YONAH•Mourning Dove•Journal

NOVEMBER 2020

Sunday 01 November:
Ms. Dove was so precious today. She was in her nest most of the day and when I put more food in for her, a little while later I noticed she'd eaten. She KNOWS when I put food in there! I feel bad that I didn't let her out during the day. MUST let her get out and about more. Maybe it'll help her. She probably DOES need the exercise. I just wish she'd take good flight. I won't mind if she travels about the house. It would do my heart and soul a LOT of good if she would.
There's snow in the forecast for Monday night and Tuesday during the day and again later in the week. The “cold” is coming. I did see 2 other mourning doves out there this after-noon but if Ms. isn't flying, it's no good sending her out there. She's “earth-bound” at present and if it snows, she'll be on the ground... to freeze to death. I couldn't stand the heart-ache of thinking of that happening to her. I know this house is too dry for her. And when the furnace is running, there'll be even less humidity. I'll have to figure a “bath” of some kind for her too. I've been thinking of trying the kitchen basin. I'd like to get a “sprayer” for the occasion, one of the “old fashioned” sort that we used to have in The Bronx. It would give her a nice little “shower” to play in. I've seen parrots and other “domestic” birds, in videos, on-line, in kitchen basins and even in tubs. Well, it gives me more to ponder, more to do, more to provide. This is all such a learning experience... for BOTH of us, I'm sure.

Monday 02 November: NAME DAY! “Jonah” or, rather, “YONAH” it is! AND I'VE ORDERED HER A NEW *HOME*! PetCo. A “Finch Habitat”. It's taller, wider, a “legitimate”, actual little “home”! And it should be here by Wednesday! YONAH has a NAME AND A HOME!
Well? No more “Little D” or “Ms. Dove”...
I was up almost through the night, lost in “research”, as I do these days. And as I scoured the Internet for ANY information I could possibly find, the snow fell out-side... and not just on the mountains any longer, this time, it's falling in the lower regions... on the house and on the grass out-side... and it's accumulating! “Winter” is coming to settle. But as I went to bed this morning, in my heart, I knew that the little one, the little “Life” in the next room, is and will be, protected from the cold through the coming months. She's safe and so very Loved.
In my research, I learnt that, in the wild, a mourning dove's life expectancy is about 1,5 years, due to predators, for the most part, but that she can possibly be with me any-where between 1,5 and 20 years! (I wonder if I'll be around for 20 years... doubtful as that is.) And, apparently, doves “make good pets”. (I'll NEVER think of this one as a “pet”... she's more a “companion”, now, a “house-mate”, a most-cherished “Family”, but NEVER a “pet”, no matter HOW long she's with me! She's wild, and, no matter how she might adapt to the house-life, she will remain, in my mind and heart... WILD.) I saw a video of what appears to be a young girl who'd put a “Pyrex” pie plate on the floor (beige carpeting, very nice and clean) with a bit of water in it and “her” little one went for a splash. And according to the “Dove Association” (or of similar nomenclature) they, doves, prefer bathing in a sprinkle of water or those dust baths”. Well, I HAVE ordered the “sprinkler” attachment for the kitchen tap (due, they claim, to be delivered on Friday). Tomorrow is week 3 of our “situation together” here. A few more days isn't much to wait through.
Mean-while, in my “research”, I discovered that the word for “dove”, in Hebrew, is “Yonah”, which is, in English, “Jonah”! But, as a noun, “yonah” is feminine! SO... since we're going to be together for some months to come, I refuse to refer to her as some sort of “entity”; she's an individual, a LIFE, and as such, she deserves the respect of a proper name. (And “Little D” just ain't it either.) Hence-forth, she is “Yonah”! And today is her “Name Day”. There! Settled!
I'll have to “jot” some of the “items of interest” I've found about “Mourning Doves” in particular. Apparently, they're STEEPED in lore and “mysteries”. “Visiting souls”, messengers of good and great “change” to come, bringers of “peace and tranquility”, and... “escorts of souls”... I wonder which she is. According to lore and legends, it's quite the honour when a Mourning Dove comes into one's life. Indeed, my honour is the privilege to be able to provide a safe haven for her, out of the winds and cold and snows, especially of this morning, and more mornings (and nights) to come. Mourning doves are quite RICH in “mysticism”, Bible and such. harbingers of support, faith, strength, “moving on”, hope, peace, resolutions... So I do wonder if Ms. has come to accompany me at some point or to tell that I shouldn't be concerned about “departing” too soon. “Message from beyond”...”We're here when you get here”? Or... “It's not your time yet!” So MUCH! My only major concern now is that I must hold on and hold out (with my own health situation) until such time when she's well enough to be on her own again. I most seriously doubt that there's ANY-one about who wouldn't simply toss her out the door... in my absence. When I think: She struggled to crack through the shell, struggled to grow in a nest, waiting to be fed and attended... finally got her wings and took off to meet Mr. Dove. No doubt, she's got off-spring out there some-where (who never came to visit). Had she not come to me, she'd have been attacked, left under the porch where “Life” would have been taken from her or some-thing, some-where else would have “done her in”... and... no “possessions” to speak of... she never existed... and as for both of us... absolutely nothing in the world changes.
I've been thinking that I might like to get more of that “mesh” that I'm using for her little “enclosure” and some lumber... MAKE her a personally-designed place to call her own. I'll have to work on a design. (I was actually doing just that as I lad in bed this morning, when I first woke.) She SO deserves a proper place of residence... be it for a couple of weeks, months... what-ever the time. And I feel I “owe” her now... She “came into my life” but I brought her into my house. Must provide the best for the house-guest! Although, I HAVE ORDERED AN ACTUAL “CAGE” FOR HER THIS MORNING. Something called a “Finch Habitat”. It's MUCH higher and longer than where she is now. It'll give her more space to stretch her wings, places to “perch” instead of being confined to the “floor”. Comes with perches and the little “dishes” for food and water... a “proper house”. I THOUGHT I could find something suitable in a 20$ range... HAH! But this was only 43$, delivered. And it should arrive Wednesday! Now to make a place for it, for Yonah... for... YONAH! We'll be together, it seems, for a few months! I want to make a little “plaque” with Yona's name on it for her new place. I have some cuts from some cedar shakes. I'll use them.
In other news, her left wing is looking quite nice today and her left foot/leg appears to be improved as well. There's “Hope” in each and every day. SHE'S SOME KIND OF MIRACLE! AND, THIS AFTER-NOON, I BROUGHT HER, IN THE CAGE, INTO THE LIVING-ROOM AS I WORKED ON some sewing. I put her on the “shelf” by the futon, at the living-room window and she got up, ate, strolled about and seemed happy to be with me. And we listened to “Schlagersahne” together! I can't wait for when it'll be easier to get her in and out of the cage! Time together! What a complete delight! But... I REALLY DO WANT TO SEE YONAH FLYING AGAIN... STRONG, FREE, ABLE TO FEND FOR HER-SELF. Maybe she'll find another mate... or... maybe she'd find her old one. Though they say they “mate for the duration”... of their season. No doubt, she'd find another, a new “beau” come the next Spring. Well... at hopefully she'll be able to do just that... come the Spring. And she'll give birth to new little ones, and be able now, to impart her experience here. Maybe she'll some-how tell them of some strange being who took her in as she convalesced, made sure she was warm, clean, fed, given care and love. But she'll be able to impart her wisdom of how to avoid being injured! Oh... maybe. But mean-while... Ms. Yonah will have a nice place in which to rest, heal, recover. And I'll see to that.
(Addendum: End of day and I checked the “status” of Yonah's new place... DUE TO ARRIVE TOMORROW!!! WOO-HOO-HEY! It's like getting a new house or flat! But MY excitement is because SHE'LL HAVE MORE SPACE and a legitimate place to call her “house”... if not her “home”! Even if it is until Spring.)

