Nest Extradinaire!

[mr squeaks]

FINALLY! I have mentioned Peter Pied Piper of Arizona State University fame as the the "Frank Lloyd Wright" of the pigeon world!

He built the most extraordinary nest I have ever seen. I was so impressed that I sent the picture (thanks to Cindy!) to Cornell's Project Pigeon Watch! They, too, thought that the nest was very unusual because of its size!

Due to circumstances beyond my control, Cindy is going to post the picture for me! THANKS, CINDY!

OH yes, that is Peter sitting on his masterpiece!

I called this nest: "THE MANSION"

[AZWhitefeather]

And here's a picture of Peter Pied Piper's MANSION with none other than Peter himself sitting on top!

Cindy

Oops!
Shi, I didn't notice you had mentioned that was Peter on the nest.
Better start eating more carrots so I can see better.

[Reti]

OMG, I can't stop laughing, that is so funny.
This is the grandest nest I've ever seen. How long and how hard did he work on it? Oh, how cute.

Reti

[mr squeaks]

Hi Reti...

I posted his story in the STORY section. He also had MANY babies!

To recap about Peter:

I had first noticed him feeding on the lawn near my building and thought how beautiful he was! He was a Pied and instead of having the irredescent green of normal pijies, the spot of green on his neck was emerald!

One day, taking a short cut through a building across from my office, I noticed a white blur flying back and forth outside the door at the end of the building. When I exited, there was Peter, flying back and forth to a window set in the same building. Fortunately, this window was across from the building which housed my office and I could watch his activities. He would bring twigs and his mate would arrange them. Back and forth, back and forth! Didn't this bird EVER tire, I wondered? Well, finally the nest was to his specifications and eggs were laid. Only one hatched and he ended up raising the baby alone because soon after the baby was born, he lost his mate.

He did find another mate but the lone baby, Alberta, wouldn't leave the nest, so Peter and his mate moved two windows down and build the "COTTAGE NEST." Not near as big as the Mansion but impressive nonetheless. Between these two nests, Peter and his mates (he lost his second mate and gained another!!) ended up having almost 20 babies by the time I left ASU. A few months later, the school cleaned out the nests out and screened the windows!

I never saw Peter again, although I always look for him whenever I'm on campus. He was the MOST EXTRAORDINARY pigeon I have ever met!

I hope he is OK and wish him well!

[Pete Jasinski]

OH MY GOODNESS! I must say my namesake is quite the architect I've never seen anything like that ever before, I really hope it in a safe place where some "dope" won't do it or Peter harm.

[Reti]

Oh my, what a story.
Thanks for sharing. Very impressive and a determined little pij.
I hope too he is well and building a new mansion somewhere.

Reti

[mr squeaks]

Originally Posted by Pete Jasinski

OH MY GOODNESS! I must say my namesake is quite the architect I've never seen anything like that ever before, I really hope it in a safe place where some "dope" won't do it or Peter harm.

Actually, Pete, you probably didn't get a chance to read my last post. ASU cleaned out the nests and screened the windows after I retired (June 2005).

WHILE, however, Peter was starting his dynasty, his nests were well protected because they were 2 stories off the ground! In fact, by the time he had a lot of babies, THOSE babies came back and started building "little" nests in other windows! These windows were where the restooms were located and the windows let in light on the side of the building with that opaque glass.

Yes, your namesake was VERY unusual! AND, Cornell even posted his story in one of their bird magazines (Bird Scope)!

[piney_creek]

That IS quite a nest!

PINEY

[Jiggs]

WOW - that must be some sort of record for a pigeon! Most of mine think 4 twigs and a feather is just right

[Lady Tarheel]

Well Shi, I can now see why you have called Peter's nest a mansion. That is a magnificent creation. There had to be a reason they built it that high - would love to know why because I've never, ever seen anything to equal it.

Thanks Shi and Cindy.

[Trees Gray]

That bird is one prolific nest builder and breeder. LOL

Thanks for sharing.

[Feather]

I have a couple that build their nest simular. But Peter has them beat! Thanks Shi! Do you see how proud he is sitting up there. He is probably worn out.

Feather

[stephie]

Hehe what a sweetie, he's obviously a very hard worker (and maybe a bit of a show-off, too)! He's probably living in a $2M condo and driving a Hummer now Just seems the type

[Pigeonpal2002]

LOL....wow! Talk about a "high rise" of a nest! That is incredible, I can't believe a pigeon built that monster!

Thanks for the picture Shi and Cindy for posting it!!!

[mr squeaks]

I think perhaps one reason Peter built such a gigantic nest was because he was in a very safe area and there were LOTS of twigs around due to the many trees.

I would watch him fly down, pick up a twig, drop it, try another and then, satisfied, fly to the window. Of course, maybe he was bored waiting for the eggs and one twig led to another!

He was an AWESOME parent too when he lost his first mate. He spoiled Alberta rotten! (Previous name, Fat Albert). When Alberta was old enough to be able to leave the nest, he came back with his new mate, Ms. Nu. Alberta HATED her stepmother and no matter how much Peter and Ms. Nu pushed and shoved, Alberta wouldn't LEAVE THE NEST! When Peter and Ms. Nu built the cottage nest and laid 2 eggs, Alberta finally flew her nest and would spend HOURS sitting next to the cottage nest when Peter was on duty. That's why I changed her name. I thought she might become Peter's mate too but she didn't.

I'm pretty sure she came back with a mate to the same window area and built her own nest. Hard to tell her from other Checkers! ASU has a lot of 'em.