Weird behavior?

[jak2002003]

Once of my pairs of pigeons are behaving really strange. They like to fly into a big tree in my garden and hop and flap about in its branches. They seem to be eating something - like the tree bark!!! They are acting like woodpeckers!!! They are even walking and flapping up the vertical tree trunk

I never know pigeons to prefer to move about in a dense tree rather than on my roof. All my other pigeons NEVER go in the trees. They fly from rooftop to rooftop and walk about on the ground.

The last few nights I have not been able to get this pair back to their coop. They prefer to roost in the tree, even though they have 2 half grown chicks in their nest. I have had to part hand feed the chicks as they were not getting fed enough.

They are Dutch Capuchin pigeons - the only pair of this kind I have. Does this breed prefer roosting on branches and twigs rather than normal pigeon flat perches?

Also what could they be eating? The bark or insects? And why are they unwilling to return to their nest box with the chicks? They don't get attacked by the other pigeons and their diet is the same - with grit and oyster shell and minerals also available.

It was the female that started this behavior and now the male is copying her. I am worried I will loose them to a predator at night.

 

[larrylofts]

sounds like they are starting to nest in the tree

 

[jak2002003]

sounds like they  are starting to nest in the tree 

Oh I never thought of that! Maybe they are getting read for the next round of chicks.

I will put a new nest bowl in their breeding box in the opposite corner from the current nest and chicks.

Thank you!