Tuesday 03 November:
Well, we had an “accumulation” of snow over-night. I got up this morning, put the kettle on, made coffee, got dressed and served breakfast to Ms. Yonah and headed out to clear the snows away. It's “pretty”, I have to admit, but here it is... “Winter” is moving in and settling. The day temperatures won't rise much above the night temperatures. And Ms. Yonah's house actually went out for delivery THIS MORNING! I'm amazed! And YES... TONIGHT, YONAH IS IN HER NEW HOUSE! IT ARRIVED AT ABOUT 17.20 THIS EVENING AS I WAS HAVING MY “DAILY MEAL”. I RECEIVED IT, FINISHED EATING AND GOT RIGHT TO ASSEMBLING IT! WITH A BIT OF A “RUN THROUGH THE KITCHEN” WHEN I TRIED TO GET HER OUT OF THAT HORRID LITTLE “CAGE” SHE'S BEEN IN, SHE WENT RIGHT IN TO THE NEW PLACE AND TO THE CUTTING OF A LIMB THAT SHE HAD, ONE WITH A BIT OF “TWIG” THAT EXTENDS OUT OF IT WHERE SHE COULD PERCH, AND SO, SHE “PERCHED” FOR THE LONGEST WHILE. SHE HAS HER NEW “HOME” NOW! IT'S “HERS”! I'D SO LOVE TO BE ABLE TO HOLD HER, CLOSE, TO SOME-HOW LET HER KNOW, IN SOME WAY, THAT SHE'S SAFE HERE. BUT SEEING HER PERCH AND THEN GO TO SETTLE IN HER LITTLE NEST SOME-HOW GIVES ME THE STRENGTH AND DETERMINATION TO MAKE SURE SHE'LL BE WELL ENOUGH TO TAKE FREE FLIGHT COME THE BETTER WEATHER, TO RETURN TO HER LIFE. THE NEW HOME LOOKS SO MUCH NICER. IT'S HIGHER FOR HER TO SPREAD AND EXERCISE HER WINGS. AND IT'S EASIER TO GET HER OUT OF, SO SHE CAN HAVE RUN OF THE HOUSE TO GET ABOUT. THERE'S SO MUCH FOOD AND WATER FOR HER NOW THAT I DON'T HAVE TO “WORRY” ABOUT HER NOURISHMENT NEEDS. IT WAS A BIT OF AN INVESTMENT... BUT EVEN IF I HAVE TO FORFEIT MY FOOD AND SUCH... IT'S ALL SO VERY MUCH WORTH IT! SHE'S SO PRECIOUS!

Wednesday 04 November:

I DID manage to make a little “name plaque” for Yonah today. It does look quite cute. her name, in Hebrew, with a little silhouette of a dove. Fit's quite nicely at “her front door”. And as for her “progress”... well... it appears her wing is improving but her leg is “off” again today. She's not standing on it, after having “perched” last night. I wonder what happened. But she DOES have MUCH more room to extend her wings, and she does seem to enjoy being able to go to two different places, from her nest to the little “perch” and such. And she HAS discovered the new food dish. Hopefully she'll do like-wise with the water. And she does appear to be in “good spirits”. I was going to leave the little door open today and see if she decides to “take flight”, but with that leg, I don't want her making any hard landings on it. It'll be 4 weeks next week. Then we'll see what she's capable of. If she's well enough to fly about the house, I'm perfectly fine with that. We shall see. I'll also have to get out and see about finding more “nesting” materials as the snows recede for a little while. I STILL can't remember where I'd see that “soft” grass. Seems it was along the road-side and I won't... WON'T put that ANY-where near Yonah! So much road dust, and now, road salt. Well, a little “adventure” in store... and ALL so worth it! Especially now... that Yonah has an actual “HOUSE”! (I'm almost giddy with delight and so happy that I can get all this for her... Nothing is “too much”!)

Thursday 05 November:

I've been reading so much about foods for birds (on-line, of course, and from as many different sites as possible, never taking only one for the absolute truth) and there's rather a great deal mentioned about fruits and greens for birds. SO... off I went to the market for apples, carrots and romaine which I brought back and chopped ever-so finely (because doves don't “chew” or remove hulls... they swallow their seeds whole). I put a bit of the “mixture” onto the top of a yoghurt container so that it was most easy to get to. Well, she DID come over and look at it but it doesn't seem to make “sense” to her. Of course not! Out in the wild, there's no “finely-chopped apples, carrots and greens”! But I left it there for her for the over-night. We'll see what's what in the morning. If she DOES enjoy it, there's always plenty more for her. If not? Well, we just have to keep trying to see what she DOES enjoy. Meanwhile, I've ordered a “special” sort of seed mix, something called “Healthy Select” for finches and other birds. It seems to have a variety of foods in it, including fruits and vegetables. Rather costly, but considerably less than a comparable sort at the local hardware store. I don't care about the cost. I CARE that she mends over the next few Winter months and will be able to fly, free, again, come the Spring!
Well, day's end and Yonah was “stirring” a bit earlier, but she's been quiet, other-wise, settled-in for another night. WHAT a sweetest heart!

Friday 06 November;
All said for today, it was a “calm” day with Yonah. She's notably calm here. I'm not sure if it's her injuries, that she feels ill or that she actually understands that she's really quite safe here and that I wouldn't even think about doing ANYTHING, in ANY way, to cause her ANY trauma or injury. But I didn't spend much time with her today, admittedly, because, honestly, although I DO have such a LOVE for her, I don't want her to become “comfortable” with and around people. “Naturally speaking”, people are NOT her best friends and I don't want her developing ANY trust in people... when she's back with the flock, trust in humans could only result in... horrors. Still, for the while she's in the house, in my “life”, I am honoured. We'll see this through together... no matter what.

Saturday 07 November:
Today I've set-up an “account” with PetCo because they seem to have much larger selection and variety of necessities than the other places I searched through for all sorts of “necessities” for Yonah. (And Yonah's new “house” came from them and the delivery was astonishing, as was the condition and quality so, for the most part, PetCo is is!)
Yonah was out of her “house” for a bit of a “run about” today. OH SHE'S HYSTERICALLY FUNNY! I'd put the cage on the floor, opened the door and left the room. Moments later, I went to check on her and she was OUT and BEHIND the cage, just standing there, either confused about the surroundings or tired from the adventure. So I left her as she was, to “adjust” to her “new perspective” on her surroundings and I went to the living-room to attend to my own “chores” (hoping she'd get curious enough and come exploring and finding me). Ah well then... moments later, when she didn't come looking for me or to explore the rest of the house, I went back into her room to check... I COULDN'T FIND HER ANY-WHERE! IT WAS AS IF SHE'D SIMPLY VANISHED! I had the front and back doors open but the screens on the latch. No windows open.... but she was no-where to be seen! So I started moving things about in her room. Suddenly.... FLUTTER PANIC FLUTTER WHOOSH! SHE'D GONE INTO THE BAG OF RIVER GRASSES that I have stored for her nesting material, and she was all nestled in there! I couldn't see her, of course, because her colours are almost identical to the grass, but the moment I touched the bag it was PANIC! I laughed and she took off across the floor, RUNNING! to the back door. I let her be a while and then decided to bring her back to her cage before she injured her-self flying into doors and walls (as she'd done before when she took to the wing... poor little one). Ah... MORE PANIC FOR THE MOST PART UNTIL... AT THE BACK DOOR, I CROUCHED-DOWN AND PUT MY HANDS OUT TO HER... SHE HOPPED ONTO MY HAND AND “PERCHED” ON MY FINGERS! AND THERE SHE RESTED... FOR A BIT. I MANAGED TO WALK TO THE LIVING-ROOM WITH HER THAT WAY AND SHE MOVED ONTO MY ARM AND THERE, SHE SEEMED QUITE COMFY! SHE'S SLOWLY ADJUSTING TO ME! IT WAS SO PRECIOUS! But... when I got her back into her room, she was quite ready to “go home” Hopped into her cage and went for her nest. Amen. And there she remained... “safe at home”.
Today, the cage needs a thorough cleaning. It's gotten the “daily” changes of paper, water and food though so it's not really “dirty”. I don't let it get to that point. But the new food comes Monday... I'll let her out whilst I clean thoroughly then... and we'll give the new food and “grit” a try. The food has more nutrients than the “wild bird seed” and the grit will help with her digestion and it provides necessary calcium too.

