SEPTEMBER 2022
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Thursday 01 September:
September already... the Summer is just about gone over the horizon, and this morning, the gentle reminder with a bit of a chill in the air... just a little "nudge" to remind: tonight the temperature is expected to leave the "double-digits"... 9° for the low. The first "single-digit" night after so many warm, or even hot nights that we've had. This came along quickly. Thankfully though, it isn't going to become "normal" just yet. We've still got a few more weeks before the "double digit" temperatures are preceded by a "minus". Still, this morning had a noticeable chill to it when, at 6.35...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... came the morning call.
6.35... My Little Guy is breaking away from the pre-dawn 5 o'clock hours. Autumn definitely is on the way, and sleeping-in is settling-in as the "norm". It's fascinating now; not only does the calendar tell of the change of seasons, the skies and temperatures do too. But these days, my days of "Awe", with my little Heart-and-Soul, the movement of "time" is all the more obvious. Yonah is "Nature", he's as Creation ought to be, and with his change of sleep hours, watching his appetite increase, his feathers (waiting for a moult, as I am), and noticing all the more, the setting of the sun (and being glad that we have this "UV light" for him), "time" and "season" become more a "controlling factor" in every-day existence. And every day "existence" is, now, because of him, for me... "Life".
This morning, I called back right away and the reply to my response was an immediate "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"! Nice, clear, strong... I listen for the "quality" and the "duration" of his calls, just as I've come to learn, he listens for the same from me... and the other doves who are, mostly (sadly, in a way) out-side his window. And I wait to hear him, in the morning. The day can't "settle" until I know, with some certainty, that he's well. And this morning, my assurance was spot-on especially when I got into his room, opened the door to his house, leaned in for our "Good morning kisses" which were, this morning... "ABUNDANT"!
For the past couple of weeks now, Yonah's been quite "affectionate", in the morning, through the day, right to "tuck-in". LOTS of "kisses" (the lightest pecks on my face, cheek, nose), and making it obvious that he wants us to be in the closest-possible proximity. Not necessarily that he wants to be touched or held, but he wants the "proximity", to know that I'm "there" with him. I can't be sure though:
Is this because he's feeling better, now that he's getting some new nutrition? Is it that the milk thistle is helping? Is it the "Bene-bac"? The milk thistle is supposed to be good for his liver. The "Bene-bac" is supposed to help with his general digestive tract and, of course, his over-all well-being. If these ARE helping him to feel better, I feel a bit for the worse because I didn't notice that he wasn't "at the top" before. BUT, odd as it might seem, though I didn't know about the "Bene-bac" I was already looking into the milk thistle for him before that horror at the "clinic" of "Dr. Phairie-Princess". So, again, "instinct"... and thankfully, now, we have these things... AND the actual "UV" lighting so... I guess I'll never know for certain, but what-ever it is that's giving my Little Guy the extra energy, I'm grateful for it!
(And I can't help but wonder if the horrors and trauma of Dr. Phairie-Princess didn't strengthen the bond between Yonah and me... Does he perceive that "clinic farce" to be similar to the original attack that brought him here, to be with me? I've NO doubt at all that he remembers, and, likely, vividly, that attack in October 2020. How could he NOT? Being plucked and gnawed... alive and aware !!! THEN, not quite 2 years later, in a different environment - the clinic - to be subjected to his beak being snapped by the clippers... then "fractured", if it actually is... I've yet to see evidence of that claim, though I don't WANT to see any evidence of it. Confined in a towel, the one blood feather that I saw being pulled from his wing, and there's just NO telling WHAT sort of torture he endured when Dr. Phairie-Princess took him to "surgery" under the guise of getting a better look at his beak! Seeing him so exhausted when she brought him back and all but "threw" him back into his old house, to leave him there, still... eyes closed... I suppose the "trauma" was mutual... for him and me. My "blessing"? He suffered through that in the hands of somebody, something that wasn't me. And on the trip back "home" I spoke to him... and when we got back, I was there, in his room with him, and I spoke with him, in the comfort and safety of HIS HOME. I wonder now: does he see me as the one who saved him "twice" now? And, if the little "extras" he's getting for the little "ailments" ARE making him feel better... is he associating that too, with me? What-ever the case, I'm just SO grateful... my little Heart-and-Soul appears to be SO HAPPY to see me in the mornings, and obviously wants to be in my company so, although I regret the reason or cause, I'm grateful that we're together and that he's comfortable being with me.)
Well then, that said... we were off to our "regular morning routine" as usual, this morning AND, this morning's "poop check"? 5 little, "proper poops", directly under where he'd passed the night, obviously calm. They're looking MUCH better than they have lately. No more "green" (which can indicate problems, particularly with his liver). A perfect balance of the "dark with the white". So, with the hearty "woo-HOO's", it was a GRAND beginning to a new day and a new month... in spite of the morning chill.
AND this morning, more fresh food with more milk thistle in it. And there's more milk thistle for the weeks ahead, and more of the "Bene-bac" too! Fresh food, fresh water, extra nutrients, the "UV"... As I always say "There's nothing too good nor even good enough for my little Heart-and-Soul"... ever.
It was a busy day though. August was so hectic, over all, and there was so much that had been "put aside", tasks and chores round the house, and today, with the on-coming chills threatened for tonight, there were MORE tasks, "Autumnal tasks" that truly needed to be addressed and completed. And those, in addition to my new "work hours" away. Shortly after the morning water relay and house-tidying, I was off for my "2-hour leave" to get to work, but I made short order of that and, almost directly, I was back in the house, we were together for the duration of the day, and I was SO HAPPILY GREETED when I came back! Now THAT TOO, is a pure delight to the soul: Yonah makes it SO obvious that he's happy to see me coming into his room... Hopping to his door perch for "cuddles" and kisses! Our "joy" of seeing one-another can't be compared to or with anything else on Earth. He's as happy to be with me as I am to be with him. Nothing else really matters at all.
The sun shone quite beautifully today too, filling his room with a LOT of light, in spite of the fact that, out-side, the temperature only just crept up to a cool 17°. And, dutifully, I got to the chores of preparing our house against the cooler days and nights that will be soon (too soon) be coming along. For one thing, the windows and doors were open wide and the furnace was run for a while, clearing all the "dust" and such out of the duct-work. That way, when he HAVE to run it, we won't have to think about opening windows when the temperatures out-side fight against the warmth of the furnace. (And, after that was done, I left the house thermostat set at 20° (68°F) for tonight... just to be on the "safe" side.) The cellar got cleaned and closed, windows that needed were properly sealed. We were ready for the chills! There's more to be done, of course, but there's time for the rest... thankfully. Although I felt better about the preparations accomplished, I was sorry because, I'd no sooner walked in from work, changed my clothes, exchanged cuddles and kisses with my Little Guy when I was off an running about again. Time taken away from us... that's how I see it all.
BUT when I was done and all the immediate tasks were complete, I got to settle down at the work table.. at last! And was it ever so obvious that THAT was appreciated! Not only did Yonah become so "animated"... HE ATE! AND HE ATE VERY WELL! NOW, I'm worried that he won't eat if I'm not around! It used to be that he would stop eating when I came into the room. I used to see him eating, when I was out of the room, but when I stepped in, he'd stop. In the earliest days, I suspect it was because "the stranger" was in the room... possible "predator". Then, as time moved on, he came to know that I was there as a "friend" and he got to where I could come and go and he paid no attention. It's a more recent development where, it seems he won't eat UNLESS I'm in the room or, at least he knows I'm in the house some-where. I doubt he'd go hungry, he WILL eat when he gets hungry enough. But, I just don't like the idea of him waiting for me. And I wonder if he eats while I'm at work. Oh... my Little Guy! SO much I still need to learn... so very, VERY much! But he seems to have patience with and for me. I don't have any for me though, and there really aren't any resources immediately available. (And after two strikes with the alleged "avian vets", I've no trust in any of them, to be honest.) Well, as I say, I seriously doubt Yonah will go hungry... I can only hope, live and learn.
So we had the bird-songs on and the radio, and I did manage to get me settled at the work table. We had a little "break" for a bite to eat (together) and I finally got to so much of the tasks that I'd put aside through the hectic month of August. And I put the UV light on since today was so chilly and this evening was expected to be even more-so. No going out into the yard THIS evening. My Little Guy hasn't really ever had to deal with all sorts of chills, other than the coolness of this old house in Winter. There's really no need to do that now, and I want him to be as comfortable as possible so... He'll get his "required UV" right in the comfort of his own house, in his own room...
