On November 28, 2007 my father passed away. This date is only important in as far as many believe this story has a reference to the spirit world. I'm not about to pass judgment on what others believe. You may decide for yourself.

 

On November 29, 2007, as I exited my house from the storage area a dove, a common mourning dove, startled me as I came out the door. I froze for a moment contemplating why the dove had not been startled and fly off. It was about 2' from where I was standing, apparently not as startled as I. After what seemed like several minutes, the dove did not move away, but looked at me as if it was wondering what I was about to do.  I moved away from the dove with a garden hose to clean a pail. As I finished cleaning the pail, I turned to look back and noticed the dove had followed me and was within 12" of me. I was confused as this is not the usual behavior of wild mourning doves. I then put the garden hose away, the dove carefully avoiding my movements, but not flying away. As I moved away in the opposite direction, the dove followed me. Next, I entered the storage area, leaving the door open, to get some crackers, thinking that perhaps the dove would eat crackers. (They don't.)  As I came down from the upper floor, the dove had entered the storage area. It followed me into the storage area, another unusual behavior. I then exited the storage area and the dove followed me out.

 

Over the course of several days, I noticed the dove was hanging around the house and when I came into its view, it did not fly away. I ignored the behavior at first thinking it was just a bird that had no fear of humans or me. As I got used to this dove hanging around, it would come towards me if it saw me outside and walk right up to me, within inches.

 

After a week of this behavior, I thought it might be fun to see if this bird would eat out of my hand. I purchased some bird seed and the next time I saw it, I would put some seed in my hand and show it to the bird. The dove came over to my hand and started eating.

 

It has now been three months and the dove has been here everyday except for a few days where we did not notice if he was around. The dove is a male mourning dove that we have determined after doing some research on the Internet.

 

Toni and I now feed the dove, which we have named Danny, sometimes as much as two or three times a day. Danny will fly to my arm or hand and feed, then, without leaving my hand will settle in for a roost. Doves like to sit and digest their food after they have eaten.

 

One day while sitting on a lounge chair at the pool, Danny decided to come and visit me. He found an opening in the fence and walked over to the lounge chair. He then flew up to the chair near my feet. Then he walked over to where he could hop up to a table next to me. Then he hopped up to my arm that I had resting on the arm rest of the lounge chair. He then proceeded to roost on my arm at the elbow. He sat there for about 1/2 hour after which time I needed to get out of the sun. He hopped off my arm, as I sat up, and on to the table.

 

Here Danny was frightened by Toni moving too quickly. Danny doesn't like to be touched or like rapid hand movement. He flew up to my head and started to preen me. What a riot.  He has flown from the ground or from a higher structure to my shoulder on several occasions. If Toni or I are outside and we don't notice he is around, he will coo to us, then as we turn to him, he trots over to where we are standing. Many times he will appear and then follow me to where I get seed so he can eat from my hand.

 

Toni and I are just amazed at this bird's behavior and that he chose to visit us.

 

Update: Danny was not seen for a day. Today, March 22nd, I noticed Danny sitting on a pile of wood underneath the house. He flew to my shoulder. When I got some seed for him, I noticed that his left wing had been damaged. I assume by a cat. Toni and I drove him to a wildlife care facility where he will get antibiotics and pain killers. He is expected to come through this just fine. We hope to see him again when he's better.

 

March 31st. Danny was at the feeder this morning. He had been released by the wildlife care facility, along with 2 other recuperated birds. He is doing fine and visits daily. He acts more like a bird now, but will still fly to our hands or shoulders when he wants to eat. It is mating season now and he seems to be more interested in other doves, even if he is eating. It's good to see him in good health and back to visit with us.

 

Click on the pictures to see the full size.

 

This is a true story about a Lonesome Dove