Sunday 08 November:

The “Yonah” news is actually what's become “another day”. She passed a chilly day “at home, resting” after the morning “changes” of paper, food and water. I can't help but think of it as “convalescing”, and I'm at peace knowing that she's so well-protected, with the ability for her little body to heal, as it will, as it must, with no need to be constantly aware of potential harm or any disturbances at all. I checked on her regularly, to make sure that she was doing well, but I keep my presence limited to “necessary” because I'm always aware that she needn't become “accustomed to human presence”. Yes, I would certainly love for her to come to trust me, but the fact remains that, when she's back in her own environment, humans will NOT be-friend her so I don't want her to lose the distrust and mistrust in humans. Still, she's a blessing to me and this is the highest privilege I could ever be so bestowed with: to be of assistance to this most precious little life. And, all said, “another day” comes to a close... in a house FULL of just wonderful Love and amazement (especially for me).

Monday 09 November:
This morning, I brought my sewing work into Yonah's room to sit, quietly, with her. I'd found some recordings of mourning doves on the Internet which I down-loaded and put into a “Play-list” on the iPod, so we sat together, listening to them play. It was fascinating to see her “react” to them. Most of them played with-out any sort of response, but now and again, one dove would coo and Yonah would raise her head, as if looking for the source! It was both precious and heart-breaking to see. Heart-breaking because it's only a recording and I know she doesn't know or understand “recordings”. There's nobody here for her... only the “calling”. But I want her to have some sense of not being completely so “alone” here, with just me as her company. I'll be looking for more recordings to add to the little list and will be playing them more often.
Her new “special healthy” food and grit arrived today! So I let her out in the living-room where there's much more space for her and fewer pieces of furniture and such that she might injure herself on. Whilst she was out, I gave her “house” (the new cage) a REALLY THOROUGH cleaning. Her food now is a “half-and-half” mix of the regular “wild bird” seed that she's been accustomed to from her days out-doors and the new mix. I don't know that she'll like the new mix, and I want to make sure that she eats enough to keep healthy, so I'm “introducing” her to the new. Hopefully she'll eat both and I'll just stick to the mixture from now on. The new mix is “vitamin and mineral fortified” and now, more than ever, she needs all the nourishment she can get... for the duration of her time here. And, with that, I put her grit in a little “dish” on the side, and, of course, her little dish of fresh water. (I'm still rather amazed that she “knows” where to go for her food, water and the grit. Doves “forage” about the ground, for the most part, but she's found the dishes as if she's known “dishes” all along. She's BRILLIANT!) And, of course, today, fresh grasses for her nest, which she uses, even though doves don't make nests of grass. Apparently, I'm doing quite well, relying almost purely on my own “instincts”. She appears quite cozy when she's in the nest and it gives some support to her wings when she's in it and that's quite important as her left wing heals. Getting her back into her house was the usual “run, chase, dodge...” It's humourous, in a way, as she “toddles” at high-speed... HIGH speed! But I keep pursuit EVER-SO calmly, talking softly, telling her that it's all “OK” and that I'm not here to cause her any harm. I know she doesn't understand my words, but I'm hoping the sound of my voice is calming... as much as a human voice can be.
Well, she headed for the back door again and I managed to pick her up there and carry her back “home” where, when we got close enough, she hopped in and went directly to her nest.
Sadly, at one point, in the kitchen, she tried to take flight... at full speed... 85km/h! Thankfully, there isn't enough space for her to reach “max speed” but she still managed to crash into the wall. THANKFULLY no injuries! No bleeding! Poor little dear. But I see that the injured wing does manage to give her some flying abilities. Now I hope that soon, it will be back to where it ought to be. (I notice that it doesn't lay on her body like the right wing does. I wonder if it's a “sprain” or a dislocation. I HOPE it's not broken and that it won't heal improperly. But HOPE is the best I can do now. I keep thinking that, if she'd been left out to “heal” on her own, “Nature” wouldn't have “bandaged” so, at this juncture, “Nature” is her “doctor”... I'm just her “attending Nurse”. Hopefully, together, we'll manage for the best for her.)
She seems to be moulting too! There are feathers all over the place! Not to the point where she has any “bald spots”. What-ever is falling out is being replaced. I checked, on-line of course, several different sites, and I see that doves do moult in Autumn so apparently, she's just doing what she does... I hope... again... HOPE! AND I HOPE she didn't re-injure her wing with the flying about. But she appears to be FINE!
The major problem I have now is that recommendations are to put her in the sun for a minimum of 15 minutes a day! I'd have to put her, in the cage, out in the yard, some-where. She IS in a sun-drenched window. In fact, she's in the window that gets the most sun-shine. But putting her out... there's so little space in this yard to begin with AND the days are cold now... the change of temperature from in-to-out-side is striking. I'll just work on her “location” in her room and make sure she gets maximum sun-light of a day... of course, we're gong into Winter where the days are so short anyway, but, we'll do the best possible.
Another interesting point: mourning doves tend to need about “14 hours” of “night” and rest. So I'll be MUCH quieter in the evenings. But how convenient: she has her own room with her own door so, even though I don't like the idea of closing a door on her, at least she has her own space in the house and closing the door to her room isn't “closing her out” or “locking her in”. And from now on, I won't keep an artificial light on later into the evening. We're going on to the “Natural Clock”.
As always, I also hope she's comfy in her new surroundings... well, as comfy as is possible. At least here, though she's away from her peers, she's also away from predators, and in a place that's quite warm and out of the rains. It's all I can offer, and she's so much more than welcome to it all... AND SO MUCH MORE!

Tuesday 10 November:
Today was quite a “good day”. I've situated Yonah's place where it will be in as much sun-shine as possible and she passed as much time as a “Winter” day will provide, basking. And she's looking quite well today, especially after her “outing” yesterday. But, sadly, today was the “last of the beautiful days” that we've had and, from the forecast I see we're heading into those “late Autumn” days of clouds and chills. The doors were open today though, probably for the last time for many (too many) months to come.
She seems to be enjoying the new food and there's a good supply on-hand for her, and the grit too... calcium for her little bones. The sweetest-heart.
She had a bit to eat and drink before turning-in for the night as the sun dropped off behind the hills to the West.
Yonah is well.. and as long as she's well... the world is well.

Wednesday 11 November:
The most important “news” of the day is... I SAW Yonah actually “flying” a bit in her new house today! She's giving those wings a work-out! The sad note is that, as she lifted the left wing, I actually got to see that it's pretty-badly injured, particularly at the lower edge. It's “healed”, not open or raw, nor is it “red”, but there's scarring, and THAT doesn't look “happy” in any sense. On the other hand... or in this case, foot, her left leg is doing SO MUCH BETTER... AND... she's eating the new food and grit! Good nourishment! Now, the hope of healing... proper healing so she'll be able to return to her “real home” come the better weather.

