This is in response to Esther’s Weekly Word Prompt.
This week’s writing prompt is : Figure
***
The Pigeon Conspiracy
I guess I have mentioned this somewhere in my earlier post(s) but in the wake of fresh assaults a retelling assumes relevance.
We live in a locality infested by rodents, squirrels and pigeons. The rodents have displayed an unexplained enmity towards my plants. They appear to be immune to sprays and disinfectants. They also love chewing wires and pipes of unused vehicles parked for long.
Squirrels have shown a special fondness for air conditioners. They home inside and cause unimaginable damage to the machine skyrocketing the cost of maintenance.
The pigeons have a fetish for nesting in the weirdest of locations – under the window AC, inside the exhaust fans and at the mouth of the drain pipes.
Past a few seasons, harassed by a monstrous pigeon, B-I-L put up a net around the AC causing great consternation to the nesting family. However, the next day the head of the family brought along his adviser for site inspection, who according to B-I-L, appeared to be some kind of an engineering expert.
What followed next was further more disturbing. Every morning one of the engineering team would stick its neck inside the net and perform a “hara-kiri”. After a few such suicidal protests, considering it to be an abshagun (bad sign) for the household, a finer mesh (with lesser gaps in between) replacing the earlier one was put up.
The disheartened but undaunted protesters reviewed their strategy and shifted base to my front gate dirtying it non-stop by every possible means. This went on for sometime till the tactics got revised to make it more effective. They have now relocated to the exhaust fan in the bathroom. As a result, it has conked off.
But the miscreants have not stopped at that. Whenever I am inside the pugnacious lot embark on loud, verbal sloganeering which flusters me the most. Guess what would be their next move?
Not exactly figure-out-able…!!!!
Nature is not only trees, plants, fruits and flowers. It’s also bees, bugs, beasts and birds who do not always care to see eye to eye with “hoomans”. When peaceful coexistence comes under attack both prove deadlier than the other. Currently, they are on the offensive and I am on the defensive. Hope I do not have to take recourse to the alternate.
Till then the pigeon peril continues unabated…
PS : I loved Esther’s poster hint on the prompt and couldn’t resist using it. Well…the other way…
I remember the pigeons from before 😊 And I love how you’ve used the prompt word in the meme – the other way 🥰
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A good story. We have constant battles with such creatures
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Same here. Thank you so much Derrrick 🙏
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For me, it’s the squirrels. They were getting into my vegetable garden and cause havoc, they dug all the dirt out of my potted plants on the patio, and I’d given up on having bird feeders as they would scare away the birds and eat the seed themselves.
Now that I have three dogs, however, they have decided that my garden isn’t quite as inviting. 🙂
I figured it out! 🤣
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What squirrels did to your garden rodents did to mine. But these warriors are quite clever and attack when the strays (I am there Godmother, you see) are not around. Unfortunately I lost my pet last year but I doubt she would have done much as she was a Labrador Lounger. You know what I mean. 😂
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I do indeed, my friend. 🙂
And thank you for being a Godmother to the strays. 🐾
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Oh! It’s entirely my pleasure ☺️
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Geeta Di
इन को भी मुगल बादशाहों ने बिगाड़ कर रखा हे, वह इन्हें नाज़ नखरों से पालते थे और अपनी रानियों को इन के द्वारा खत भेजते थे,अब यह हमारे सर पर सवार हे😂
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क्या बात नुसरत ! आपने तो एक ऐतिहासिक दृष्टिकोण इस पोस्ट में जोड़ दिया। अनेक धन्यवाद।
वैसे मैने तो इन्हें जेन ज़ी समझा था। “विद्रोह” करने में माहिर। 😂
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इनके बुजुर्ग मुगल दौर में होते
यह तो जेन ज़ी ही हे,गीता दी
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शुक्रिया नुसरत क्लेरिफाई करने के लिए
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Tut tut. Very naughty pigeons
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I know. Do you have any troublesome trespassers in your garden Sadje?
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No we don’t because it’s so small.
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This was such an entertaining read. We have raccoons and squirrel at our house.
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I have seen raccoons on TV. They look quite dangerous.
We actually don’t have squirrels, though I have written so, they are actually chipmunks. But equally troublesome.
Thanks Kymber for being here.
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What an entertaining read! We had two rats coming to our house, despite being clean. Apparently, they managed to cave their way inside from the attic into one of the rooms.
It really isn’t very pleasant.
Have a great Friday! ☺️
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Thank you so much Aptivi. Rats, rodents, squirrels and even rabbits can be big trouble makers as they thrive on in destruction.
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You’re most welcome. I agree with you, they can, indeed, become troublemakers. I don’t like having rodents in my house.
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I hope this is just a story. Otherwise maintaining a house in this situation could involve constant battles with the so called lovely creatures 😁
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Unfortunately, Rupali, this is my reality.
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So sad.
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A thoroughly entertaining read! You managed to turn an everyday nuisance into a delightful tale of wit and observation. The “engineering expert” pigeon and the “hara-kiri” protests had me laughing out loud. Beneath the humor, though, lies a gentle reminder that sharing our spaces with wildlife is rarely as idyllic as it sounds. Wishing you victory in this ongoing battle of wits—or at least a negotiated truce with your feathered adversaries!
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It sounds like many little animals love your sanctuary, too. However, they’re something naughty and destroyed things. I hope you figure out the best solution soon. Wonderful entry, gc.
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Thank you Hazel. I read recently that animals visit those places where they find positive energy. But they are destructive too.
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The destructive character is the annoying one. Seems like your place has plenty of positive energy. That’s quite challenging coexistence. My pleasure, gc
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I presume I have managed to secure positivity but it is surely challenging.
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Pigeons can be an annoying lot; we had a lot of visitors who raided rain lilies and hibiscus plants and overturned pots. Positive energy I know not
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Pigeons or any birds , for that matter, if they are regular visitors, can be very disruptive. Did you know crows are socks thieves ?
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Oh, my, Geeta. Sometimes it is us against them–even when we understand and love “them.”
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Yes, true Mary. Sad isn’t it??
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