember where. You are right, Bettina, it's not in "Feast". I wonder if he referred to this in an interview.
ReplyDeleteI hate pigeons.
ReplyDeleteThey s**t on my car all day long. The best place for them is in a pie.
Sorry, I don't like the word hate. I dislike pigeons.
ReplyDeleteYes..., that reminds me of a very nice lunch I had one day... The pigeon choice was unforgettable, but not mine ;)
ReplyDeleteDrummond, I love your words.
G'nite to you. May your dreams be warm in thoughts.
J'aime beaucoup cette photo
ReplyDeletechez moi ce sont les mouettes et autres goelands qui squattent les toits , antennnes ,bancs ,murs, et evidement ma plage...
ReplyDeleteles pigeons font bandes a part guerre des clans oblige