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Shaun Lawson

31 May, 9 tweets, 2 min read

This is the story of Philosopher Pigeon.

He wasn't the first to appear on my balcony way back in January - he popped up a bit after that. But what I noticed immediately was:

- He had the patience levels of a Tibetan monk
- He was completely isolated and ignored by the others

- He'd just sit in the same spot for hours and hours, thinking (hence my name for him)
- His face would kind of sink into his body, making him look really old and sad

My cleaner thought he was ill. I insisted he wasn't - well, not physically, anyway. He was depressed though.

Yes, pigeons do get depressed. There are the most awful, shocking videos on YouTube of them committing suicide: jumping to their deaths. 😭

I also kept having this image of Piggy's fate in Lord of the Flies in my head. Rather like this 😮😱😭😭😭

The video above is one of the most horrific things I've ever seen. It's staggering.

Anyway - even after my cleaner told me there were just too many pigeons on my balcony and I had to stop feeding them so much, Philosopher stayed. Kept returning day after day.

So I started feeding him indoors. At the same time each day, I opened my French windows and he'd look around, be a bit unsure, then wander in. And scoff everything I put down for him.

This has been a routine for weeks now. And here's what's amazing. He's brightening up. 🥰

He stands his ground and holds his own against other pigeons much more. He's becoming playful - he was sat in the flowerbed on my balcony earlier, happy as Larry. And he's trying to eat outside more too: because he's visibly gaining in confidence.

As a result, he's completely stopped doing that head sinking into his body thing. He looks younger and happier. I am so thrilled about this! 🥰🥰🥰

All it's taken is love and care. That's all it ever takes, isn't it?

Finally, I think he feels accepted. Which he very much is. Philosopher: you are my favourite one. ❤️

Of course, I love all the others too. And they all fight each other less and are more accepting of each other. I'm proud of them for this. 🙏 For this is a socialist balcony.

I'm on the left because I will always believe in a politics centred, first and foremost, on love and care. And I will never understand any form of politics which is not.

All living creatures need love. And love is always the answer.

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