And so, I got situated at the work table and Yonah? Well, today he spent a LOT of time on the little shelf that I put together for him on the table! He seems to like being there where he can watch everything I do. I wonder if the motion of my fingers on the key-board of the lap-top don't some-how fascinate him. Or, is it that he just likes the proximity. He IS closer there than he is on his door perch, and he gets to see my face too. What-ever it is, it's a JOY to me to have him closer, but it really is a bit of a distraction too because it's just too much temptation to me to stop what I'm doing and chat with him, and play. AND he's REALLY enjoying the contact when I pet or stroke him! "Contact"... and "Companionship". I'm just SO amazed at how much pleasure it seems to give him. (And I can't even begin to describe how much JOY it gives me to be so accepted and tolerated by him!) I keep thinking of all the stories and accounts I've read and heard, over the years, about parrots and how much they come to depend on their "human companions". Apparently, doves are no different. Then again, the truth of the matter is: in the wild, Yonah would have a flock... other doves to fly about with - sadly, I can't do that - to eat with, forage with, snuggle with, especially at night. People keep saying to me "He has YOU! And you give him so much. You're doing perfectly fine with and by him." And I keep thinking "We're our own flock." Maybe that's truer than I think. Still, I just feel so terribly inferior and wish that there was so much more I could do for and give to him. I don't lightly refer to him as my "Heart-and-Soul"... he truly is!)
As I worked, he did something "new" today: Just out of no-where, he took flight, soaring out of the room, into the kitchen and came right back to his door perch! It was almost as if he was trying simply to get my attention! And on his way back in, he almost "buzzed" across the top of my head! It seemed so "intentional"! Just up and out and back again! Honestly... he NEVER ceases to amaze! Between the roosting on the table-shelf and now this, I HAVE to wonder what's going on with him. But it's comforting, to me, to know that he's as comfortable as he is here now. This room, this house TRULY IS "HIS TERRITORY", it really HAS become his "HOME". I never really wanted it to become that. I wanted him to recover and get back to his flocks. But... it IS better, safer for him here. And though there are so many imperfections, well... again... I'm learning... trying and learning. And Yonah's past his "18-month expected life-span" and well on his way into the next "5-year"... in spite of "Nature's" attempt to end his existence. (People keep telling me that I've given him "the best life", that I'm giving him so much better than what he would have, were he out in the wild. I'm never really convinced that that's true. And, even though I'm not at all sure about the visit to the "vet", the only thing that was mentioned where there's something "off" was that bacterial imbalance. And, as I recorded at the time, it was said that Yonah probably had that all along. So? So, maybe I am doing "well" by him. I can only hope.)
OK then... even with all the work that I got involved with and accomplished during the day, we had MANY break together and spent a LOT of time playing, cuddling, kissing... It was a perfect day, in spite of the chill. And it was rather sunny, so it was bright enough. We had a mid-day snack... and "time out". Just a wonderful day... a good way to start a new month.
One * NOTE * though: He dropped another * BLOOD FEATHER * from his left wing !!! THOSE JUST WON'T STOP! He's always had them, at the area where the most damage had been done to that wing. I'm supposing that he always will have them there because there's "scarring", and the little follicles where the feathers grow are probably damaged. I liken it to when we people, have surgery, in an area where hair grows: the hair seldom-to-never grows properly in our scar tissue, so, like an "off-grown" or "in-growing" hair, so my Little Guy's feathers will come in improperly. The "good" of this is that the feather didn't "break" and the "best" is that they don't bleed when they come out. I've done a LOT of reading on what blood/pin feathers are and what can happen with/about them... it's NOT at all, consoling! They're PAINFUL! AND THEY'RE ATTACHED TO FLESH AND MUSCLE! AND THERE'S ACTUALLY BONE INVOLVEMENT! As if that's not bad enough, knowing that they cause my little Heart-and-Soul PAIN... I keep remembering Dr. Phairie-Princess grabbing poor Yonah, taking in hand, what looked like a forcep, and simply grabbing and yanking a feather from his wing as she coldly stated "He has a pin feather here." YANK! Done. (It still literally sickens me to my stomach, BUT I'm SO thankful that Yonah doesn't associate ME with the pain she must have caused him! AND, even more-so, I'm SO GRATEFUL that he's obviously recovered from that terror... in spite of the fact that those feathers continue to grow. Although, as I say, they've been coming all along and, so far, fortunately, he manages to pluck them on his own... and they don't cause bleeding when HE attends to them. SO I just let HIM take care of them... and I keep watching to make sure there are no "complications".)
Well, indeed... as our day together moved along, we had our evening meals together this evening, but, as I say, we didn't get out to the yard because the temperature did drop, noticeably and rather quickly. So, after meals, we got right to the evening routine, and got his waters freshened, house tidied, and played a bit on the futon until it was time to get to "seepie-nigh-night".
And tonight, for the first time in a while, not only were the window blinds closed, but the curtains as well, and they were "over-lapped" to provide the best insulation against what-ever chill the night intended to hit us with. The expected low: 9°... a drastic change from the 20s, 18, 15 that we've been having. And I set the house thermostat at 21° and put the furnace on... just in case. Tomorrow, the weather is supposed to return to a "normal" September temperature, but for tonight, I won't have my Little Guy getting any "chills". There's no need for him to have to "fluff" his feathers against the cold. If the house is "cool", that's one thing. But I won't have "cold".
At 20.00, he was ready to close this first day of the new month... on his perch, at his night spot. He'd had his little "seepie-nigh-night nosh", night boards were up, UV light off, desk lamp on... I leaned in for "Good night kisses" and got a "face full" of the lightest little pecks all round. I held him, in my cupped hand, and he pressed against my face. More kisses and, I with-drew, closed the door to his house. Desk lamp off, I whispered:
"We made it into a new month, you and I... Just you and I together. We've made it through another year, you and I. And we're doing just fine... you and I together. So tonight, you get a good rest. And tomorrow? Well, if we get a 'tomorrow', we'll take-up where we've left off tonight. OK? Sleep well. Rest well. You can sleep here, in your own house, where nothing will come to cause you any trouble. And I'll be in the very next room. Good night my MOST PRECIOUS LITTLE ONE!"
Yes... another day... another month... another year... Next challenge? Winter. And we'll face that when we have to. Until then... "nothing will come to cause you any trouble..." I'll be here to see to that.
Friday 02 September:
Cool day, pool day! And this morning, the house was comfortably warm... the furnace had run several times during the night and was on when I woke... I was relived to know that, above all else, Yonah's room had remained warm through the night, that he was comfortable.
And, at 6.30, the clear, hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" coming through the house confirmed that he'd had a good night's restful sleep too! And our little "chat" before I got into his room just confirmed: he was up, rested, feeling well and ready to take-on the day! More so? The ENERGY! We chatted as I opened his curtains and window blinds. And as I removed the night boards, he took flight across his room to his little "dove pillow", and started a little "chat" with that as well. (Most often, it seems and sounds as though he's over there telling "You see that? You see what's going on in my house? He comes in here in the morning and starts taking things apart. Have you ever?" Or, maybe he's pointing-out how responsible and dependable the "house-keeping staff" are here, in this place. Which ever it is, it's a delight to witness and hear, especially first thing of a morning.) And from the futon to the wall shelf, round the room, back to his roof-top. It was a morning FULL of activity! Never mind me making the morning water relay and such... there was a constant flutter of wings. Little Mr. Taube was just FULL of energy! And, as it always does, seeing him so happy, so early in the day, just put me in a wonderful frame of mind and being!
I made quick work of going to the job this morning and when I got back, I still had a LOT of work to get to around the house and at the work table. One thing in particular: hard-boiled eggs today. It was time for Yonah's egg yolk with his food. We're doing so well with the milk thistle and the probiotics, today was "vitamin D" and protein day too! So, I put a few eggs on to cook... one for him and two for me... we both had eggs for mid-day meal... TOGETHER!
I noticed he'd lost a LONG tail feather today too. I'm now wondering if he's not starting another moulting. More reason for the egg, and we'll be grinding peanuts and sun-flower seeds too if that's the case. The "odd" days are ahead that come with moulting. I SO dislike seeing my Little Guy shedding feathers in a moult. And it's worse now that I understand how uncomfortable and even painful it is for him. But, at least now I have more knowledge, better education about it and can do things to make the situation better for him. Meanwhile though, WOW, he was active through the day... up on his wall shelves and again, spending so much time on the little desk shelf, beside me where he stared at me (I could see him from the corner of my eye) waiting until I reached up and played or cuddled. And oh yes, we did a LOT of that through the day!
