Dear Sun Spots: This may seem odd considering all the people out there that would rather not see the pigeons, but I personally enjoy seeing them every day on my walk through Courthouse park. I have noticed something rather odd though this past week for there is not a pigeon in sight. Where have they all gone? I know they don’t fly south but I can’t imagine where they could be hiding that we wouldn’t see at least one out and about. – Curious, Lewiston.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers who might have some insight on this, Sun Spots also has noticed an occasional large flock of pigeons at a country farm in the outskirts of town. It’s possible that with the very cold weather upon us, the pigeons have flown towards more plentiful food sources. Here are some pigeon facts from the Web that you might find interesting:

Pigeons mate for life and rear their broods together, although if one dies the other will take a new mate. Once a simple nest is built, the female lays one egg and then another a day or so later. The incubation period for common pigeons is 17 to 19 days. The female sits on the egg from late afternoon through the night until about 10 a.m. The male then takes over and does the day shift.

Once the eggs hatch, both parents feed the young squabs. Their first food is pigeon milk or crop milk, a cheesy substance that appears on the crops of the parents at hatching time and is fed for a week or so. Then the adults start regurgitating partially digested grains for the young. By the time the squabs are ready to fly, about four weeks, the father is doing most of the feeding. The squabs are fed for another week to 10 days after they are free-flying. Some pigeons reverse-commute, feeding on grain in the country, while living in the city. Pigeons have been known to live more than 30 years!

Dear Sun Spots: In answer to D.A., Rumford, Dec. 18, who asked about Daniel O’Donnell tapes. She can get them at Wal-Mart as that’s where I got a lot of mine. – L.G., Poland.

Dear Sun Spots: For D.A. in Rumford who is looking to purchase Daniel O’Donnell CDs, I purchase all my Christian music much cheaper from Christian Book Distributors, P.O. Box 7000, Peabody, Mass. 01961-7000, (800) 247-4784. They have music by Daniel O’Donnell. – No Name, No Town.

Dear Sun Spots: For the person looking for an IBM typewriter, I have one and am willing to sell it for the right price. Make me an offer. I can be reached at (207) 743-7664. – No Name, No Town.

Dear Sun Spots: To the writer inquiring about lemon and orange zest, the zest is the bright-colored grated peelings of lemons and oranges. – No Name, No Town.

Dear Sun Spots: I am looking for a 45 rpm record in good condition with “Tombstone Every Mile” by Dick Curless about the Hanesville Woods. I can be reached at (207) 533-2871. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: In addition to receiving responses from Sun Spots readers, you may want to try calling Bill O’Neil’s House of Rock ‘n’ Roll, 840 U.S. Route 1, Saco, (207) 283-1966. Sun Spots called that store and was told that they didn’t have that particular 45 in stock but they can help locate it for you.

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