Wyahir is a wild forest pigeon. It is often called a wicker. The bird is distinguished by large dimensions, which is especially noticeable when compared with other counterparts. The bird perfectly takes root in the forest area, is able to hide from predators.
Description of the bird and its features
Wild forest pigeons dominate in excellent plumage, attracting attention with a grayish-bluish tint. This coloring is a unique opportunity to hide from predators. Behind the disguise, the enemies do not see the dove, and therefore it has more chances to go unnoticed. On the chest plumage is red, on the neck - greenish with a metallic sheen. In the sun, feathers of birds glow incredibly beautiful.
Compared to its urban counterparts, the whirlwind is much larger. The length of the body to the tail is more than 40 cm. Their weight can reach more than one kilogram. Also, individuals weighing one and a half kilograms were found.
The birds have a small head of ash color. On the muzzle there are round black eyes. The rim around the pupil is yellow. A curved red beak at the base with a sharp yellowish tip. The head is located on a gracefully curved neck with a metallic tint, on the sides in the plumage there are two white distinctive spots.
Pigeons have a small tail, which opens during the flight, thereby showing a white transverse strip. The wingspan in flight reaches 80 cm. When the bird flies, you can see beautiful white stripes crossing the wings across. The large wingspan allows you to reach up to 180 km / h. Seasonal migrations are not terrible for vahirs - they are able to cover distances of up to 1000 km without stopping.
The body is located on the thin legs of a pinkish-red hue. Sharp claws allow the bird to easily grab onto branches.
In the first weeks of life, the plumage of the chicks is not much like an adult pigeon. Kids are dominated by a dirty gray color. Only with age, chicks become attractive and interesting.
Distribution area
Wyahir has a fairly wide distribution area. It lives in almost all of Europe, except for the northern regions. In some places, the bird does not live year-round, during the cold weather, flying to warmer regions, but returning there in the spring. At this time, he is seen in the fields of winter wheat, where the dove feeds.
Wild birds spend most of their time in coniferous forests, and less commonly settle in park areas, nesting there.
Voice quality and behavior
Even at dawn, the wyahir begins to make the characteristic loud sounds of “kru-kuu-ku-kuk”. Pigeons make energetic flights, making a sharp whistling of wings. During breeding, birds of this breed behave secretly, hide in the foliage of trees and fall silent if they hear that animals or humans are approaching.
A dove feeds in the same area, not far from the nest. It behaves cautiously on the fly, usually stops at landscapes, where it is difficult to get to other animals.
Population Status and Protection
A wild forest pigeon is a creature that likes order and silence. It would seem that urbanization leads to a reduction in the size of the rural population, due to which there would be silence in the forest. But due to the fact that hiking and car tourism are developing significantly, pigeons leave the habitats to which they are so accustomed. Wild pigeons almost ceased to settle in the suburban forests visited by mushroom pickers for almost the entire summer period.
The number of wickets began to decline since the late 40s of the 20th century, the reason for this was the use of pesticides in agriculture - their large numbers led to the death of birds. Today, the number of birds is no less exterminated by hunters; for them, hunting for wild pigeons is a gamble. A pigeon pigeon flies away easily, even if a hunter gets into it, therefore it is not so easy to find a dead bird, and this leads to the fact that the hunt continues.
In the Azores, a subspecies of the vyahir lives - Columba palumbus azorica, included in the Red Book. He inhabited the forests of all the major islands of the archipelago, but today it is found exclusively on the islands of Pico and San Miguel. Another subspecies of the vahir, settled on the Madeira islands - Columba palumbus maderensis, was destroyed at the beginning of the last century.
Lifestyle & Duration
Like most wildlife, pigeons prefer caution. The reason for this is that the Wyahiri are helpless in front of large predators. But it helps them to avoid the danger of the opportunity to develop flight speed. If a predator is nearby, the pigeons become silent and freeze, thereby not betraying themselves. And the animal can be informed that there is a swirl nearby, the wingspan of the birds, because during the flight loud sounds are heard that resemble a whistle.
Birds do not like people. They prefer to equip nests no closer than 2 kilometers from human settlements. But there are such instances that settle very close to people, but nevertheless you can hardly find them in large cities. They like remote forests - there they feel comfortable, safe, get the opportunity to raise their offspring.
Between themselves vyahiri behave energetically, they are sociable. They have rather large flocks, the number of birds can reach more than two dozen individuals.
Under favorable living conditions, wild forest pigeons can live up to 16 years.
