They Were Born with Wings

 

Tundra Swans. They carry the sky on their backs.

Mourning Doves.  Their feathers are bright but their songs are sad.

Northern Shoveler.  Proud and determined.

Female Common Goldeneye is landing.  

Generally, life is good!

Mourning Dove in the Late Afternoon

I try to recall how many times I saw a Mourning Dove over the years and can count only two. But a few days ago he was sitting on the barbed wire by the road for a few seconds.  Sometimes those seconds are like eternity...

Mourning Dove

 I saw a Mourning Dove only three times. First time in June, 2018 at Farmington Bay.

While driving along the bay I spotted on a long branch a bird I have never met and found it incredibly beautiful.

June, 2018. My neighborhood. Two Mourning Doves graced us with their presence and stayed for a while close to our home.

First time I listened to their call I was surprised how sad it was . The call is slow, owl like oowoo-woo-woo-wee. It resembles mourning.

April, 2019. Farmington Bay.  The background wasn't great when I took this picture but I was so excited to get close to this bird and watch it for a while.

Mourning Doves are surprisingly long-lived; some can survive in the wild over ten 10 years. These birds are monogamous but only during the breeding season. 

The Mourning Doves need a lot of water, especially when feeding young.  Pioneers when they saw these birds knew that soon they would find water nearby.

Mourning Dove

I begin to believe that some birds like to be photographed. They even sometimes pose in front of my camera. Seriously!

That is only the beginning. His wings are beautiful and strong and he lets me see every single feather.  

Then he slowly stretches his one leg and I can't take my eyes away. Beautiful, elegant and so well balanced bird. No clumsiness only steadiness.  I wish I would have these qualities. 

By the way, this bird got his/her name because of his singing. It's a long call filled with incredible sadness.