As I worked along this after-noon, the room got quiet for a while and suddenly, I heard the slightest bit of a "different" sort of "splashing" in his pool, behind me. I looked up just in time to see him "lounging" and splashing in his POOL! It was a comfort to me to know that he was warm enough in his room, after last night's chill, to be able to enjoy a bit of a dip, a little bath. And as I watched (and grabbed a little video, of course), he got up, gave QUITE the boisterous flapping of wings and shake of feathers and toddled over to the sunniest corner of his house and there, he splayed, beautifully, basking i n the sun as it shone through his window. Never mind the weather, the temperature out-side, for my little Heart-and-Soul, Summer was still holding and there was warmth to be enjoyed... in HIS house! Let the temperatures drop, my Little Guy will always be wonderfully warm and cozy, protected from the drastic fluctuations. (I can't give him much in the way of an open meadow or tree-packed wood-land, but at least I can give him the pleasure of being able to splash in his very own pool... fresh, clean water, and a little fountain... and a little clean sand "beach", warmed by the sun-shine, where he can lounge and bask and enjoy, with no need to be on the watch for any predators. If nothing else, he's always safe... in his own house, his own room... and free to fly about, at will.)
So that's how our day rolled along today... I worked along at the table, in what seems a never-ending attempt to catch-up with things that ought to be done, and my Little Companion kept me company, gave me inspiration to persevere AND... he gave SO MUCH LOVE, DELIGHT, JOY AND AWE!
This evening, we were back on that regular schedule and had our evening meals together at the usual 17.00-18.00. And after, washing-up and.. evening water relay and house-tidy! And the food in his dish went out for the Yardies. He DID eat quite a bit of the egg yolk today, and so, the left-overs, as always, went to the Little Ones in the yard. (THEY eat very well because Yonah's "left-overs" always go to the feeder. What-ever he has, they have.) And with the fresh food, more milk thistle... and WOW! DID HE EVER EAT SO VERY WELL when the fresh food was in his dish! He obviously knows it's all quite fresh and he heads directly for it every time. It does my heart so much GOOD to see him eating SO WELL! (And I keep thinking of the "recommendations" I've read along our course of time together that say that food shouldn't be left there all of the time because doves will over-eat and become fat. Not Mr. Taube here. He eats when he's hungry, stops when he's satisfied and has managed to maintain a "reported" 114g. per his most recent "medical". * Average weight of a mourning dove is between 110 and 170g. so Yonah is "watching his figure" and remaining GORGEOUS!) Even more-so these days, with the little "additions" to his diet, I'm REALLY excited to see him eating with such gusto. He's got a fantastic appetite and, as is the common theory and belief: as long as he's eating, he's well. (And as long as he's well, I'm well.)
After meals this evening, we didn't go to the yard though. The Yardies had come and gone by the time we would have been ready to go out so there'd be no company, and that's one of the major factors that I consider when we get out. Yes, I want Yonah to get the rays of natural sun-shine, but as it is now, there's so little time of good sun-shine in the evening, as the sun sets so early behind the mountains, and if there isn't time to "mingle" (as much as he can anyway), well, it grieves me to see him out there alone. At least now he has the UV light which he hadn't had before. (And THIS one is the "real thing"... not just some "Natural Spectrum" or "Full Spectrum" house-hold bulb.. THIS one is, as the box is labelled "TRUE FULL SPECTRUM UVA + UVB + VISIBLE"! Woohoo-yeah!) And we'd turned that on at 16.00 this after-noon.
I was reading, today, in my on-going/never-ceasing research into "things mourning dove" that "20 minutes per day minimum is good for a bird's health". Well! On average, MY Little Guy gets 3 hours! So, it's almost like a day in the sun-shine... Vitamin D... calcium... and all sorts of other benefits! Never "too good" nor "good enough" for MY little Heart-and-Soul. And I'd have to say that, with the increase in his energy of late, SOMETHING is really working and he MUST be feeling better than ever before! YAY to us!
So, with the time we had together, we got to play with the pillow dove on the futon... and a few good games of "Catch Me!" from futon to his roof-top... and a couple of stops on the wall shelves too, for that matter.
GLORIOUS TIME TOGETHER! AGAIN... AT LONG LAST!
In between games, I managed to get the water relay done... and then, close the window blinds, put the back board up too. Just to be prepared so that when he was ready to "head home for the night", I wouldn't have to disturb or distract him.
Well, at about 19.30, it appeared my Little One had had just about enough of another day and he headed back to his house. It was time for us to really un-wind, to settle-down for the night. He headed up to his little nest box and, as he does of late, snuggled-down and with the little "twitching" he does with his wings, gave his "perch coo" of a soft "woo-HOO!". Tonight, I actually tried, for the first time, to "cuddle" him with one hand and leaned in to give him some kisses while he does that. As I stroked the back of his neck and top of his head, he closed his eyes! It was SO PRECIOUS! And then he turned to "beak", as it's called, my finger and hand! SO, SO BEAUTIFUL! HE DOES KNOW JUST HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM! And he does a PERFECT job of letting me know that the LOVE is "mutual". I know I'm not the "perfect mate", but, we're doing pretty much OK as we are.
At 19.58, he was on his perch, in his night spot, so, with a couple more kisses, I put the roof board up, and closed the door to his house. The desk lamp, turned off... my PRECIOUS LITTLE HEAR-AND-SOUL was tucked-in for a good night's rest... and it was supposed to be a warmer night out there than last night so... a great night ahead... and a promise for a more comfortable morning to follow.
Saturday 03 September:
As the sun began to spread the light of a new morning out-side our windows today, the first "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" of the day came across the house from the "residence" of Mr. Yonah Taube at 6.28. He was awake, up and clearly calling to get on with the hours ahead! And THIS morning... SO MUCH CONVERSATION! It truly was another "full dialogue", that seemed to continue on and on! Another new day following another night of restful repose, to be sure! And as I opened his door and leaned in for our regular "Good morning kisses"... SO MANY KISSES! It was like a scene from a dramatic old film where two Lovers, separated across 100s of miles for so many years, were finally being re-united! The affection was just indescribably GLORIOUS! I still don't know and probably never will know, for certain, HOW I've come to be so worthy of such LOVE, but I can and will say, with certainty that, starting a day with THIS MUCH LOVE from this little bundle of DIVINE LIFE sets the mood and the pace for a day where, no matter what else is to follow... NOTHING will be better and NOTHING ELSE matters.
And our little "chat" continued right on through the opening of blinds, removal of night boards and the morning water relay! It was JUST DIVINITY at it's PERFECTION!
Going to work this morning for the 3 hours of a Saturday was difficult, to be sure. But one of the greatest aspects of where I work is that I can open the office window there and the kitchen window and back door of the house and, should Yonah call for anything, I can hear him... and, as I speak, he can hear me so, we're not so far apart and him being able to hear my voice, I'm rather sure, gives him the sense that I'm "around", close enough, though out of sight. That's a comfort to me, I have to say.
When, at last, I got back home, and changed into "house clothes", there were SO MANY MORE KISSES! It was one of "those" days where there just didn't seem to be enough "contact", companionship, together time. I'll never know what spurs these moments, but, as long as we have them, I'm relieved to know that my presence is wanted and appreciated. I must be doing something "right" to be so LOVED. And in my existence, THAT is ALL that I care about, it's ALL that matters to me. As long as my little Heart-and-Soul is happy, the WORLD is just fine.
I grabbed a quick bit of shit eye on Yonah's futon and as soon as I laid my head on the pillow, he came flying over. He didn't stay with me through the 20 minutes, but I didn't mind. He had "things to do"... and I was in for the rest of the day.
It was quite a warm day all day... with plenty of sun-shine too! And, for the most part, we were together, as I made my-self very much a part of HIS room. And we got quite a bit (though never "enough") "together time" during, with me taking as many breaks in my tasks as I possibly could (and even, admittedly, more) for "snuggles", cuddles and kisses.
And really often, when I sat at the work table, my Little Guy came over to his little "shelf" on the table, to just settle there, preen and stare at me as I went about what-ever it was that I was doing. He REALLY made it obvious that he wanted to be "close"... and I couldn't have been more delighted... right to the core of my being. Oh, how I keep thinking that I'd just really be so thrilled to be able to hold him close and hug and cuddle him. But, holding him in my cupped hands, so that I can give gentle kisses on the top of his head seem to please him just as much. As I kiss, he nuzzles his head close to my chin, and closes his little eyes... He DOES enjoy that time together and the affection... AND the contact. He's just "AWE-FULL" in that respect. I NEVER would have expected him to even tolerate such closeness. But he makes it so obvious that not only does he enjoy it, he actually comes looking for it! (And to be honest, it does me a WORLD of good because, when we're together that way, any and every little "anxiety" I might have, for what-ever reason, just vanishes. I do my best to be as calm as possible when I hold him. And it's been, repeatedly, confirmed that birds, in general, sense our feelings, in my readings. So... as I try to calm me... for him... it works!)
