From whence comes 'billing and cooing'!Prior to each mating, the male pigeon must court his female anew. Here, he is seen going through pair-bonding motions of feeding his mate.

These displays of affection in the nest site were especially noticeable when the next batch of eggs was due to hatch beneath the little lady (with eyes closed). Pigeons seem to enjoy a shared, eager anticipation of forthcoming young.

Here, PP is preening his mate's head and neck while they sunbathe on the patio beneath me. Whether or not pigeons have what we would call 'emotions' is open to debate, but there was no denying that my pigeons certainly behaved, in human terms, in an affectionate manner.

My pair, having reaffirmed their vows, can now get down to the serious business of starting (yet) another family. No, they're not actually being censored - but had I drawn up the blinds, they would have doubtless been disturbed. Even a pigeon has a right to a little peace in his own home!