Fear of birds

Birds, especially pigeons, are a common object of phobic fears. People with severe phobias about birds may find themselves confined to their homes, scarcely daring to open a window or a door in case a bird should swoop down.As with other phobias, it is important to establish what exactly triggers the feelings of fear. With birds it may be the fluttering wings, the way they move, the way pigeons in particular walk fearlessly towards people, hoping for food. It may be the texture of feathers, or the fear of disease, or indeed any combination of these.

Once this is clear in your mind, you need to work out what you are capable of bearing now, and what you would like to be able to do in the future. A gradual series of self-exposure steps can then be put together, like this one for someone with severe pigeon phobia:

Step 1: Draw a small rough pigeon shape on a piece of paper.
Step 2: Work up to the biggest and most accurate version you can manage.
Step 3: Look at black and white photos of pigeons.
Step 4: Look at colour photos.
Step 5: Look at pigeons through a closed window (if they do not come to your garden, or if you do not have a garden, get someone to drive you to a place where they congregate).
Step 6: Then partly open the window and watch them. Open more and
more, etc.
Step 7: Look at them through an open doorway.
Step 8: Move further out from the door, then further, etc.
Step 9: Click here