And so, we had our day together... and I'm just REALLY delighted because we both have tomorrow AND Monday (a holiday), to be together too! And I've SO MUCH to do... MOST of it in his room... we'll be VERY together for TWO WHOLE DAYS!
And he's eating quite well too! And there's still a bit of the milk thistle in his food so he's getting good nutrition and a little extra for his well-being.
It does look though, as if my poor Little Guy is about to moult again. Yesterday was a long tail feather and a blood feather (both in "good condition"... neither of them "broken" or "snapped") and he's shedding other smaller feathers too. This time, the majority of the feathers are from the outer part of his wings. He's never done that, for as long as we've been together. (I'm wondering if the UV light hasn't got something to do with it... now that he's getting proper exposure... Maybe his "cycle" is returning? I'll be watching, with intense care, to be sure, making certain it's nothing else but a moult.) Although, with all the "contact" and affection, I do have to wonder. Moulting, it's said, is "painful". But he doesn't seem to mind it.
This morning, I saw a mourning dove out-side, flying about almost oddly, in the soft morning breeze. Not with the stealth or speed of mourning doves. When I got a good look, I could tell, even at the distance, that his/her tail feathers weren't of a "normal" length. Looked as though s/he's moulting. Maybe the cold snap we had for that one night has set the "Autumnal moult" running for the Little Ones. As I say, I'll be keeping an exceptionally close watch on my little Yonah here. (And just in case, I have ground peanuts and sun-flower seeds ready... and cod liver oil... protein and vitamins A and D. AND, there's more hard-boiled egg for him too. We're prepared. SO un-like our earliest days together when I was utterly and completely clueless as to what his needs and requirements are. As I say: over our time together, I've learned SO much... and he's taught me VERY well.)
We had our evening meals together, this evening, on time... and sadly, this evening, though there might have been time to get into the yard, there are strangers visiting with the neighbours and they've "settled a tent" in the yard. So, rather than Yonah being upset by strangers, and risking "strangers" coming over to gawk (as people will do), we had the little "luxury" of the UV light... together, and the window fan circulating the warm air in the room. We were together... and comfy... and my Little Guy got his daily dose of his "UVA and UVB".
After meals and washing-up, we got the evening water relay done, and listened to a bit of "Hauser" and the cello music, along with the bird-songs and I sat at the work table and Yonah had a couple of flights about the room and rested on his roof-top... as the sun set out-side... so much earlier, yet again. We un-wound at the end of the day and wrapped it up... together... calmly.
By 19.30, we were both ready to head off to a night of "seepie-nigh-night" and I decided that I was going to sleep on his futon tonight, so, after closing the window blinds, installing the night boards, my Little Guy headed for his food... for a quick snack before tucking-in. And as he ate, I set his futon for me for the night.
When he was done eating, he went into his little nest box and snuggled-down, wings a-twittering, and he gave the soft "perch coo" of "wooo-HOO". So I reached in and stroked his head, he pecked at my fingers and hand...
I let him take his time there, and went about settling the rest of the house for the night. My intention was to be on his futon shortly after he was tucked-in tonight...
At 20.20, he'd moved over to his "night roost", so I went in, gave him some gentle "Good night kisses", he gave me some back and with that, the door to his house was closed, the desk lamp, turned off... We bade "Good night" to another day... another ABSOLUTELY WONDERFULLY GLORIOUS DAY TOGETHER! And tomorrow? AN ENTIRE DAY TOGETHER... AND THEN... MONDAY IS A HOLIDAY SO... WE HAVE TWO DAYS TO BE TOGETHER... and nothing else but being together. And the forecast is for rain so... we get to be together, as the world does what it will... and we don't have to care.
Sunday 04 September:
Yes, indeed, last night, I slept right through the night, on Yonah's futon and for me, it was wonderful, knowing that he was in the same room, that I was in HIS room. And when I woke this morning, there he was, in his house, still, calm, so quiet. I just laid on the futon, not wanting to move and disturb him, but he must have sensed, as he does, that I was awake and at 6.30, in the dark silence of the early morning...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo".
I can't say "how", but I'm convinced that no matter what, he has a way of sensing when I'm awake. I'd swear he can sense that I'm thinking. And this morning, when he was sure that I was awake, he called. And I called back to say "Good morning" to him too. We exchanged a few "coo's" before I actually got up and went over to his house, and when I opened his door and leaned in...
Wing stretches and KISSES! Even in the morning darkness! MANY KISSES! We were prepared for the day ahead and I was REALLY HAPPY this morning because there was NOTHING on my agenda other than more tasks to attend at his work table! We were looking at a day where it was going to be just the two of us... all day! Seemed Yonah had some sense of that too and was just as happy about it as I was!
As I opened the window blinds to let in the dim morning light of an over-cast day, we chatted a bit and Yonah took a little flight out and over to his wall shelves, giving me "run of the place" for our morning water relay and house tidying... and, of course, "poop check".
This morning, there were 7 little ones, all nicely formed, properly divided between the white and dark brown. No "green" this morning! Healthy little poops! I'm SO hoping that between the pro-biotics and the milk thistle, anything that might be "off" will be corrected. The very LAST and LEAST thing I EVER want to do is need to bring my little Heart-and-Soul back to a "vet"... I don't care which or whom... I just want to be able to do ALL that's needed to keep him in the very best of health... no matter what it takes.
And this morning, again, he had SO MUCH ENERGY! Chatting, flying, hopping about his house... it was PERFECT! And the temperature in his room was a comfortable 22°, even though the rains fell, softly, out-side in the greyness of the day.
Well... We DID have the entire day together today. After all of the morning tasks and chores, I brought my coffee and the lap-top back into his room and I situated me at his work table and through the day, we took breaks to play, to have a couple of "lie-downs" (no "naps" because as soon as I laid down, he came over and today, was SO active, he toddled, almost non-stop, from my head to my toes and back up again). But over all, his ENERGY has been quite amazing! And it's been PURE HEAVEN! I don't know what happened, maybe it's the pro-biotics or maybe it's the milk thistle... maybe he's feeling better than ever before (in which case, I'm sorry that I didn't get the milk thistle a long while ago when I'd first thought of it, even though, in the time that passed, I managed to find "pure" milk thistle, suitable even for "human consumption", which gives me the comfort of knowing that it's been processed under the cleanest conditions and there are no "additives" of "mystery ingredients"). What-ever it is... it's WONDERFUL!
We took a break for a mid-day tea together and then, I went back to my tasks until this evening when we sat, together, to have our meals... together.
It was, out-side, a dreary sort of day, drizzling with rain on and off. It was a cool and damp sort of day, out there, but in Yonah's room, we had his UV light on, so he got that dose of "sun-shine" no mater what. (Could his sudden energy be because of the vitamin D? I'll never know, but it's not important. He's happy, healthy, energetic and THAT is what matters!)
Well, as all days do, this Saturday came to a close... and tonight, we were both quite ready to settle-in for the night by about 19.00. Yonah was "roosting" on his door perch and I was wrapping things up at the work table. I got up and got the evening water relay done and settled his house and at about 19.20, I moved my things out of his room and into the kitchen, and we closed the blinds on the dreary evening out-side and the back board went up. As I worked along, Yonah went for his "before seepie-nigh-night snack" and headed, as he's doing of late, to his nest box. When I'd done, he was there, the soft "woo-HOO"... so I managed to get in some snuggles, stroked the back of his neck and snuck in a couple of kisses. When all the affections were attended-to as far as he was concerned, Yonah headed over to his perch... for the night.
19.55... with a few more kisses and a snuggle against my face, I closed the door to his house and turned his desk lamp off... Our Saturday was done... our WHOLE DAY TOGETHER was at a close. But the futon was prepared and I resolved to get the rest of the house together as quickly as possible... and to come back... we were going to have another night together too... just me and my PRECIOUS LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL... together, through the chilly night ahead... Together.
Monday 05 September:
(Pro-biotics today...)