Nutrition
The basis of the pigeon's diet is plant food. Only extremely rarely can birds eat animal food. They sometimes consume caterpillars or earthworms. More preferred cereals, wild cereals, legumes. However, they can feed on all the grains that they find on earth.
The nutritional preferences of a wahir depend on their habitat. If a pigeon lives in a coniferous forest, he will be happy to eat tree seeds. With the change of vegetation, eating habits also change. Vahir loves to feast on the fruits of beech, acorns from oak. Do not fly past strawberries, blueberries, viburnum, lingonberries.
Birds of this breed tend to make food supplies - they lay food in a rather roomy goiter (about eight acorns are placed in it). The bird picks its food from the ground, the pigeon likes to pluck low plants.
If the vyakhir lives in dense forests, then he picks the fruits from the trees directly in flight. Able to peck even young kidneys. Long wintering often exposes the bird to eat clover and cabbage leaves. Due to the fact that the diet of the vituit is diverse, it can take root in almost any locality.
Breeding
Within one year, the vakhir is able to bring offspring three times. The breeding process usually begins in April. During this period, birds return after wintering. Reproduction lasts until the end of the first autumn month.
How is a pigeon pair formed?
Pigeons reach puberty by 10-11 months from birth. It is at this moment that to attract the females, the males sit on the tops of the trees and begin to coo loudly. Usually from this they begin their day, because they are used to making such sounds in the morning.
After the female pays attention to the dove, he goes down, whirls around her, not stopping cooing. Such mating games subsequently lead to egg-laying.
Nest arrangement
Before incubating eggs, witnuts equip a suitable nest. They are very responsible about the arrangement. Before you take a twig for construction, birds carefully tap on it with their beak, as if checking for strength. Only after the bird is convinced that the quality of the material is suitable, it will take it to build a nest.
Particularly impressive is the speed with which the vahiri equip their nest; it only takes a few days to build. They create a solid frame using thick branches, between the twigs interweave more flexible, small twigs. As a result, it is possible to obtain a nest with a flat bottom and a loose cocoon having several holes that arise between the branches.
Pigeons locate their nests at a height of no more than two meters from the ground. Only lazy vahiri can use the remnants of nests of other birds, for example, falcons, magpies, ravens.
Hatching eggs
Usually, a female lays two white eggs in one egg laying. They are small in size. Birds hatch eggs for two weeks. In this case, both parents take an active part in the incubation. After hatching the chicks, the babies are fed exclusively with pigeon milk - curd secretions accumulated in the parents' goiter. Then they begin to eat other types of food typical of adult birds.
Offspring Care
Vyahiri are quite caring and rational parents. They feed their chicks, teach them the intricacies of flight. After 1.5-2 months, the chicks become completely independent and can take care of themselves.
Wahir Hunt
Vahir hunting is a sporting event, exciting and exciting. The only thing that interferes with this matter is the natural care of birds. But on the other hand, it is precisely this feature that gives hunters exuberant interest, fueling excitement in them and a greater desire to get a captured pigeon.
The hunter must be restrained, patient, careful and at the same time calm. In the spring in the permitted territories there is an opportunity to hunt wild pigeons using decoys. At the same time, experienced hunters copy the voices of birds, luring them into their "network." In the summer period, a scarecrow is most often used for hunting. This is no less common bait for poultry. Artificial birds (similar to a wahir) are acquired in specialized stores or made independently.
These witches, accustomed to living in packs, at the sight of their "brothers", are happy to fly up and sit next to them, which is why experienced hunters come directly into their hands. It is noted that the more stuffed animals used for hunting, the more pigeons will be led to such a bait.
In Russia, it is forbidden to use airguns when hunting wild pigeons. But some violators neglect the law and use pneumatics to capture birds.
Natural enemies of Vahir
The most dangerous predator for wild forest pigeon are birds of prey. Pigeons suffer not only from falcons and hawks, but also from jays, squirrels, gray ravens, magpies - they destroy vyakhire nests, destroy eggs. A marten is also a hunter for a pigeon.
Since the wyahiri are distinguished by their large mass and large body size, they are unable to take off too quickly. When planted on the ground, they often become food for badgers and foxes.
Vitutnits suffer greatly from people, because of which the number of birds is significantly reduced. Some people believe that forest pigeons harm trees, and therefore destroy birds.
Vyahiri - forest pigeons, although wild, but not dangerous to humans. The external characteristics of birds are especially surprising: they are large enough, but fast: sensing danger, they immediately hide. Birds can disguise themselves well. Take care of their offspring, self-feeding and training chicks.
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Ukraine. City: Kryvyi Rih
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