I found a dead pigeon in my garden several days ago, and it was most queer.
It had no obvious injuries, no blood, no loose feathers scattered around as happens with the frequent cat attacks and less frequent hawk attacks. But what WAS very odd was its eyes had bulged out almost to the size of ping pong balls, and were blackish-green like damp sea weed coloured. As if bubble gum had popped out through its eye sockets. Any ideas what might have caused its demise?
It had no obvious injuries, no blood, no loose feathers scattered around as happens with the frequent cat attacks and less frequent hawk attacks. But what WAS very odd was its eyes had bulged out almost to the size of ping pong balls, and were blackish-green like damp sea weed coloured. As if bubble gum had popped out through its eye sockets. Any ideas what might have caused its demise?
With no external injuries, I wonder if it had eaten something poisonous? A harvested field that had been freshly sprayed with a pesticide perhaps?
Speaking as a farmer I can assure you there are no chemicals that have as lethal effect as that that are simply sprayed out on to open fields, if there was there would be utter carnage out in the countryside. If it was any pesticide it sounds more likely to be rodenticide (rat poison) although if used professionally (ie in bait boxes) there should be no way a pigeon should be able to get at the stuff! More likely a reckless/ignorant homeowner or allotment type that hasn’t been trained in their use and has left poison out by their compost heap or similar just in case they have rats visit. Sorry for the rant but I get sick and tired of the old “blame it on farmers” chestnut 