Well, the night was cool, as the forecast had claimed, and this morning was damp. August truly is behind us now and September is rolling-in Autumn. But I slept the night away on Yonah's futon, and made sure that his room didn't take any of the night's chill, and it was comfortable-enough for me, under a light cover. I'm still looking for a way to warm his house, come the snapping-cold days of the Winter ahead though. His radiator has done well for the past, but I'd like something a bit closer to him, something that I know will keep him comfortable... and safe from the cold. Something "warm and toasty" and safe... The search continues until we find it.
We slept together again, last night, and it was so peaceful... thankfully. And this morning, I woke exceptionally early (4.00). Not wanting to disturb my Little Guy, I got up, silently left his room, in the dark, and closed the door to his room behind me. I went on about my morning routine and such, in the kitchen, and waited...
6.38... a rather soft but clear "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" came floating out through the door. I called back, mostly to see if Yonah was really awake and ready for the day and sure enough... almost immediately came the reply, "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". We had a bit of a "chat", coo'ing back and forth to one-another until, after about 3 exchanges... "woo-HOO!" It was time to open house and GET BUSY with the day... ANOTHER ENTIRE DAY WE HAD TOGETHER !!! HOLIDAY! HURRAY!
Seemed as though my Little Guy knew, some-how, that I was thrilled knowing that we'd be together all day... Out-side the morning was heavy-grey, the rain fell softly, it was cool, it was damp... but in Yonah's room, as I opened the blinds, he was ready for chatting and for ACTION! Energy this morning! Kisses! Cuddles! Snuggles! It DID seem as though he knew we had a WHOLE DAY together and he was as happy about it as I was!
Well, in shortest time, I got his water relay done, tidied his house and got busy putting together his food with the "Bene-bac". It's been about a week since he had the last serving, and though his poop has been good, I'm not sure how much pro-biotic he gets each serving, so I just wanted to give him at least one more before we go to a routine. Weekly or monthly... we'll see how well he tolerates what he's had. (Poop check every morning and watching his ENERGY... and he's has a LOT of that lately!) We live. We learn. We try. We HOPE! Always... just as it's been from our very first moments together.
Well, after all the regular morning activities, it was time to settle-in for a day together. And I had SO MUCH that I'm still trying to catch-up on from last month so, it was pretty-much established: I'd be at the work table all day... or, well... I'd be in the room all day. So, we hunkered, as it were. I was at the table, and my Little Guy was in his house... and on his wall shelves... the futon. But we were together!
Interesting though, most interesting... Today, again, my Little Sidekick, my BESTIE COMPANION spent a LOT of time beside me... on the little shelf on the work table! For the past couple of days, that seems to be his favourite place while I'm at the work table! And for me, IT'S FANTASTIC! I can see him. He can see me. The only draw-back... I just HAVE to take time away from what-ever it is I'm doing... for CUDDLES and SNUGGLES and KISSES!
AND, today, he came to "roost" on my shoulders! He hasn't done THAT in quite a while! I was SO pleasantly DELIGHTED... right to my very core!
Ah.. but THEN... This after-noon we had a terrible DISASTER! Well, for Yonah it was.
As I was sitting at the work table, all things calm as the rains fell softly out-side the window, from behind me I heard the oddest sound. A "shuffling" sort of noise. I turned round to see where Yonah was and found him, on his little corner loft... STARING, head tilted, toward the window but more to the opposite side of his house. He was motionless! At first, I thought he was staring out the window and I looked, expecting to see something on the roof of the little cellar shed directly out-side the window. But there was nothing there. And Yonah just kept still... staring. And then, I glanced across his house to the little shelf where his nest box and food dish are and THERE was the trouble.
He'd been jumping, as he does, back and forth, across his perches, from the "loft shelf" to the nest box, for a little while. I could hear the "thumps" and he landed on each shelf, but he's done those jumps MANY times already. Well, today, one of the little wooden braces that hold the "nest box" shelf up had just taken a little too much of the jumping and had given-way. One side dropped down (thankfully, not enough to fall completely into the pool below)! It must have startled poor Yonah but the "expression" on his face (yes, he DOES have little "expressions"... they're obvious in his eyes, believe it or not) was almost "I don't know HOW that happened! I was right over here and suddenly, the shelf just fell over like that! I was so surprised!"
Well so, of course, I had to take the shelf down and re-attach the little hooks that hold the braces onto the wire of his house and THAT just added to the "tragedy"! As I've said, many time before, Yonah is never fond of ANY sort of "adjustments" to anything in his house. Even when I move a rock, he has to investigate, watches me with such focus, and will fly about to check where a moved item was, and will wait until it's returned to it's "proper" place. Imagine... THIS time I had to take away his NEST BOX AND HIS FOOD! No, this did NOT go very well. HIS NEST BOX! HIS FOOD! OH MY! He was off and flying about the room! Off to the wall shelf and then to the futon. And when he got back to his house, he stood on the perch that helps hold his little shelf up, and snapped his wings, staring at me!
Oh, fortunately, I had more epoxy and took both braces out (MORE THINGS BEING REMOVED!) and brought them to the kitchen for "repair". UN-fortunately, we had to wait for the epoxy to set so, until the shelf was returned, there was a bit of "mayhem". I was stared at, long and hard. Wings were snapped. There was no consoling my Little Heart-and-Soul! Oh, but how much it proves that mourning doves actually notice and acknowledge the things that people tend to believe make no difference to them. COGNIZANCE as well as SENTIENCE !!! If people would merely take the opportunity to get to "know" mourning doves, perhaps they'd be less likely to simply run out and shoot these little bundles of PURELY DIVINE LOVE!
Well, it took the better part of 30 minutes before the epoxy had the time to "set", so, I went back to the work table to work on more of Yonah's Journal and he spent some of the time on his corner loft, starting at the open door across from him. (That side of his house is the second door, so I left it open whilst we awaited the return of the shelf.) And then, took a few more "hops" across to the perch there. OH... the "trauma", the "tragedy"! It truly was heart-warming (and I kept trying to assure him that everything was fine and that it would all be back to where it ought to be "in just a little while"... of course, to no good... "a little while" wasn't "little" enough, we needed things as they're supposed to be... immediately)! WHAT A CHARACTER! HONESTLY! And the flying around the room as we "waited for the glue to dry"... ! OH MY! Well, Yonah got plenty of exercise today!
Well... by 15.30 the epoxy had "set" enough to replace the shelf... and once in, OH the flights of "joy", as they were (or weren't). Yonah came over to the edge of his house door and all but came to kiss me! And THEN, he took off... flying back and forth, to the wall shelf and to his house, to the futon, to his house... and then, over to the little shelf on the work table where we got in some more cuddles. His house was back in the order he expects. A little tragedy... gone and done... at last! WHAT a day!
Now, for a NEW NOTE OF NEW INFORMATION FOR ME TODAY:
On the web-site https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/overview I discovered something that I may have seen previously but have "bookmarked" along with a long list of other references. When I'd gone to look for the average weight of an adult mourning dove, on the page with some of the information I wanted, I found the following:
"The oldest known Mourning Dove was a male, and at least 30 years, 4 months old when he was shot in Florida in 1998. He had been banded in Georgia in 1968."
THIRTY YEARS !!! Well! Looks like I REALLY need to get my bit of time here on this Earth together... To think, I've been thinking in terms of only 5 years, and even at that, not even that. BUT... there have been notes in my research claiming 20 years... THIRTY? I wonder... Though I tend to doubt Yonah will... I seriously tend to doubt I will (that would put me at the age of 97! Yes, I know people who have lived beyond that but... ). So, indeed, indeed, indeed I've a LOT more studying to get done... for Yonah's sake, to be sure! (Though, it does put an entirely different perspective on my own "being", after all... I insist upon being here for Yonah for as long as he needs me. There.)
Well, that all said and done... today went by entirely too quickly, and even more-so because Yonah and I have been together all day for the past two days and those days when we're together NEVER last long enough.
I managed to catch-up with half of my tasks today so there's still a LOT of time to be with Yonah, in his room, at this work table... and the weather may or may not co-operate but, what-ever the weather, we'll be together. (No rhyme intended.)
This evening, we had our meals together. I disposed of the remaining food from today that had the probiotics in it. I can only hope Yonah got enough of them in his noshes during the course of the day. And I put fresh food with milk thistle in his dish... and HE ATE SO VERY WELL! So, a bit of probiotics and more milk thistle... good for health... and... longevity(?).