Thursday 12 November:
Yonah and I had a wonderful little “chat session” this morning. I brought a chair to sit beside her cage, and just spoke with her. Most of all, I'd like her to become accustomed to my voice, and I speak softly with her, knowing she doesn't understand what I'm saying, but hoping she can “sense” a bit of “calm” and “assurance” in the tone of my voice.
She's looking so well. And tomorrow it will be an entire month that she's been here. Her leg is so much improved. I never would have expected that! To think I was wondering if it would need to be amputated! Just goes to show: the stupidity of human-kind. She's now walking and bouncing about on it and standing quite well. She stretches her wings, though the left one still doesn't “set” quite “right”. Hopefully, that too, will heal properly over time. I'd VERY MUCH LOVE to see her take flight in the warm, Spring air, to be re-united with her own. As I'm thinking of it... November to March... hopefully. By March, she should be in grand shape, ready to take to the air. My hope, wish, dream, desire.
Meanwhile, the days grow quite chilly “out there” and still “dreary”. But we sit together quite often of late, often in silence. But we're “company” for one-another.
During the day, she was SO CUTE! I sat with her, minding my mending and sewing and she was all over her “house”... and PREENING! SO PRECIOUS! It was almost as if she was happy to have the company! Not “nervous”... actually happy!
The under-side of her left wing looks a bit “rough”... she raises it from time-to-time and I can see that there's something “wrong”. I just HOPE the damage isn't permanent! And she's eating the new food, except the “fruit and veggie” bits. Well, I suppose that's almost to be expected, since it's not something she's gotten in the wild. But she's eating the grit so she's getting needed calcium, more vitamins than she'd get in the wild, and minerals. Building strength! I'm glad for that.
She'll need another house-keeping come the week-end. I SURELY don't mind. She's eating. Her little bowels are moving well and the “results” appear to be “healthy”.
Precious... PRECIOUS LITTLE LOVE!

Friday 13 November: YONAH HAS BEEN HERE A MONTH TODAY
Last night, I got caught-up in more “research” until about 23.30! (Some might call this an “obsession” but I just consider it an “absolute necessity” and one I do with Love and delight.)
I'm now to understand that mourning doves mate from February to October, so her “season” is now done, for several months. BUT... the mated couple actually NEST TOGETHER... THEY SLEEP TOGETHER AT NIGHT. The male usually perches on a limb and the female, especially if there are eggs, in the nest. Other-wise, they'll simply nest together. POOR YONAH! HERE, ALONE... with just me... who feels other-wise useless, inferior, almost ineffectual. AND THEY'RE KNOWN TO MOURN THE LOSS OF A MATE! SHE'S ALONE NOW, AND IT BREAKS MY HEART! HOW-EVER, ON ONE “FORUM”/SITE, THERE WERE MANY COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE ABOUT HOW MUCH THE LOVE THEIR MOURNING DOVES AND ONE FELLOW ACTUALLY POSTED THAT HE'D BROUGHT AN INJURED ONE IN, WAS “ATTENDING” TO HE INJURIES AND WOULD BE SETTING THE LITTLE ONE FREE... “WHEN THE WARMER WEATHER CAME ROUND AGAIN”!!! Sadly, there are no follow-ups or any really pertinent information, suggestions, recommendations, &c. on these sites. But there was also mention of mourning doves being seen, in the North, in Winter, with frost-bite and missing toes! Apparently, the migration “format” is that the youngest will leave first, then the females, and then the males, but MANY males will remain through the Winter perhaps holding claim to their “mating ground”, and they'll stay, in spite of the bitter cold and the resulting injuries! AND, I'm to understand, that mourning doves are “Federally protected” and, that, for NO reason/excuse, is it permissible to “keep” one UNLESS one obtains a “special permit” which involves some sort of “training” or another, to prove that one knows what to do with the bird! The fines for violations are up-wards of 20-25000$! Yeah? Well... considering that the information that I received from “Eric the bird-people”, that “they won't take a dove” AND that the closest “avian vet” is in VT more than some 200km away... AND, that in spite of the “Federal protection” and that according to that “protection”, morning doves are a “popular sport shoot”... to Hell with them all. Ms. Yonah will remain here, protected and cared for and about and LOVED until such time as weather presents NO “frost-bite” threats to her AND she's able to fend by way of proper flight. I've NO tolerance for all of this utter stupidity. I DO understand that it DOES protect them, to an extent. And I'm certainly willing to “take their courses” and such (the education would do me some good, I should think... to an extent). But if I can't find a place where it's possible, and I keep seeing improvements here, well, they'll have to break into the house and forcibly remove her... and they won't do so with-out quite the impressive battle.
And so, that said... in other “news”... she truly IS improving. She “showed” me her wing today. It's looking like it's healing quite well. It's not “perfect”, but there's no “complications” like infections or the likes. And today is one month... sadly, there are at least four more until better weather. But this one passed quickly (for me, anyway). Hopefully we'll both mange to pull through the rest. I'll miss her terribly when she goes, but... “out there” is her natural home and she deserves to be there.
The “bad news” of the day... She was out and about this morning, as I did her “house-keeping” and she took-off in flight... RIGHT INTO THE WINDOW IN HER ROOM! SHE WAS UNDER THE DESK WHEN I GOT TO HER TO HELP HER BACK INTO HER HOUSE AND THERE WAS BLOOD ON THE CURTAINS!!! NO OBVIOUS SIGN OF INJURIES, BUT, BLOOD ON THE CURTAINS! NOT A LOT, JUST A FEW SMALL STAINS. BUT ANY BLOOD HURTS ME. SHE APPEARS TO BE “CALM” THOUGH, BUT MY HEART IS IN MY THROAT! I CAN'T BEAR THE THE THOUGHT OF HER SUFFERING ANY MORE! IT GNAWS AT MY SOUL! I DIDN'T BRING HER IN HERE TO BLEED! I WANT TO SEE HER THROUGH THE BITTER COLD OF WINTER AND OFF TO FLYING FREE IN THE WARMTH OF SPRING! I'M CURSING ANY-THING, NATURAL AND OTHER-WISE, THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS DELICATE, BEAUTIFUL LIFE IN THIS HOUSE AND MISERY! Yeah, I understand the old “Life isn't 'fair'.” and I'm not really sure WHO is being cursed here: her with the injuries or me with the pain-of-soul. But, no matter the course, WE, SHE AND I, WILL SEE THIS THROUGH, TOGETHER AND SHE'LL REMAIN PROTECTED... AND LOVED... NO MATTER WHAT! Today we had another “hard frost” and the temperature was 1°. Meanwhile, Yonah is here, with a radiator in her room to maintain warmth for her, there's more than plenty of food and water for her, she's welcome to come and go as she can. Yes, we'll see this through together!

