Sunday, August 21, 2011

A Little Brown Dove (Laughing Dove)

During September last year there was a strange visitor at home, a Viper, and we had to struggle hard to get it rescued. Fortunately there was a pleasant surprise few days back. Now there was a winged visitor.  A little brown dove, also known as Laughing Dove (Stigmatopelia senegalensis), flew in and refused to leave our home. Normally I used to spread some rice grains on the boundary wall and keep  water in a pot hanging by the branch of a Night flowering Jasmine tree (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis) also known as Parijat or Harsingar locally. Due to disturbances in the family after the demise of my wife, the practice of keeping feed for the birds could not be attended to.
. 




I have very many times observed a pair of the little doves flying around. On that particular day, a bag of rice was brought home and placed in a corner. It occurred to me that perhaps the dove has come in search of food or may be to complain that I am not keeping the feed for them outside.  Although I loved its intrusion, I was trying to drive it out lest it gets caught by the moving ceiling fans and injures itself. My fears really came true and it fell on the rice bag. We could easily catch it although it tried to escape by occupying its position on the curtain rods at home.We examined it and found that there were no external wounds, may be internally it could have been hurt some where. We released it in the garden and gave some water in a bowl.  it sat there for few minutes and then flew away. 


This incident was haunting me perpetually and I was always in the look out of this pair in our vicinity.  Now I am happy that they have been spotted and they are on their rounds. I am envious of my neighbour as the pair of the little brown doves have started building a nest in his house, that too adjacent to the electricity meter.

19 comments:

  1. So very kind of you to look after the dove! Once a sparrow child came into my house and I took case of it for many days but unfortunately it could not survive... I still rue the fact that I could not save it...

    ReplyDelete
  2. That was very humane of you, Sir, and good photos too.

    Read your comments on my posts. I'd love to meet you. As I am at present at Alleppey, I will be home during weekends and holidays. Presently, I am home on leave due to viral fever. My phone no. is 94475 87368. Do get in touch with me whenever you feel like it. I am staying at the YMCA in Alleppey.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very interesting and a great gesture. Nice to read your post. I am also from Pallakad and settled in Mumbai for a very long time. Do visit Kerala regularly. If time permits, do visit my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nice to know that you take so much care of birds .. hope next year they will have their nest in your home (maybe you need to remove fan for time being :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi P.N.!
    Amazing shots!!
    Have a wonderful week ahead!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Interesting intrusion.. Well captured..PNS!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very nice to read how to rescued the bird, it is natural to be worried about their safety, and it definitely brings us joy to know that they are finally safe.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am very much fond of birds. I had 3 little parrots and 2 Java birds. Its rare to see brown dove. Looks very sweet and you have taken marvellous shot. Very nice description and I enjoyed reading your post.
    You are welcome at my new post-
    http://urmi-z-unique.blogspot.com
    http://amazing-shot.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. not a very good idea allowing them to nest near the jumble of wires and the meter...

    ReplyDelete
  10. I envy you for having such a beautiful visitor. The pictures are so captivating. The pair is close by you can always watch them.

    ReplyDelete
  11. cool post ! Informative as well. Lovely pics.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hello PNS,

    Lovely photos and back ground information about the dove. Fortunately it did get badly hurt. It is a good idea to keep some grain and water to attract the birds. But in my place if I do this the crows will come immediately and eat up the grains and you know the kind of loud noise the crows are capable of making.We have some doves close by but so far none of them have entered any one's house.

    Best wishes,
    Joseph

    ReplyDelete
  13. Very beautiful picture ...
    Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is so kind of you to take care of such beautiful creatures !! Great !!

    Padharo Rajasthan

    ReplyDelete
  15. This made such an interesting read.How thoughtful of you .We call them 'KOPO SORAI'in our local language .We used to have a pair visiting us every year but have not seen them around for the last two years.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Good one sir. ANd in punjabi we call them Ghughi ..

    The sound they make is so sweet and especially I miss them here living in UK.. dont get ot hear that many birds ..

    Bikram's

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi,

    I was just trying to see if my blog post on the laughing dove was anywhere to be found on a google search and happened to visit your site. I liked your blog; I think probably mine is also on similar lines, I like to talk about birds a lot too.
    If you could find a few minutes, please visit my blog and give me a feedback/any advice too. I feel a bit confused about continuing to write on my blog, I don't know how long it takes to get visitors!
    Sorry to hear about your wife's demise. My condolences, although the statement may sound empty. I am really happy to see that you are writing/ I mean doing something after that too.. Great going.

    Here's my blog: http://liveinsidemybrain.blogspot.in/2013

    ReplyDelete