After meals, we did the water relay to get settled for the evening. And out-side, the rains continued falling. Once the water was done, we got a little while longer to simply relax, and Yonah did on his roof-top and I worked a bit more at the work table until about 19.30 when, I got up and closed the window blinds and put up the back board for the night. Yonah was still on his roof-top though so... it was a bit of coaxing to get him into his house for the night. No problem... lift the little platform, try to give him a kiss and there he went... toward his house. So I moved the platform closer to his perch and he merely stepped off the platform and onto the perch. Done? No quite. He wasn't ready for "seepie-nigh-night" so, I got the roof board on, closed the door to his house and let him have a while longer to "settle" him-self. I moved me to the kitchen to give him his "down time".
Well.. at 20.05 I looked in on him... he was on his perch, ready for lights-out. So I went in, opened the door to his house, leaned in and we exchanged a couple of kisses. When he was set at his night spot, I said "You have a good seepie-nigh-night now..." and turned his desk lamp off. My little Heart-and-Soul was tucked-in for the night. Out-side, the rain is still falling, the temperature is supposed to drop to about 14° but, MY Little Guy is warm, dry, safe, protected from the elements out-side his window, in HIS house, in HIS room where he can have a perfectly restful night's sleep with no concerns about the elements out there. Just as it ought to be for him.
(And tonight, my thought is: imagine Yonah in another 28 years... Imagine ME in another 28 years... imagine...)
Tuesday 06 September:
Another one of those "cold and dreary" mornings, this. And I was up before the dawn, getting "things" together. When, at 6.39, the house was still silent, I went in to check on my Little Guy... silently. I sat on the futon, and in the dim light that was making its way through the closed window blinds, I saw a little bit of head motion... So I whispered "Are you awake or would you like to sleep-in" (it was a perfect morning for that) and in response came a soft but clear "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo...hoo"! I suppose he was awake, but just waiting, or... rather like me, not quite ready to face the world-as-it-is these days.
So I answered with an equally soft "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo...hoo" and THAT was the start of our morning dialogue. And OH, how we chatted!
Well, I opened the door to Yonah's house, leaned in and continued our little conversation and leaned forward to give a couple of "Good morning kisses and to my absolute DELIGHT... SO MUCH dialogue... and SO MANY KISSES! SO, SO many kisses! Our day was officially open and my little Heart-and-Soul was well... so, too, was my day.
We chatted through the opening of the windows, and through the morning water relay. And Yonah scuttled over to his loft, then hopped about in his house as I went about my tasks in his room.
Out-side, the rains were falling, softly, the skies were grey, and his room was "cool". Last night though, I'd put the house furnace on, just to make sure that the place didn't get too terribly chilled. Still, with the rains, it was more damp than "chilled" but still "cool" none-the-less. Ah... it's getting to where we're going to have to get out the "heating" appliances, what-ever those will be this year, just to make certain that my Little Guy doesn't have to "fluff" against the cold and night. But, all said, he was in good spirits this morning and so, today was a "good" day... no matter what the world might have in store.
And "poop check"... 5 some-what "greenish" but properly "balanced" between the dark and white, and not as "watery" as they'd been in the past. Looks like things are "OK" in that respect so... On with the day... and on with the UV light too. (I notice that that light isn't as "bright" as the others. Just enough, really, to illuminate the room gently.) And, in a moment's time, Mr. Taube was up, out of his house, over to the shelf on the work table and then off to his futon and a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" to the dove pillow. Yes, indeed... WE were up and about and Tuesday came to order.
Today was, sadly, for me, another "work day", so, for our 2 hours this morning, I was out of the house. But when I got back, we had the entire day together!
It was perfect, really. A grey day with a constant "misty drizzle" of rain. But I got right to settling at the work table and then... THEN... OH... THE PLAY! THE KISSES! THE SNUGGLES! It's obvious that my Little Guy and I both enjoy each-other's company TREMENDOUSLY! And as I sat to get to attending the tasks at had for the day, he was ALL OVER the room! From the little shelf on the work table to sitting behind me on the back of the chair. And from his door perch, the wing snaps, and the cuddles and kisses and LUVIN'S ALL DAY! It's as though we're making-up for the lost time through August now... and I couldn't be happier.
I even got a 30-minute snooze in today too! AND... yes... just before the alarm... "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". No pecks this time. Now my Little Guy knows how to call me to wake me! Well... OK, then! (BRILLIANT LITTLE BIRD!)
It was also "PRESENTS DAY" again too! Oh yes...
I'd ordered a box of cuttlebones for him, from a company that claims to be a "new, small business" and they claim that their cuttlebones are clean and all natural. (Sepia King Box – Cuttlebone for Birds, Collectix GmbH). Well, indeed, the plastic bag in the box held a variety of sizes, some of them as large as Yonah! They look "fresh and clean" but OY! They smell of fish! (It's mentioned on the page that accompanies the bones and, in some way it's some-how "positive" because, well, fish bones should smell like fish. Yeah?) BUT... I took out a smaller one and held it up to Yonah and he went right for it! First a little peck, and then several MORE! The other cuttlebones that I'd gotten in the stores didn't interest him in the least! So maybe these are the solution. If he pecks and chews on these, it'll help keep his beak trim and he'll get his calcium. And with the help of the new UV light, he'll have his vitamin D to help him use the calcium... I'll be watching and hoping, to be sure. Mean-while, I'm thinking of a way to make some sort of "toy" that can hang and "twirl" in his house, to attract his attention and encourage him to peck-and-chew it. Some way to cut the larger cuttlebones and, maybe string the pieces together. There are plenty of them to work with and hopefully they'll continue to draw Yonah's attention.
AND, at the same time as the cuttlebones arrived... Yonah's new "night light" arrived! A little "globe" (the manufacturer claims it's a replica of the moon but...) with lights inside. "16 colours", or something of the sort. It's primarily to have in his room for a dimmable, softer sort of light at night, when he decides that he's not quite ready to settle-in and settle-down and might want to have a little bit more to eat or something. And it comes with a little "remote" for on-and-off, dimmer-brighter, and a selection of colours and "flashing effects". (All I really wanted was a little, dimmable night-light.) But the nicest aspect is that it operates independently. "Chargeable", so that the little "globe" can be carried about and placed just about any-where. (This evening, I put it on top of Yonah's house so that it shed light down onto his favourite perch, so that he could "find his way around" after I'd turned the desk lamp off, and I dimmed it to "just enough" for him to be able to see, in case he wanted to hop about for a little while. And when it got to be time to "tuck-in", I was able to turn the light off, completely, from the door-way to his room.) So, in the event of a power failure, we now have a little light we can depend on. AND, if (Fates forbid), we ever have another night where he's startled by something, there's a small light that can be illuminated so that I can see my way round to get to him. AND, ("Wait! There's more!" as the adverts tend to say.) on a "charge", the claim is that it will stay lit for about 4 hours, if set at "brightest" (longer, if dimmer), so it can be left on and eventually, it will turn itself off. All the while, there's something aesthetically pleasing about it looking a bit (remotely) like a little "moon", and 2 of the available lighting colours do make it pleasant.
So today was "More Presents" day! The one thing I still want to get it a way to keep my Little Guy warm through the Winter... I thought about trying a regular "heating pad", but that too, arrived today and "in theory" it was a good idea, but as I tried to situate it, I see it just won't do. So, we're looking into other options. For now, as these days have been chilly and damp, we do have the house furnace. I will NOT have my Little Guy fending-off the cold through the long days and nights of the Winter! He's been through MORE than enough discomfort and such. We'll have his little "condo" set and settled... one way or another. (And again, I say: "live and learn". We must be doing OK thus far?)
With all of this going on today, I did manage to get a lot of my own work done IN AND WITH THE COMPANY AND COMPANIONSHIP OF MY BESTIE LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL! We had a GREAT day together! And we had mid-day tea and evening meals together too! And we BOTH had a full day under the "UV" while, out-side, the rains drizzled out of a grey sky. (Hey! My Little Guy is getting his "vitamin D UV", in spite of "the weather out-side".)
This evening was an even earlier "close" than we've become used to over the Summer months. The skies got dark, and the Yardies had come and gone at about 16.00, staying just long enough for a quick "eat and run". By 19.15, my Little Guy was getting "settled at home" so, we got to the water relay, closing the window blinds and, tonight, preparing for the 10-13° temperatures, we closed the curtains again too. As I busied with my "evening tasks", Yonah had a little nosh at his ledge. And then, we tried to figure a best place for his new "night light" and to test it to see just how bright or dim it really would be in the darkness.