Saturday 14 November:
YONAH ACTUALLY COO'ED WHILST I WAS IN THE ROOM WITH HER TODAY!!!
I admit, that to others, this might seem like something quite trivial, but, for a month now, she hasn't made a sound when I'm in the room with her. I'm taking this as a sign that she's growing “comfortable” with my presence and it was the sweetest sound to my heart and soul. She's eating and preening whilst I'm there too. “Normal” activities, as if my presence is of no importance. I'm not a “predator”, a potential “threat” now.
And last night, to the best of my knowledge, she “slept”, perched on the limb in her cage. “Normal” habits.
I'm still a wreck though, because it hurts me to my core to know that she may have hurt herself in her short attempts at flight. She's survived being attacked, her leg and wing damaged, injured. I'm sure she's survived other disasters, on-soughts and the likes. But the thought that she's been injured under my “care” is, to me, for me, unforgivable... of me. And I can't help but think that I may have interceded and intercepted some “natural event” by having brought her in and saved her. But she's here and I WANT her to be well, and flying freely again, to either re-find her mate or find a new one, and get back out there where she'll be able to “cuddle”, as they do, together with him. As for the rest of “Creation”... to Hell with that. This here and now is what *I* want for HER. (And if that makes me “certifiably nuts”, so be it.)
I keep the house warm now, much warmer than I would were I here alone. All the information that I've seen thus far, calls for “warmth” for recovery... a “40-watt light bulb” they say. So I keep the house warm, especially after the recent collision with the window.
I spend a sun-lit morning together with her, in her room, listening to “Classical” and Baroque” music. She seems to truly enjoy “Dvorak”! “Song For The Moon! She perked right up when that played AND she even coo'ed!!! AND SHE'S EATING WELL... AND “POOPING” QUITE FINE, NO MORE “GREEN”, “WATERY” MOVEMENTS THAT WERE THE CASE FOR THE FIRST FEW DAYS. And I see no visible signs of injuries today. (Before I went to sleep last night, in the next room, I placed my hand against the wall, and I BEGGED that ALL of her injuries be healed. Perhaps my plea was answered? I can't see HER suffering when I can express mind and figure out what to do about it. Were I of a mind, I could get to hospital, near-by, BUT THE NEAREST VET FOR HER IS SOME 200-PLUS KM AWAY WHICH WOULD MEAN PUTTING HER INTO A BOX OR SOME SORT OF “CARRIER”, IN THE TRUCK, AND WE'D HAVE TO ROLL THERE AND BACK... IN ADDITION TO THE TRAUMA OF HER INJURIES! TERRIBLE! I WON'T EXACERBATE HER SUFFERING THAT WAY! ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING THERE AND BEING TOLD “WE DON'T TREAT DOVES” OR “WE DON'T TREAT WILD BIRDS” OR THE LIKES. NO, WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER. IT'S UP TO ME, ALONE, AND I'M ACCEPTING THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND WILL DO MY VERY BEST BY AND FOR HER, AND I'LL HOPE THAT I'LL BE “GUIDED”... SOME-HOW.)
And so, today, as I sat with her, attending to my own “chores”, quietly, SHE ACTUALLY ARE, WITH ME SITTING RIGHT THERE, BESIDE HER LITTLE HOUSE! AND, WHEN SHE'D DONE EATING, EVER SO QUIETLY, SHE COO'ED!!! WE'D BEEN TOGETHER ALL DAY AS I WORKED IN THE ROOM. I'D BEEN PLAYING THE “CLASSICAL/BAROQUE” MUSIC AS I WORKED. SHE OBVIOUSLY LIKED “DVORAK: SONG FOR THE MOON”! BUT THERE WE WERE, ALL DAY, TOGETHER. SHE WAS VERY CALM ALL DAY, BUT EATING AND COO'ING! THAT JUST SHOES ME THAT SHE'S “ADJUSTING AND “ADAPTING” TO MY PRESENCE. AND YES, IT DID BRING BE TO TEARS! WHAT AN HONOUR PRIVILEGE, BLESSING! I MUST BE DOING SOME GOOD!
For now, she's on her perch, the house is nicely warm for her... Blessed Little Life that she is. There are “wind warnings” e-mails from the power company for the evening The “COLD” is coming, and Yonah will be kept warm, and sage... no matter what comes at us.

Sunday 15 November:
Over-cast “Northern” skies today... BUT YONAH IS “PASSING” UNDIGESTED SEEDS!!! THE CORNER WHERE HE PERCHES AT NIGHT HAS MANY LITTLE “MOVEMENTS” OF UNDIGESTED SEEDS! AND SHE WAS RATHER “LETHARGIC” THIS MORNING! THE “LIQUID” PART OF HER “STOOL” IS “BROWN”!!! I LOOKED IT UP AND THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF POSSIBLE “CAUSES”, OF WHICH STATE TO “BRING HER TO A VET IMMEDIATELY”! 200KM AWAY? I'M NOW WORRIED, CONCERNED AND ANGRY-AS-ALL-HELL! NO “AVIAN” VETS CLOSER THAN 200km AWAY?!? AND THE “IF IT WERE A....” SOME FORT OF LARGE BIRD OF PREY AND THE LIKES... WHAT?!?!? I FEEL SO “ALONE” NOW, NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO AND FACING THE MOMENT WHEN SHE'LL BE DEAD! THE “DEAD” DOESN'T OTHER ME AS MUCH AS THE “SUFFERING BEFORE! I'D PLANNED ON SPENDING MUCH TIME WITH HER, WORKING TOGETHER BEING TOGETHER AND NOW I'M TORN BETWEEN LEAVING HER TO BE TO “HEAL” AND BEING WITH HER SO AS OT TO “ABANDON” HER!!! LIFE... IT'S BECOMING OPPRESSIVE!!! AND I FEEL SO USELESS, HAVING, REALLY, NO CHOICE BUT “WAIT AND SEE”. THIS IS OPPRESSIVELY “HEAVY”, TO HEART AND SOUL!
I've changed her food back to the original... just the “wild song-bird” seed that she was eating before, and I've changed her drinking water, cleaning the little dish, rinsing even MORE than I usually do (to make SURE that there's NO detergent residue on it). And the little portable radiator is now on in her room to make SURE it stays warm in there!!! The thermometer is in there too and registering at 23°.
(Later in the day)
14.11 JUST CHECKED-IN WITH Ms. YONAH AND... SHE'S EATEN! NOW... LET'S HOPE SHE DIGESTS! AND IT'S 23° IN HER ROOM. NOT THE “RECOMMENDED” 32, BUT SHE'S NOT ALL PUFFED AND IT IS MUCH BETTER FOR HER, I'M SURE! (I have such HOPE!)
16.52 YONAH IS EATING! I JUST CHECKED AND SHE'S POOPING “REGULAR”!!! NO SEEDS! AND... WITH THE RADIATOR HAVING BEEN SET AT “5” OF A POSSIBLE “6” (what-ever that means), THE TEMPERATURE IN HER ROOM WAS UP TO 29°!!!! WOW! (I'VE RE-SET TO “3” TO TRY THAT FOR A WHILE.) HER “FACE” LOOKS A BIT “PALE” THOUGH. I CAN'T QUITE FIGURE THAT OUT. I MEAN... FEATHERS SHOULDN'T “FADE” THAT QUICKLY. IT MIGHT BE THE LIGHT. I HAVE THE “DESK LIGHT” ON FOR HER. WAS LOOKING INTO IT AND GIVING THEM MORE LIGHT IS RECOMMENDED. OK. FINE! IF IT KEEPS HER HEALTHY. OH, AND I DUMPED THE “NEW” FOOD INTO THE BACK FEEDER AND PUT IN THE “WILD” SEED SHE'D BEEN EATING. LET'S SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT. MEAN-WHILE, I'M QUITE THRILLED TO SEE HER ON HER PERCH, HAVING EATEN AND SHITTING “NORMAL” AGAIN! Well, another day has come to a close... Yonah appears to be on her perch, in a room that's amazingly warm. The rest of the house is comfy. But all the write-ups said to keep her warm, and so she is. It's raining now, but there's a threat of some snow over-night so she's got the heat and I'm glad for it. Honestly, I dread her not making it through Winter. The very thought of her dying here, in the cage... it's gnawing at me. I SO want to see her flying freely, off to her mates and such, in grand weather, off through the trees. And I have to wonder: If there's some sort of a “benevolent” some-what-ever, is having to see her suffer so in order to torture me for some more reasons? And denying me the simple joy of seeing her flying away... more of “lifes” BS? I keep trying to remind my-self, as “Tom Ballard” (“Waiting For God”) said this evening: “We're born, we mate, we produce those who are to replace us, and we die.” Well, it's true... though some, as Tom accused Diana of, skip the the 2 parts in the middle. BUT... the fact is, ALL are born and eventually, ALL die... some leaving many years of joy... and others rejoicing in the ending of the misery. I'll just continue hoping Yonah gets better. Tomorrow, I'll head out and get a glass pie plate or some sort of dish for her to bathe in. Maybe that'll help. Her feathers are starting to look a bit “ragged” at the edges. I'm not going to dare a trip to the sink right now. So maybe a little “dip”. Maybe I can get a dish for her cage for now. I'll have to look.

