nature studies

I had just rung for a cab one evening  when I glanced out of the window to see two pigeons having sex on a telephone wire, in a brief flurry of activity which constituted - so it might be said - the entire point of their existence. Afterwards, the female walked off along the wire, as though taking time to think things over; when she returned to the male, he had his back to her, staring off into the distance, it seemed furiously.

They remained like that for some time, then he flew off. She followed, but only after a few minutes had elapsed, possibly not wishing to appear too desperate.

One question still torments me: did they know I was watching? Animals must be self-concious these days, what with Chris Packham. Though perhaps it's him who should be watched. On TV the other night he was reminiscing about happy childhood days when he used to rub grass snakes over his skin - as what red-blooded boy hasn't? Other treasured memories include being licked in the face by a giraffe, after which he only pretended to his Mum that he'd washed the giraffe-saliva off. I have to say, fond of Nature as I am, that he made it all sound rather sordid.