We tried the little "stand" that came with the "globe", but then there was the question of "where to set it". We tried the work table, the shelf on the work table and then discovered that, since it didn't need to be "attached"/plugged-in, it could sit freely... on the roof-top! And indeed, it did, and set at the "white" colour for the light (out of various shades of reds, blues, yellows and greens) it gave just the right amount of light, and almost did look like a little "moon" shining there. So now, with the little "remote", in the evening, we can turn the desk lamp off, leave the little "globe" on and, it gives enough light for Yonah to see his way about his house, should he want to go for a snack or hop about for a while, before actually settling-in and settling-down for the night! (Or, it can be turned off with the remote with-out me going into the room and disturbing him!) We left it on, turned off the other lighting in his room and I stepped out to see what sort of reaction/response to the "new light" Yonah would have. Well, at about 19.45, he was, indeed, settled, on his perch, ready for the night. So, with the remote for his light, which was shining softly down on him from his roof-top, I turned his light off... and my PRECIOUS LITTLE GUY was all "tucked-in" for a good night's restful sleep. (I turned on the power for the house furnace too, just to make sure that no matter the temperature out-side, the house would be protected... and remain warm enough so that my little Heart-and-Soul wouldn't have to "fluff" against and sudden chills.)
Another day had come to a close... and the highlight of it, for me, was the little "gifts" for my VERY BEST BESTIE! How I SO wish I knew if there's anything more that I can get to give him a "close-as-possible-to-perfect" life. He has GREAT food, and the little additives to help ("moulting mix" for his feathers, the "Bene-bac" to balance the bacteria in his digestive tract, milk thistle to help keep his liver strong... cuttlebone for beak-trim and for calcium... a UV light to help maintain his vitamin D). He's got a large house, and he's actually in that only at night. We're together most of our awake hours, and I try to make sure that he knows (some-how), just how important he is to me. But no matter... I'll always be reminded just how inferior I actually am to him, and I'll always be in absolute "AWE" because of him, and how he's accepted me...
Wednesday 07 September:
The clock read 6.53, the house was still silent, and out-side, the skies were grey again, this morning. The house was just "slightly chilled", the left-over from last nights drizzle and coolness. And I'd grown curious. No morning call from my little Heart-and-Soul. Yes, it was cool, rather dark and some-what dreary out-side, a perfect morning for "sleeping-in" and yes, come the Winter months, Yonah will, no doubt, be sleeping later since the day won't break until later and with it, the first chirps of the Little Ones out-side. But this morning, as it approached 7.00... well... I had to go in to check...
I quietly opened the door to his room and walked, almost silently, over to the futon where I sat down, at the end, and could look up and in and see the little silhouette on the perch. He was still and silent.
I whispered as softly as I could:
"Do you want to sleep-in this morning, Precious Little Guy? The birdies out-side are probably sleeping-in. It's OK."
And suddenly I saw... He lifted his head and let out a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" that sounded rather like he'd only just woken. A touch of "morning voice". Not "weak", rather, just a slight "raspy", I'd call it. I HOPED that I didn't wake him from his rest, but, right after, he stretched his wings and repeated his "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". And when I answered with the same of my own, our "morning chat" commenced... The day was officially brought to an "opening"! And our "morning chat" continued... as I leaned in for "Good morning" kisses... and SO MANY kisses this morning! And too, as I opened the windows to the grey morning, AND even through morning water relay! Indeed... not only was my little Heart-and-Soul up and awake, contrary to what it might have appeared to be this morning, he had GREAT energy and was ready for the world! (And at that point, so too, was I!)
Well, we got our morning routine completed and I headed out to settle the rest of the house as Yonah got busy having his breakfast and hopping about his house... and then flying off around his room.
At 9.00, I had to step out to get to work and so, little kisses of "See you in a little while." and I was off.
I popped in momentarily at about 10.00, to grab what I'd forgotten to bring with me this morning when I'd left for work... My Little Guy was taking it easy, listening to his bird-songs and the radio, lounging on his little corner "loft". But when I called "Hey WooHoo! I'll be back in about an hour." he raised his head, stood up, toddled over to where he could see me and then went back to his loft. it all but broke my heart to have to leave him again, but it was a comfort to know that he was well...
When I got back, he was right there, at the door to his house, when I got to the door of his room. He must have heard me come in and was right there, waiting to greet me! So I dashed over for "HELLO!" kisses, left him for a few moments while I changed into my "house clothes" and hurried back, with coffee and lap-top, to his work table where we spent the rest of this day... TOGETHER!
SUNSHINE THIS AFTERNOON AT 14.14!!!!! The rains FINALLY stopped, the clouds began to break and the sun came POURING in through Yonah's windows! AND, at this time of year, as Winter approaches, the sun begins to shine more directly in through Yonah's windows so it really DOES brighten the place up tremendously! And it was obvious that Yonah was happily enjoying the change because he took off, flying about his room. And when I had to step away from the work table, he was flying out and toddling across the kitchen... out into the living-room where he was up on the little limb there, with the dove decoys!
And today, I tried something with the cuttlebone, hoping to encourage him to nibble on it: I hung it from his "ceiling", over his food dish. He DOES peck at it when I play with it, moving it about and giving it a bit of a "twirl". I'm just hoping he'll pick MORE often... and keep his beak trimmed. (Right now, I'm dreading having to take an emery board and filing it back a bit... If he doesn't "file" it back, I'm going to have little-to-no-choice. I'm confident that I can do it with-out injuring him... I just don't want the "trauma" that it will involve. But, if I don't learn how and do this... well... it could become catastrophic for him if his beak grows too long... And taking him to another "veterinarian"? Not very likely at all. So... I'll just keep trying to coax and attract him to these cuttlebones... We have more than plenty, to be sure!
Sadly... the sun-shine didn't stay long enough and, as it tends to do, got hidden behind the general "evening clouds" that rise up over the western mountains... round about the time when Yonah and I COULD have gone out for a while, to enjoy it. So... We had our evening meals together (and yes, as he does, as I sat at the work table to eat, he headed to his ledge to eat). By the time we'd done, and sun-shine that managed to break in the sky between the clouds and the mountain-tops was just about dropped behind the mountains, so we settled for settling-in for the night. It's getting to the time of year where, if we don't manage to get out during the day (and the recent days were nothing but rain and drizzle, so we have to look "forward" and hope) for a bit of "natural UV", we're just going to have to be satisfied with the light bulb. But at least we now have that much.
But today was wonderful, and my Little Guy was so active and energetic! And even as I did manage to get quite of a bit of the work I had, done, we had a LOT of "break time"... especially because Yonah seems to have made the little shelf on the work table a "favourite hang-out" now. Looks like he's come to realise that if he "roosts" there, he can watch me and I can see him and I'll "break for LUVIN'S"! (And I do, and I did and he just kept coming back for MORE... which I more-than HAPPILY made available!)
But by 19.20 this evening, the sky had darkened quite a bit again... mostly because of the sun-set hour now, so, the rest of the house got settled and I settled back at the work table... We turned the radio off... listened to the bird-songs for a few more minutes and then they too, were turned off. I try to keep the bird-songs in sync, as it were, with the Yardies, and by 19.30, they come to the feeder in the back, have their evening snack and are gone, off to roost for the night. So, since the "wild" birds "out there" are heading off for the night, and there's no more chirping or coo'ing, we turn to quiet in the house as well.
And tonight, we got to try something "new" with the new "night light".
By 19.45, the window blinds were closed, and tonight, again, the curtains too, for a little extra "insulation" against any "chills" that might fall on us in the dark (low temperature forecast is 14° so, looks like our nights of 20s are past). So I put the "moon light" on, some-what half-dimmed, and started by placing it on the work table beside Yonah's house. But I noticed that he tends to roost, facing the light and what I was hoping for was that it would cast just enough light for him to relax but still be able to see well enough in case he wanted a bit more to eat (though he ate VERY well whilst I closed the windows and installed the night boards.. VERY well, indeed... does my heart SO MUCH GOOD to see him with such a great appetite), or perhaps, a drink of water. So, seeing that he wasn't on his "night perch" and that he was facing opposite from the direction he usually sleeps in, I moved the little globe... to his roof-top, centre. It's such a delight to be able to move it about, since it has a battery and doesn't need to be attached to a cord. Well, it seems to work quite well there because with-in seconds, Yonah had turned round, hopped over to his night spot and, I popped my head in for some "Good night" snuggles and kisses.
He seems to be comfortable with the new lighting and I got MANY little "kisses" back as he settled-down for the night... "Official" tuck-in... 19.50 tonight. But, I left the "moon" lit for a while longer, just to see if my Little Guy will actually get to settle-to-sleep with it on. (It's other purpose is to have a dim light available in case something startles him during the night. This light won't be as intrusive or sudden, bright or sharp as the room lights or the flashlight. But I'll be able to see him and he, to see me. And that was my original thought when I got it.)