Monday 16 November:
Couldn't sleep last night. Was up until past mid-night, and up and out of bed by 7.30 this morning.
BUT THIS MORNING, YONAH APPEARED TO BE OK! NO “PASSED SEEDS”!!! AND HER ROOM WAS, AS IT STAYS, “COZY-TOASTY” WARM AND IT WILL REMAIN SO (especially with the forecast of -12° to come)! WHEN SHE'S OK, THE REST OF “LIFE” IS OK. AND THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT ALL!
I DID manage to get to the store today and got a glass pie plate that fits into her house. SHE CAN SPLASH IN THE WATER (IF SHE TAKES A LIKING TO DO SO). MAYBE, IF SHE'S WELL TOMORROW, I'LL WARM HER ROOM MORE-SO AND SEE IF SHE WANTS TO GIVE IT A TRY. I HOPE SHE'LL ENJOY IT. SWEETEST LITTLE BUNDLE OF LOVE!
I'd gone out later this morning and didn't get back until about 17.00 this evening and there she was. It was rather funny; the paper towels in the centre of her her house were all out of place. It looked like she was annoyed that I wasn't there! So I changed them for fresh and all the while, she just watched, from her perch, calmly. Looks like, not only is she used to my arms and hands in there, she almost expects them and some-how knows that I'm “in there” to make things comfy for her. We're “adapting” to one-another.
One note: I have to wonder if it doesn't bother her when the “trash” next door gets to banging about as they do from time-to-time. She has no way of knowing why it's happening and sometimes there's a rather loud “boom”... I know it takes me by surprise and it's annoying. I wonder if it doesn't frighten her. There's actually no excuse or reason for such behaviour in a house, but, if it's to continue, we'll move to some-where where we don't have to put up with it. I do NOT want her upset in ANY way and if moving is what it takes? Well then... we're packed. Off and away we go!

Tuesday 17 November:
Another wonderful day, most of which, was passed sitting, calmly and quietly, with Yonah. I continue to “chat” with her, softly, hoping that it's assuring and equally calming to her. Just trying to get her used to my presence and my voice. But I did put her little “bath dish” in, with a bit of water. It's in the corner, out of her way, so she has space to move about with-out accidentally “dropping in”. She watched me so carefully, as I put it in and then moved about all over the place. Something “different” in her “environment” and then, for the most part, “confined” to an opposite corner. I don't believe she knows what it is or what to do with/about it. It's much larger than her drinking dish, and the dish is clear, the water is still. Well? We can only wait and see. I left it in there for a while, but she stayed away from it for so long so, after a few hours, I took it back out. I'll try it again tomorrow. I don't want it in there over-night if it causes her any trepidation.
Other-wise, she appears to be doing very well today. I'll have to depend on “trial and error” when it comes to making her most comfortable. I keep looking on-line for any and every bit of information on mourning doves, their habits, likes, dislikes. But the more I search, the more “alone” in this. It's a rather “empty” sort of feeling, but the more I search, and the more time I spend with Yonah, the stronger my determination to help her in every possible way with the hope that I'll make the right decisions and choices and that nothing I do will be perceived as “dangerous” to her. Maybe one of these days she'll “understand” how much LOVE she has in this house... with this “human”.

Wednesday 18 November:
WELL! It was quite the “seasonably COLD” day today.
I put Yonah's little “pool” back in today to see her reaction. Today, it doesn't seem to “bother” her so I'm thinking I'll just leave it in there. Surely she'd enjoy a good “splash” in some fresh water. Her little feet are so dry and since she doesn't fly about, there's no telling what her little body is like under all those feathers. And her room is now kept quite warm and I'm sure it's dry. So, I'll leave the “pool” there for her... just in case she'd like a “bath”.
HER WING LOOKS SO MUCH IMPROVED! IF NOT FOR THE BITTER COLD, I'D'VE RELEASED HER TODAY. BUT I WILL NOT PUT HER OUT THERE IN THIS COLD... AND TONIGHT IS SUPPOSED TO BE -10! SO... NOPE... YES, IT'S PROBABLY SELFISH OF ME, TO A POINT, BUT IT'S ONLY GOING ON 5 WEEKS... AND SHE TOOK THAT SLAM JUST LAST WEEK. THERE'S TIME. AT LEAST SHE'S EATING AND POOPING NORMALLY SO... ! Other-wise, I spent several hours with her again today as I did more of my own chores that didn't require a lot of moving about.
DISCOVERED HER BLEEDING INJURY.... HER LEFT WING! AT THE JOINT! SHE OPENED THE WOUND WITH HER HYSTERICS WHEN I REMOVED THE “BATH”, WHICH SHE DIDN'T USE AGAIN, TODAY. AH... SO I'M GOING TO LEAVE HER BE TONIGHT... NO LIGHTS. LET HER REST. AND I CHANGED THE PAPER UNDER HER “PERCH”. SHE'S EATING AND POOPING WELL SO... BEST LEAVE WELL-ENOUGH ALONE.

Thursday 19 November:
Yonah had a “Good Day” today, Her wing is looking well too. Poor baby. I wish I could let her out and about but if she take flight again... the walls... the windows... I do NOT want ANY more injuries, no matter how trivial they might be! NONE! I have to figure something out here, how to keep her away from the “hazards” of “in-door flight”. (To be honest, I've even considered putting all sorts of “netting” about the place, away from walls, something on a “temporary” basis for when she's out. Looks like I'm approaching “insanity” on this, but the fact of the matter is: NOTHING is “insane” nor “too much nor too little” when it comes to Yonah and her recovery!)
Tomorrow is “house-keeping” when paper and all sorts of things get changed, cleaned, freshened. That's always an “adventure”, especially seeing Yonah's reaction. Sometimes she just “steps aside”... other times, she makes a fuss.
The sun poured in through her windows today! It was so delightful to see. And I added a new “limb” to her house (which confused her terribly, I fear... it's in the corner, over her “perch” and she just stood there, staring, but wouldn't go near it nor her perch). If it doesn't “work out”, I'll remove it with tomorrow's house-keeping. I'm just trying to keep the place “moving” a bit to avoid her getting bored. I'm terrified of that! I know parrots will self-harm and doves, well, they're “flocking” birds. Yonah should be with more doves! Her “house” (cage) is quite lovely, new, clean, relatively large (though certainly NOT “large enough” I wouldn't say), she's always got food and water, but she's in a “cage”, no matter what I call it. So, if I can “change” things now and again, it gives her something “different” to see, and limbs are some place different to perch on... different perspective of her surroundings.
And I'll soon need more “nesting” for her... perhaps another stroll along the river to come (before the river turns to ice and the grasses are covered in frozen snows.)
But, all said, she's doing quite well, all aspects of the situation considered, and every day, for me, is another day closer to (hopefully) when she'll be back... flying, soaring with her flock! How my heart HOPES!

Friday 20 November:
We got the house-keeping done today! And I put a large bit of card-board under the “house” for even more stability. New nesting. And today, we're trying a new “menu”: the “PetCo” seeds with the “wild” seed. A touch of “diversity” to the menu along with “diversity” of surroundings... with-in some reason. I mean, I don't want her to think she has no “stability”, that I'll just keep re-arranging things on a constant basis. After all, there might be some comfort in going to sleep at night knowing where everything is and waking to it the next morning. If she should wake during the night and go looking for something like a snack... well, it does no good for her to stumble on things or worse, get her leg or wing caught in something because I'd re-arranged.

She got fresh nesting too. I took a walk through the woods today and found an abundance of grasses that I've been gathering at the river. Sadly, it's that same stiff, something similar to a “saw grass”. But nesting is set for a while longer now. I do my best to keep that fresh.
And so, as the day comes to a close, she's on her “perch” and ready for another night of safe, protected and warm sleep. Blessed, sweet little Love.

