Thursday, May 20, 2010

My Girl, Lester

Have you met my Lester?  Lester is my little mourning dove girl. We raised her from a naked, featherless nestling. We tried to be careful to preserve her "wildness," but somehow she imprinted on our dog. She now lives a dog's life.

She bathes in and drinks from the dogs' water dish. . .

She sleeps in the dog's bed:



She greets family members at the door when they arrive back home . . . how she doesn't get stepped on, I'll never know . . .

She likes potato chips on the occasion we crumple a bit for her . . .

When she feels giddy, she'll attack our toes and tickle, tease, and play . . .

She is a nosy little girl and must know all things my kids are into, especially if they are on the floor:


She hangs around the yard and expects to be let in at her pleasure:



And she feels quite entitled to my son's favorite blanket . . . her favorite, too:


She recently took up residence in a houseplant . . . laying her eggs and then sitting on them for almost 3 weeks, her personal best so far in her almost 2 year life.  I didn't get a picture as I didn't want to push my luck.  I was the only one allowed to approach her or even enter the room, so I didn't feel it was appropriate to intrude on her with a camera.  So you will have to imagine the picture of a broody mourning dove all hunkered down in a past-its-prime poinsettia plant in the window of the kids' playroom.  I would sprinkle some seed and refill the little medicine-cup water-dish each morning and each night, and she would thank me with a little hum and a nestle.  She finally gave up on her nest two days ago, and I am so happy to have her back. 

(Though not on my head! . . . which is her favorite perch . . . she knows it drives me buggy . . . teaser that she is.)

I just love that little bird.


18 comments:

td_junkie said...

What a happy looking, lucky bird.

~✽Mumsy✽~ said...

That's so unusual to have a bird for a pet-like..You have a way with critters..The birds flied when they see me.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

This is just fascinating! I had no idea that a mourning dove could be made into a pet! I loved hearing this, and what a charming bird! Lester is a good name, too. I had a great uncle named that. :-)

XO,

Sheila :-)

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

I have to ask! Is she house trained?

>^_^<

Jim said...

Amazing little dove!

LemonyRenee' said...

We named her Lester because we had assumed she was a male for some reason. By the time she revealed herself to be female, the name had stuck. Mostly, we call her, "Less."

She is not house-trained, but she is extremely easy to clean up after as her pellets and small and quite dry. Much easier than, say, a parrot or such.

Little Messy Missy said...

How sweet! I would love to have a dove...maybe one day!

Claudia said...

Oh my gosh - this is my favorite post of the day! I love mourning doves - I always have. We had many of them in our yard when we lived in California.

I had no idea you could have one in your home - but why not? You guys are great for rescuing her and raising her.

Love this.

xo
Claudia

Andrea said...

Lester is adorable!
Blessings,
andrea

Chicken Boys said...

And you worry so much about what others think? I brought home countless babies when I was a kid, as are my nephews and nieces now. Possums, squirrels, birds, rabbits. None have ever survived. And you raised a baby bird. I'd say prolly one of the hardest. Not to mention, I think a dove would be a cool pet!!
~Randy

Beansieleigh said...

Awww.. Love this post about Lester! What a sweet little bird, and member of your family! Now I'm wondering if you kept her babies?? ~tina

LemonyRenee' said...

Beans -- She's a spinster . . . no babies, just eggs. But it's good for her to follow through with sitting on the eggs in order to slow down her cycle and not become calcium deficient by laying too often.

Weza said...

Now that is just Darling.

Rose said...

Such a great story, Renee.

I guess the eggs aren't ferlize since there is no 'man' dove around, huh? LOL (I wouldn't have thought of that except I helped Jake write a book report on 'vertebrate animals' and learned more about reproduction than I ever wanted to know! LOL)

We have several doves around our house, especially in the spring. I just love their coo-ing.

Chickens in the Basement said...

You are a kindred sister! I love that you have a wild bird living with you in your home. What a smart thing she is to go outside to play and ask to be let back in. Maybe she'll meet a handsome boy dove in the yard one day and lay some fertile eggs. Won't that be a surprise!

Viki said...

Wow, she's just like a dog or cat letting you know she wants back in. Just amazing. She's really neat LOL.

Unknown said...

Renee, I just love your girl, Lester. She is one lucky bird to have adopted your family. She is a pretty little thing too.
hugs

Anonymous said...

Love Lester! How fabulous!! Thanks so much for stopping in and your sweet words about Lola Girll.. she is doing so so much better! Have a great weekend!
Smiles~
Cat

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