Clearing out

It's no use. I've been trying to write all morning, but I have something on my mind and until I write about it I won't be able to think about anything else.

It's about pigeons - and zoos. And I know a lot of people regard pigeons as vermin and maybe they are, but I don't mind them. I like watching them snuggle up together and coo at each other. I hate seeing one standing at the roadside staring at its dead mate squashed in the road - it makes me want to cry. They obviously grieve. It's sad.

Two of my grandchildren went to a zoo recently. I'm not a fan of zoos, but this one does a lot for the conservation of species. Well so they say anyway. I mean of course they aren't in it for the money, perish the thought. They are there for the animals!

While my 22 month old granddaughter and her 4 year old brother - and several other small children - watched, a pigeon's nest was destroyed. I think it was in a cage with a monitor lizard, but don't quote me on that - it was in a cage with something. The keepers knocked the nest down then smashed the eggs. It happened so quickly that there wasn't time to move the children on.

Several questions here. Why not remove the nest before the pigeons got round to laying eggs in it? Why not leave it where it was? Why not do it when the zoo was closed? How can you run an establishment claiming to be all for conservation while destroying creatures that aren't endangered? Surely life is life and if you're in it to preserve it, then you should respect all life.

And aren't we supposed to discourage children from destroying nests and the like? Maybe there was some evil little villain-to-be (or several) among the children who will think it is great fun to go round smashing eggs. My grandson was appalled. He told me about it and got quite steamed as did I.

And I still feel steamed, even after this mini rant.