Saturday 21 November:
Today, I mixed a bit more of the “new” seed in with Yonah's “regular diet” since the “new” had veggies and other things that she ought to be getting (or so it's said), but she's pooping “green” again. I recall having read that “green” is “normal”. But this is a bit more “liquid” than usual. Not completely, but more-so than before. I'll have to look into it more (not that there's an over-abundance of information available). Sometimes I get to believing that tending mourning doves is absolutely un-heard of! Never mind that I keep going back to “the bird people” and what was, to me, horrific apathy.
Tonight, when I put her light out so she could get her sleep, I thought of how I'm feeling exceptionally sorry for her, being in there, in her own room, alone. he should be with her friends... down South some-where. But then again, if she were out there, she might have been hit by a vehicle, shot for “sport”, torn to shreds by an owl... Now, here she is, able to rest with-out a care about predators or the cold. So, maybe her life actually is a bit better. Well, all considered, she's able to recover, convalesce, in peace and comfort. I suppose there's that “good”.
She was a bit on the “feisty” side today though. With all her bouncing about, she'd tipped the little dish of grit and when I looked-in to check on her before putting the light out, she was staring out the side of the cage... her little nest in quite the shambles. I HOPE she'd not going sitr-crazy in there. Tomorrow, I'll “tidy” her place a bit and hopefully there'll be enough sun and I'll put some water in for her to splash about if she takes the notion.(This morning, when I looked-in on her, the thermometer in her room read 39°! BUT... in all fairness, it was in direct sun-light so... When I moved it, it went down to 25° and I did leave her radiator on. So we shall see what tomorrow brings... for both of us.
My “life” really isn't much different from hers: she's in her cage and this house becomes my cage as the weather gets colder. So I suppose I might be a little more sensitive to “stir-crazy”... me... “cabin fever”... her... “cage fever”? No matter. Keeping her happy keeps me happy so I hope it all keeps her happy as well... all I can do is “try”.

Sunday 22 November:
Today, I tried something “new” again, on the “menu”... peanut-butter on a small piece of home-made bread. Peanuts are part of the “wild bird” mix and I've seen that they're “preferred” and are a part of a “healthy” diet. Well? Obviously, not in this house-hold. Yonah was not impressed. It sat there, un-touched, for the entire day, so, at day's close, it went out to the yard for the birds in the yard. We live, we try, we learn. On to the next item, what-ever that might be.
Spent more “quality time” with Yonah today, after house-keeping which was the usual “excitement” of the day. She tends to be “all over the place” as I “work” in her house, but she's not as “bangy”, running away, trying to “hide” in corners. And when all the “chaos” of me poking about HER space, as it were, we sat for a “chat”. She was quite calm as I spoke to her, quietly, just “chatting” about nothing in particular. She preened (though I'm hoping she's not “itchy”.. I'd really like to see her bathe, get a bit of “moisture”, a bit of cleaning of the feathers). I consider it an “honour” that she's comfortable enough with my presence that she can attend to her own ablutions and not feel she needs to focus on me, watching my every move. At one point, she SHOCKED ME... AS I SPOKE, SHE YAWNED!!! It was actually quite cute! Almost as if I was boring her! But again, I'm so thrilled that she was comfortable enough to do that! AND... as I spoke, quietly, she actually closed her eyes for a moment! AGAIN, she obviously doesn't feel the need to keep an eye on me! MAYBE she's getting to where she MIGHT trust that I'm NOT going to cause her any harm? I can only HOPE! And indeed, I DO HOPE! But it took me bu such a surprise... It was heart-warming. Instead of her usual pacing, she perched, preened, looked directly at me and... YAWNED!
Today was also another “lesson” in my never-ending, ever-on-going education: “UV lights”. I've learnt that she needs UV light, from the sun, just as people do, to produce necessary vitamin D. I want to make sure she lacks nothing, so I considered getting a special bulb and fixture for her and wanted to see which was “BEST”... nothing less will do. Well, it appears those “bulbs” are relatively useless because they do NOT “duplicate” “natural light”. I have to find a way to get her out into the sun when-ever possible. UVB, the important UV, doesn't penetrate glass! And that's what she needs for her vitamin D! Not sure how I'll be able to do that, with the cold weather ahead AND the absence of sun through the foreseeable future. Ah... “Winter”. But we'll think of some-thing. I'm becoming quite “learnéd” on the subject of doves... I just hope... with ALL my heart and being, that she pulls through the Winter and I can watch her FLY off to find her friends, come the warmer weather!

Monday 23 November:
There wasn't much sun-shine today... “Winter”, but I make sure her curtains are open through the day (I close them at night primarily as insulation against any cold that might get into the room) and, thankfully, I can move her “house” to follow what-ever light comes into the room.
Thinking that she doesn't take advantage of the “pool” (the pie dish of water) because the glass is transparent and too, the sill water, I tried putting one of those “styros” from market meat (OBSESSIVELY WASHED AND RINSED, of course) in for her with a bit of water in it. She obviously avoided going near it. Perhaps because it's “foreign”? Maybe the colour is “wrong”? What-ever the case, there's another “trial and error”. But we keep thinking...
And I did get a bit more grass into the corner where her “nest” is. “Attached” it to the side-bars, “standing” up-right, so now it resembles a nest in the “under-brush”. More “out-doorsy”, as it were. I'll have to get out and get even more grass, though what might be out there will soon be completely inaccessible, covered in snow and ice.
One major concern: she tried pecking at the grass and it's stiff, hard, and it IS a “saw grass” of sorts. After she'd chewed a bit on a blade, her little beak kept moving as if she may have “scratched” her tongue! I KNOW there's a softer grass out there, some-where! I need to get out for a while and find it (but we've already gotten so much snow... but surely there'll be a “thaw”... I'll persevere).
All told for the day, other-wise, she's REALLY doing quite well and seems to be comfortable and healing, convalescing well. And THAT, after all, is ALL that really matters.

Tuesday 24 November:
New addition to the menu today: EGG! Looking into “dietary needs”, the yolk of a hard-boiled egg is highly recommended as a good source of vitamin D! SO... of course, I hard-boiled a few eggs (for Yonah and for me), and when cooled, I took the tines of a fork and “crumbled” half a yolk into one of her little dishes and mixed it with some of her seeds to make it “attractive”. Seems she enjoys it so there will be MORE to follow, indeed!
The thought of giving egg to a bird seemed a bit “horrific”, equal to giving beef to a cow. But, as I was reminded as I read through several different sites of information, birds, in the wild, WILL eat the eggs of other birds AND they ARE a good source of protein and other essentials. I wouldn't DREAM of offering her chicken, of course, but, since she obviously enjoys egg, so be it. It's now part of the “regular” menu, at least once weekly (as suggested).
It was a “mild” day, as November days go, and this after-noon... I was looking out the kitchen window to see a MOURNING DOVE on the pavement, scratching about. MY HEART TURNED TO A LEADEN STONE! When we, people, think that our lives are so difficult, so hard, so harsh... there, in the cold, these little ones are, especially here, in The North Country, out there, needing to forage for the basic essentials of food and water, and then come the nights, cold winds, ice, snow, harsh, hard and they're IN it, no “central heating” and only what-ever protection they can find. Then too, I keep wondering about “mates”... which of the mourning doves out there are Yonah's flock? Which one is her mate? Are they both “mourning” the loss of the other? Am I to blame or to be commended for saving Yonah, so that she can return to them? I never stop thinking about it.
And so, I tried putting the “pool” back today because I saw Yonah splashing about in her drinking-water dish, splashing water with her beak, dunking her face into the water. But again, she shied away from the dish so... I'll just keep trying. And we did “house-keeping”, as we do regularly so that she's in a clean environment. A new “limb” again, replacing one that she doesn't seem to use. Thankfully, I have quite an abundance of those here, with the limbs that fall from the trees. It's a trail of “girth”, really, trying to see which one(s) she's most comfortable perching on. I'm learning... always.
BUT MY HEART IS SO HEAVY, MY MIND, SO UNDECIED! JANUARY AND FEBRUARY ARE COMING... BITTER COLD, SNOW, ICE... HER “FLOCK” ARE PROBABLY, FOR THE MOST PART, GONE. AND THE THOUGHT OF HER OUT THERE, ALONE... HAVING TO FEND AGAINST THAT BITTER COLD... ALONE... BUT, THERE ARE OTHER MOURNING DOVES ABOUT. I JUST DON'T KNOW... I JUST DON'T KNOW... We hear of “messages”... in dreams and such. WHY CAN'T I GET ONE? Though, last night, Gina did say she too, thinks it best to give Yonah more time to “heal”. Well... a little more time... and HOPE. BUT MY HEART IS SO HEAVY... MY MIND, SO UN-CERTAIN! Honestly... truly... truthfully... Yonah is the ONLY bit of “Life” that keeps me here... keeps me “going”... She's such a blessing, an honour, a privilege.
Tomorrow's temperatures are expected to be -7 with a “chill” of -12°. So fo rnow, I AM glad that Ms. Yonah is in the house! I keep thinking of where to set her free though... pondering the open meadow area across the road, going up into the mountains. There, if she's at all un-sure on the sing, I could bring her back and then keep going over there until she's “good to go”... She'll have been here, in the house, 5 months by then. Yes it breaks my heart to think of being with-out her but... “out there” is where she was conceived, born, meant to be and “out there” is where her friends, her flocks, her mates are. Keeping her here, simply for my own enjoyment would be nothing but vile, cruel. For now, though, she has protection against the cold, the elements, plenty of food and water... and LOVE.

