I did not think this was a strange post as I know a few people that sort of freak out about birds. It is not typical but not all that strange IMHO.
And seagulls, oh yuck, I remember my friend in HS getting "plopped" on top of her head during lunch hour. The seagulls along the Carquinez Straight can get very overwhelming. And so can pigeons.

donnabee
I can't give you an absolutely definitive answer on birds and water fowl in the Cotswolds. In my time there, I never saw any huge flocks anywhere near any people. I did some birds in the water and on the shore in watery places, and also some chickens in yards, but nothing more.

And I am sorry for those with bridge phobias, but I'm glad I'm not alone. gt;

We were "guilty" of feeding birds in Paris - we carried our day-old bread with us for just this purpose. None of the pigeons, and we saw many, were aggressive at all.

Now, the gulls in New Jersey are fierce! One stole a sandwich right out of my hand on the beach one day.

Re the Cotswolds: unless you visit Slimbridge Wildfowl Sanctuary on the banks of the River Severn you are unlikely to have any problems with wildfowl. In the city of Gloucester there is a bit of a problem with seagulls from the river becoming overconfident around humans, but I go there fairly often and haven't been 'gulled', nor have I noticed them around the Cathedral precincts which is the only place in Gloucester city centre worth seeing.

Pigeons tend to lurk in almost every town centre these days, roosting in the buildings and scuttling around on the pavements looking for dropped sandwich crusts and MacD leftovers etc, but there's no need to avoid these towns as there are way more people than pigeons and the pigeons are more nervous of us than we are of them - they are certainly not tame. If you hiss at them they flutter out of your path! Ssssssssst!! However in Piazza San Marco this does not work so well as the pigeons outnumber the people and are not scared of us at all.

Chickens in the country do not roam free - they will be shut into runs or well-fenced enclosures to protect them from foxes. This will also ensure you will not have any contact with the chickens should you pass some.

You will enjoy walking in the Cotswolds, but it might be an idea to avoid Bourton-on-the Water, Lechlade and Bibury because there are ducks and possibly the odd swan around, which have probably become accustomed to being fed titbits by visitors.

But whatever you decide, have a good trip.

Through the magic of Google, some Venetian pigeon photos:

http://ryancordell.com/venice%20pigeons.jpg

http://www.da*****traux.com/images/a...ce_pigeons.jpg

http://www.brynosaurus.com/album/200...scn2462-lg.jpg

http://www.bigfoto.com/europe/italy/...ons-venice.jpg

http://www.therandymon.com/italy/ima...ce_pigeons.jpg

http://www.jimtardio.com/italy/italy...e-pigeons.html

http://www.photo.net/photo/pcd0802/v...geons-34.4.jpg

http://photo.net/photo/pcd0802/venic...geons-35.4.jpg

http://www.nycevenice.com/venice-cit...mg/pigeons.jpg

http://www.defdesigns.com/09_06-PigeonsVenice.png

http://www.boriasax.com/Pigeons_Venice2%20001.jpg

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/skweb/sim...e/pidgeons.jpg

http://www.andrewracz.net/venice7pigeons.jpg

http://wso.williams.edu/~ebilgin/Eur...nice%20010.jpg

http://www.mehras.net/europe_pages/1...co_pigeons.JPG

John Berendt's description of the San Marco pigeons in his book The City of Falling Angels would make most people have a pigeon phobia! I am not afraid of them, but I do not want them touch me.

I want to say that bird phobias are real for some people altho for the life of me I can't figure it out. I have a family member (who grew up on a farm) who is deathly afraid of birds, even tiny sparrows. One time we were at an outdoor cafe & a small bird landed near her foot. She shrieked so loud people came running thinking she'd been shot or something. She says she doesn't know why or where this photbia came from.

While I do not have a fear of pigeons, the ones in St. Mark's square in Venice were just too much - and I got the heebie-jeebies watching this woman let them sit on her head and outstretched arms.

As far as strange phobias - I have an unreasonable fear of lizards, toads and frogs. Just thinking about them makes me shudder, and I can barely even look at a picture of them.

I think I was scarred for life by seeing the movie "The Birds" when I was a kid...

So far, it has not prevented me from going anywhere but I would do anything to attract them, like feeding them. I also getting the heebie jeebies watching people let the pigeons land all over them. I am happy to know that others share this affliction.

I am certainly not afraid of birds but growing up around the water in the SF Bay Area I can tell you that getting "plopped" by a seagull is an experience one can live without, LOL.

And pigeons are a pain..I too cannot understand how people can feed them and try to get them to sit all over them. Not for me thank you. I do love birds in the garden etc.

Evidently the "new" deYoung Museum in SF is now having a problem with pigeons. An interesting article in todays SF Chronical.

I wonder what effect the threat of a bird flu pandemic might have on "pigeon policies."

cmt...

...me too

I can see how a person would have fear of birds. I like them as long as they keep their distance or if they are sweet and tiny.

I hate aggressive ones that swoop at me, I guess after seeing The Birds too and knowing people who lived at Bodega Bay.

If I see them eyeing me it is like they are planning a strategy of attack! One darn bird grabbed my hair and tried to pluck some out when I was dining alfresco in Malibu. Talk about ruining a meal, I had to jump up and the chair fell over and my friend had to beat the thing away. yikes.

I get edgy at St. Marks too where the birds treat it as a free for all and get frenetic, I don't even like to think about it, after all they have the advantage of surprise attacks from the air!

Pigeons creep me out too. In Paris, they were quite obviously after our pastries every time we sat down on a bench to eat. However, my feelings changed a little when we fed one with only one foot. We named him "clubby".

Tuileries and Opera Garnier in Paris also have a lot of sparrows and pigeons and yes I too am guilty of feeding the birds. At the Tuileries I have the sparrows literally eating out of my hands.

If you ever get 'plopped' by a pigeon, just thank your lucky stars that cows don't fly.

I think "The Birds" did a great disservice to our feathered friends....kind of like the shower scene in "Psycho". I thought I'd never be comfortable in the shower again! It's quite possible that some of this bird phobia is linked to viewing "The Birds" early in life......THANK YOU, MR. HITCHCOCK.

Topping

Good point, catfancier. I identify with poor Tippy beating off the birdies as they try to pluck out her eyes (quite a visual isn't it).

I still do think of the shower scene in Psycho when I am alone in a hotel room and showering.

I think those films get into our psyche more than horror films.

I can't believe there is anyone else who has the same problem. I travel quite a bit, and it is often a difficult situation. Europe is really almost impossible. Italy is out of the question, and in Paris, the pigeons are even INSIDE the metro stations, where one would think there would be some refuge. I travel to London frequently, and lately, I have asked my doctor to prescribe tranquilizers, which have made it bearable to at least walk to the car from the museums. Places where I have been able to go without any problems include China, especially Shanghai, which has a beautiful river walk. I have been to beaches in various resorts in Mexico, and also in Tahiti, without any seagulls. Good Luck