A rude cloacaning

For weeks now, there have been signs that the pigeons of the lake are Up to Something Suspicious. There's been Neck Puffing... Obnoxious Cooing...

...Tail dragging... Circle Spinning...

But I never could catch the rascals in the act... until yesterday! BAM. Money Shot:

I saw these two covertly "Billing" each other, and my Pidgey-Sense started tingling. I barely had time to turn on my camera before the pigeons leaped directly from First Base to a Home Run. This tender scene lasted all of two cloaca-grinding seconds before they were back to pecking innocently at invisible seeds, nary a blush to be seen on their feathery cheeks.

Since the dude pigeons seem to court any lady in the area, I'm not sure when exactly love leads to marriage/baby carriage, but at some point, Birder's Handbook indicates that they do become monogamous and both pigeons incubate and care for their young.

Pigeons often nest on ledges, especially under roofs or bridges. They don't seem to mind tight spaces, and can even pile sticks right on top of those spiny things put up to dissuade them.

I don't think the eggs in this nest have hatched yet, but I'm keeping an eye on it; my book says it will take 16-19 days. The pigeon family is one of the few that produces "crop milk" to provide protein to their hatchlings. That might be one reason why they develop so quickly and can breed a mere 6 months after hatching--they drink their Milk! It does a pigeon body good.