Wednesday 25 November:
More “new” on the “menu” today: Romaine, broccoli. I “shaved” the greenest little bits off the crowns of the broccoli into a little dish since they'll go “stale” quicker than the seeds. Broccoli is one of the “vitamin D” (and other vitamins and minerals) listed highly on the recommendations I'm finding for “proper diet and nutrition”. The romaine was also listed and it's said that doves will “peck” at greens. In fact, one suggestion is to “sprout” their bird seed! So I've put the “heart” of the romaine (the cleanest part, I would suspect) into a baby-food jar (since Yonah obviously does NOT like baby food veggies and fruits, no matter how they're served) with a bit of water in the bottom to keep it “fresh”. It's like a little plant in there and she can peck at it (or not, as she chooses) when/if she wants. What she does eat, we'll add to the “regular menu”. What-ever she rejects, well... again... trial and error, live and learn.
One thing I'm noticing is that she becomes “animated” when I'm in the room. It appears that she DOES enjoy the company. I try to keep the “visits” as calm as possible so that she doesn't get too excited or animated. I do NOT want her re-re-injured because of wing-flapping and bouncing about and fluttering. (And, always, of course, I don't want her to become TOO comfortable around “people”... for obvious reasons... People, “out there”, are NOT, for the most part, her friends and I want her to maintain her distrust for them for when she's returned to her flocks and natural environment.)

Thursday 26 November:

It's been another early-Winter rainy day today, for the most part. We did have about an hour of “sun”... just before it set, of course.
I've read, often, that birds “live in a world of sounds”, many different sounds, and that “silence” is usually equated with some sort of danger, so I try to keep some “sound” in the room for Yonah. Today's “selection” was a collection of “Enya”, softer music, and, well, let's face it, “sound”... not much in the way of “lyrics”. Yonah does seem calmer when there's some kind of “music” playing. I'll have to bring the little radio back out and try to find a station that isn't all that “rap” and other “bang-bang-boom-boom” BS.
Other-wise, she's doing well, I'm doing well, WE're doing well and it's been another early-Winter day... and she remains safe and warm... and LOVED!

Friday 27 November:
OK... So it's come to... I suppose it must have been about 1.00 this morning when I decided to take the sleeping bag, the futon pillows and one bed pillow and “camp” in with Yonah. Why? Not sure. I just felt that I wanted to be in the room with her through the night. And so I did... slept on the floor. Odd? Perhaps. But that's what I did. And this morning, at 7.00, she woke me with her “activities”. So now I know what time she wakes in the morning.
I put her “pool” back in today, to give it another try. And she DOES like the broccoli! So I made sure to put more there for her! I'm GLAD she likes it. Variety in the diet AND the much-needed vitamins! She had a day of “varied” music, nothing loud, nothing too “kicky”.
Her left wing is “drooping” a bit more again today. It looks as if she's hurt it some-how. Nothing obvious. No blood to be seen. (I keep a careful eye for drops and having the white kitchen roll on the floor of her house is most helpful that way.) I'd love to take her out of the “cage” and into the rest of the house but, if there's any sort of injury to that wing, well... I don't know... I just don't know. One day... one day.... one day... But for now, she's under no “obligation” to take flight, she can do that as she pleases. There's nothing here that means her any harm.

Saturday 28 November:
Today was thorough house-keeping and Yonah was MUCH calmer about it all today. She's REALLY adapting and adjusting to the “intrusion”. And she seems to appreciate it... a clean house. She settles right in when it's all done. (I have to laugh when I think... and I do say “You won't be getting room service when you go back to the flock! And don't expect the “husband” to do it! Husbands don't do house-work. She just stares at me when I say it. I almost fear she's becoming a “Diva”! But... I surely don't mind.) More music today and she seems to be much calmer when it's played during the day, quietly, softly, in the “back-ground”.
Oh, and she's DEVOURING the broccoli! So that's now a “constant” on the “market list”. (No, to get her to bathe... Next great adventure?)

Sunday 29 November:
Aside from the now-daily light house-keeping, I moved one of the “perches” into the cornrer where Yonah's nest is and tonight, as we settle-down at day's end, she's perched on it. I've read that mourning doves sleep “perched”, as opposed to in a nest (unless they're raising kids) so it looks like this new perch is the one for “sleep time” now.
SHE'S ACTUALLY “FLYING” NOW! AND HER WINGS ARE MAKING THAT LITTLE “CHIRP” THEY MAKE AGAIN!!! SHE'S RECOVERING SO WONDERFULLY! IT TRULY IS AMAZING!!! Now, I'm thinking I'll get a spray bottle and figure a way she can have a “shower”. She MUST miss an occasional shower, and with the windows closed, the radiator going, it MUST be so dry for her!
AND... AND... WHEN I TALK TO HER NOW, SHE'LL REST ON HER PERCH AND STARE DIRECTLY AT ME! IT JUST MELTS MY HEART! I'd love to have her rest on my shoulder, or be able to see her fly about the house, but I don't want her getting too comfortable around people. It won't be in her best interest to trust people when she's back out with her “folks” (flocks?). Still, it's a highest compliment that she's growing to trust me. AND I couldn't be happier or more humbled that she's doing so well! Now, I'm anxious for the Winter to be over with! I SO want to see her take flight and join the others!
It's gone a touch “chilly” tonight. Tuesday is expected to be another 10° with sun... but after that... -10° at nights to come. And it's only just heading to December... We have January and February to get through... March and April too, for that matter, of course, but I keep thinking of February as the worst. I'll hope (SO MUCH) for an early Spring to come... not for me but for Yonah... before she gets TOO adjusted to “cage life” and “people”

Monday 30 November:
Precious, precious, MOST precious little Yonah.
Today was particularly “heavy” on my heart: there's one mourning dove that comes to the back walk daily, to eat the seeds that I put out for them, just the one, alone, frequently, and all I keep wondering is “Is this her mate? Does he keep coming back to the place where I found her, injured, looking to see if she's still here or if she's returned, perhaps looking for him?” I can't even find words to explain or describe the pain, the physical pain in my heart when I think about it. And I keep thinking of the time when Yonah will be back out there, and wondering if they'll find each-other again, and what the reunion will be like. How I WISH this Winter would pass! I won't “put her out” in this cold! I'm terrified of the very notion of her being cold... especially since she's been in the house, with the warmth and protection, the radiator, a relatively constant warmth... she hasn't had the opportunity to “adjust” to the sub-freezing temperatures of the nights now. So... I've created a situation where-by, putting her out would be, all too simply, just cruel, an almost-certain death and NO, I WILL NOT do that!
I spent more time with her today, just so that she's got company of some kind, to know that she's not “abandoned” left alone here, in this strange place. She does appear to appreciate the company so I make sure to be there, at times, during the day, to talk, sing along with her music, to give her attention. I know what “solitude” is like and though appreciated more often than not, I know it can become oppressive at moments and I do NOT want Yonah to EVER feel that! As I say, she appears to like the company, and I have NO reason why I can't give her time during the course of a day. I'm in her debt now and gladly, I give her all that I have to give. And today, she was even a bit “kinder” when I visited. So, here we are and here we will stay... until the days grow brighter, the nights are warmer. (She's a “blessing”, a delight, an honour, a privilege.)