Feathers' Friends
On this page you may read about the other birds who live with Feathers and her providers. I hope to add some more pictures to this page in the not too distant future...

OLIVE
joined our flock in the spring of 1997 when Feathers and her providers decided that she needed some avian comanionship. Neither willing to insight any pigeon hen rivalries nor be knee deep in rock doves we elected for another female of different but related sub-species. After four months of government red tape Feathers' provider had two new government issue permits to hang on his wall and a lot of paper work to fill out and feathers had a new friend, Olive, a female mourning dove. Olive was aquired from a wonderful dove breeder (referral upon request). We quickly learned that Olive was "mentally challenged". She had a terrible propensity to fly into ceilings and walls. Lots of patience, several trips to the avain vet, and any number of close calls, and Olive is now a lovely, friendly dove, who just happens to need to be watched very closely.

FANWING
, so named for the beautiful fan like pattern on the back of her wings when they are extended, landed, literally, on our doorstep this past summer ('98). She was severely malnourished, diseased and covered with city filth - to the extent that we wondered if we would merely be providing her with a peaceful place to spend her final hours on earth, as we have done for a variety of mortally injured wildlife. Well, this story had a happy ending/beginning and Fanwing is now a happy, plump, curious young pigeon. (She was about 5 months old when she found us.) She has become Feathers' best avian friend. They perch together and have interminable cooing conversations about matters of inordinate consequence to pigeonkind. We are happy to report that Fanwing has begun to lay eggs - a sure sign of contentment and good health for female pigeons.

HANSEL
and GRETEL are mentioned in the same paragraph as they are inseperable. They are a mated pair of ringneck doves who came to us this summer ('98). Rescued from conditions under which doves should never be kept, they have flourished in our aviary amidst their friends. Gretel is a home body type - she likes to stay home and lay eggs. She's had several clutches of dainty cream colored dove eggs which have hitherto been infertile - only a matter of time I suppose. Hansel is a proud bird... he exudes "machismo" defending Gretel against hypothetical enemies and continually courting her with knightly ardor. One cannot help but admire this little dove's courage as he has not let a permanently injured leg and ensuing limp dampen his spirits.

NOAH
is a male all white ringneck dove (your standard Christmas card dove). Similarly rescued from unsuitable conditions, he has become the jester of the aviary - hopping around lauging his ringneck laugh (they really do make a sound much akin to laughing), jumping from perch to perch. His pure white plumage is striking againt the tans, grays, and blacks of the other doves. Noah is perhaps the most curious of our birds, forever looking for some new adventure.

AMOS
joined the family this Fall ('98). A statuesque male mourning dove, he has made Olive into a new hen. They took to each other almost immediately and appear to have bonded. Anyone who knew Olive before cannot believe the change in her since Amos arrived on the scene. Amos now regularly adds his voice to the growing chorus of cooing which fills our house. (There is no other sound quite like that of the male mourning dove). I do not pretend to be an expert in columbiforme social structure, but it appears that Amos and Olive have "adopted" Noah so that the three of them form a social unit.


Last updated 7. January, 1999