[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

While driving through town we got stopped at pedestrian lights. Ours was the first car. We noticed a pigeon walking along the pavement. As Banbury is not the most exciting place in the world, we watched the pigeon.

Lo and behold! When it reached the pedestrian crossing it made a 90^o left turn and strutted across the crossing; taking its time as pigeons do. When it reached the pavement (sidewalk) on the other side of the road, it turned to the right & continued on its merry way.

I have no doubt, and neither has Sandra, that the pigeon's actions were entirely deliberate and that it knew it was safe to cross the road at the crossing.

We both agreed that if we hadn't seen it with our own eyes, we probably would not have believed it. We're still chuckling about it!

Has anyone else seen a creature display this kind of road sense?

[Make it Lady]

I once watched a bird drop snails onto a road from a tree. It then waited until a car ran the snail over. Once the road was clear it swooped down and ate the now deshelled snail. Smart or what?

[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

Smart. Isn't there a bird that breaks nuts open by dropping them onto rocks from a great height?

I'm sure I also remember hearing about a type of hawk or eagle that drops tortoises onto rocks.

[Make it Lady]

EEK! isn't nature frightening!

[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

EEK! isn't nature frightening!

Especially when you're part of it

[JimBob]

The Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture will take bones to a high altitude and drop them on the rocks to get at the marrow.

It is the Vulture that gathers for the Tibetan sky funerals.

[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

Thank you, Jim. It was bones, not tortoises  []

[Bored chemist]

From
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_Thrush

"The Song Thrush is omnivorous, eating a wide range of invertebrates, especially earthworms and snails, as well as soft fruit and berries. Animal prey is found by sight, as with its relative, the Blackbird, and like that species it has a run-and-stop hunting technique on open ground, and will also rummage through leaf-litter seeking potential food items.[6]

Snails are especially important when drought or hard weather makes it difficult to find other food. The thrush often use a favourite stone as an "anvil" on which to smash the snail before extracting the soft body and invariably wiping it on the ground prior to consumption"

[Make it Lady]

I was having nightmares about those tortoises last night. Thank goodness it was only bones. What the devil is a Tibetan Sky Funeral. It sounds a good way to go? [xx(]

[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

What the devil is a Tibetan Sky Funeral. It sounds a good way to go? [xx(]

You don't want to know

[Make it Lady]

I do, I do, especially now you've said I don't.

[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

[Make it Lady]

Meanie, I'm off to bed now. Got to take son to school at some very early hour in the morning. I'll be dreaming about tortoises and Tibetans all night now. Perhaps tomorrow I'll watch some birds,watching Bill Oddie to see if he does something intelligent. Night   

[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

Meanie, I'm off to bed now. Got to take son to school at some very early hour in the morning. I'll be dreaming about tortoises and Tibetans all night now. Perhaps tomorrow I'll watch some birds,watching Bill Oddie to see if he does something intelligent. Night   

[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

Meanie, I'm off to bed now. Got to take son to school at some very early hour in the morning.   

Same here. I have to be up at stupid o'clock to sort the brats out for school.

I'll be dreaming about tortoises and Tibetans all night now.   

That sounds decidedly dodgy!  [:I]

Perhaps tomorrow I'll watch some birds,watching Bill Oddie to see if he does something intelligent. 

They'll have a long wait  []

Goodnight for now.

[Make it Lady]

Looked up the sky funeral. Sounds like teaching in one of local schools only they don't wait until you die!!!

[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

See? I said you didn't want to know.

[Make it Lady]

That's nothing saw Sweeny Todd the other day, buckets of blood, didn't flinch, Farmers daughter you see. Spend my weekends gutting pigeons. Funny one had a copy of the highway code hidden in its feathers. Oh Doc, you don't think it was your pigeon, do you. Whoops. Tasted delicious though.

[JimBob]

I do believe this woman has the makings of a worth opponent, Eth. How do you fell about it? We need to discuss our options.

[Make it Lady]

You hatch a plan and I'll go to bed. I need my beauty sleep as I'll be one year older in the morning and will need to drink all day and night in order to forget this fact. I should be preparing for a conference that I'm talking at on sat. but work or drink, drink or work....a problem Ill sleep on.