Australian King Parrots
Lesser Jardines
Senegals
Red Bellied
Moustache Parakeets
Green Cheek Conure Mutations
Peachface Lovebirds
Scarlet Chested Parakeet
Painted Conures
Military Macaw
I saved the dove from being killed by ants when she was tiny, just getting feathers. I wanted to let her stay outside, but I couldn't let her be killed like that. I have saved and raised other birds also. She is happy, three years old and spoiled rotten. Can't be released, too tame. Sally
Australian King Parrots
Lesser Jardines
Senegals
Red Bellied
Moustache Parakeets
Green Cheek Conure Mutations
Peachface Lovebirds
Scarlet Chested Parakeet
Painted Conures
Military Macaw
Sally,
Your dove caught my eye as I raised on this year. She fell from a nest an was impaled by a twig in her neck.
She healed fine and I hand fed her till she was mature and weaned. I released her even though she was tame. Every day she returned to her outdoor cage for the night and to eat. When she would see me in the garden she would land on my head and if I called her she would come home immediately.
I have a large dove population that frequents my property and she would integrate herself with them but never really join them.
One day another lone dove caught her fancy and she started to go off with him regularly still coming home at night.
Eventually she would only come home to eat but not longer to roost at night.
And when the Winter became more seasonal, she stopped coming all together.
I still have my doves that come to the garden and I believe she is amongst them. Only now she has returned to her natural home.
I named her Mary Tess.
Glad you saved that dove. It is funny. You are not really supposed to keep them, BUT hunters can SHOOT THEM. Humm. Makes no sense. Well, I my little dove is very happy and cared for. She gets to fly and eats all the best food. That is better than being eaten by ants! I think lots of people save them. I read a dove forum and lots of people find and help them. We have lots of doves in our yard, all kinds. Every spring I just HOPE that no babies will fall! It is a lot of work to raise them. I just WISH that they built better nests! Sally This is a funny tag I just made... ha.