AT 20.29, I stepped into his room to check on him and turn the light off. He was on his night perch... probably not really asleep but "settled-in". So I whispered... "I'll turn the light off now." (and I did) "Now you can get to seepie-nigh-night. Rest well, sleep well... I'll see you in the morning... Nigh-night my Precious Little Guy... I LOVE you."
Our day has come to a close... another day behind us... and... "Tomorrows"? We always hope.
Thursday 08 September:
It was SUCH a relief to see the SUN today! Even this morning was brighter, as the sun, late as it was in rising, washed over the mountains and tree-tops with a grand, golden, morning light. And the world, in and out of the old house was such a comfortable cool-warm for a change. No rain! No rain, at last!
But, at 6.35, I happened to notice the time and that there had still been no "morning call". And, as always, I began to wonder: was my little Heart-and-Soul sleeping in? Or... so I opened the door to his room, having closed it earlier when I woke, and stepped softly into his room and again, sat at the end of his futon where I could just see his silhouette there, on the perch. From what I could see, he was quite still, and I didn't want to disturb him, if he was still sleeping. Ever since learning that mourning doves "half sleep" through a night, I've never been quite certain if Yonah has learned that he can sleep, soundly, or, does he still carry the "wildness", as it were, and "half sleeps", always aware of his surroundings. I do know that, most often, when I walk into his room, no matter the time of night (or early morning), he'll let me know that he's aware that I'm there by giving a soft "HOO!" So, in the morning, I'm especially careful not to disturb him, in case he HAS simply managed to sleep. After all... his rest is SO important... to keep his "stress" as low as possible.
Well, as I sat there, trying to see if he was making any motions at all... out of the silence came a "sleepy" ...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo...hoo".
As softly as I could do, I answered "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo...hoo" and he responded with his original "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo...hoo." Ah, but that was just the beginning... of the day and our morning conversation. How we chatted, through the opening of blinds, the water relay, tidying his house. And as we did, the sun rose higher and brightened his room tremendously.
Finally... a sun-lit morning, blue skies, warm air, open window... just wonderful, after the days of grey, chills, drizzle, rain. And it was obvious that even my Little Guy was quite happy about it all too!
And though today was, for me, another "work day", I was able to slip away and back into the house for a moment, to drop back in to check on "things in the house". When I peeked into Yonah's room, he was SO BUSY with his twigs, moving them about, from his nest box, across to his little "loft platform" in the opposite corner. And when he'd drop a twig, he swooped down to get it. I was relieved to see that he had a "home project" to work on for the next hour so I went back to work... comforted. No boredom for my Little Guy. No time to feel "lonely" or "abandoned". I worry a great deal about that. Yonah TRULY IS a social Little One. It's all just SO abundantly clear that he, and, I'll suppose, other doves (being "flocking" sorts) depend on COMPANIONSHIP. That's why those two days that I had to be away were so terrible on and for me. My Little Guy and I were together for evening meal and then "tuck-in" at night... But in the morning, he woke to an empty house. No replies to his "morning call", and no one else about all through the day. And then, after that was finished, now, I'm here in the morning, to answer the "morning call", and we get to "chat" and get through the water relay and such, but then... I'm gone again, and the house is empty. OK, yes, now it's only about 2 hours, and I've read that parrots and others become accustomed to the "alone time" when their people go off to work. But it bothers me to my core to think that Yonah might experience some sense of "solitude"... "a-lonely" sort of "solitude". So when, as with today, I see that he DOES keep busy, that he DOES find something to occupy the little while, that he doesn't just lay in a corner, waiting for some-one to come along or some-thing to happen, I'm relieved.
I called over to him "Almost done! I'll be back in a little while." and he stopped, momentarily, looked up and went back to his "task-at-hand/beak/wing". It does my heart good to see that my Little Guy is OK "on his own". I worry, terribly, that he'll notice that I'm not in the house, some-where, for the couple of hours I'm away, and that he'll feel "alone"... with nothing to do. I'm still so amazed that a little mourning dove, from the wild, essentially and actually, can be so appreciative of the company of... well... me, a human. The truth of the matter is: not only do I appreciated Yonah's presence in my life... he absolutely IS my "Life", and I don't want him to be uncomfortable, disquieted or other-wise, discontented. He's my BLESSING and so too is the fact that even though I'm at a "job", I have the opportunity to drop in on him to, if nothing else, let him know that I'm not far and haven't abandoned him in any way.
So... the rest of the day remained clear, sunny and a comfortably warm 26°! It did a world of good for Yonah's mood (and, of course, when HE'S in good spirits, I am too!)
But... when I came back in from work today, as I do EVERY time I have to leave my Little Guy for any length of time, I immediately went into his room to see him AND HE CAME DIRECTLY TO HIS DOOR PERCH TO GREET ME... READY FOR LUVIN'S... KISSES, CUDDLES, SNUGGLES... JUST ALL SORTS OF AFFECTION AND LOVE! THE FASCINATING "CHANGE" IN HIS HOUSE THOUGH... HE'D MOVED ALL OF THE TWIGS FROM HIS "NEST BOX" ACROSS TO THE LITTLE "LOFT LEDGE" ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF HIS HOUSE! EVERY LAST TWIG... ONE AT A TIME! AND ALL IN THE WHILE I WAS AWAY! Each twig was removed from the box, and re-settled, as though they'd all been there all along, in the corner of his platform across the way. How I wish I could know what put that notion into his mind, to "move house", as it were, or "re-decorate". But, that he DID get the idea AND that he acted on it, diligently... impressive, to say the very least. And it was rather comforting to me to know that he wasn't just sitting there, feeling alone. He had an agenda, a task! That's my Little One... THINKING!
Well, we settled-down and settled-in for the remainder of the after-noon... and I managed a quick, 20-minute lie-down... "with company", of course. And then, I was back at the work table ,with things to do... And Yonah? He stayed busy... flying about his room, his house and putting the "finishing touches" on this morning's "home decorating".
This evening, after we had our evening meals (together, to be sure), at 18.00, Yonah "went out to the yard" to catch the rest of the day's sun-shine before it headed down behind the mountains. And Ms. Lady Dove came by, alone. She's an "odd one" though. It appears that she DOES notice Yonah, and that, in some fashion, she's "intrigued" by his presence. But for most of her time here, when she's not "picking" at the food in the feeder, she just stays, usually on the roof of the feeder, and stares at Yonah, from a distance. This evening, when she left, other doves came round to eat and one came down, saw Yonah, had something to eat and then took flight up into the old maple where he too, just rather stared down at Yonah. All the while, Yonah is so calm, almost as though the presence of other mourning doves makes no difference to him. He'll look at them for a moment or so, when they first arrive and then, he goes on about what-ever it is he decides to do, be that having a bite of his own or just pacing in his old house. It's intriguing, to me, because I wonder what Yonah makes of the other doves... and, most certainly, I wonder what the other doves make of him! (And, I'd really like to know why none of the other doves come over to see him. I find THAT the most interesting. It's obvious that they see him. But, he makes no attempt to "call" to them, and they don't make any "conversation" with him. It does tend to comfort me in that, had I released him back out to the flocks, he might have been "rejected" by them... perhaps they sense his little "handicap" with the injured wing and they don't want to associate or affiliate with him. He'd be "rejected" and alone... At least now, he's neither "rejected" nor does he have to ever be "alone". So long as we both take breath.)
Sun-shine didn't last all that long this evening... the days truly are getting noticeably shorter, but as sit set, it washed-over the trees and lawn with a beautiful "golden" light and ALL of the doves in the yard appeared to enjoy it so much. Well, after all the rainy days and nights, it was a pure delight.
And whilst Yonah was out, in the sun, air and Yardies, I got the evening water relay done and got his house ready for him when he came back in so that all that needed to be done after was install the night board and close the window blinds for the night.
By 18.30, the sun had set... the sky was still light, but only with the rays that made their way above the mountains, so, it was time to come back in before the temperature dropped, as it does, as quickly as the sun sets. (No "chills" for my Little Guy!)
I brought Yonah back into his room, placed his little old house on his futon and opened the door and as I stepped back to go out and get his "stand" back up to the porch... he was UP, OUT and back into his house and directly to the little mirror in the corner where he gave the reflection there the customary "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" as though he's letting the little one in the mirror know "I'm BACK!".
So, another day was coming to a close and we both re-settled in his room, Yonah in his house where he had his "evening snack" and I sat at the work table for a while of a little more work.
By 19.20 though, the sky out-side had darkened, the Yardies had all departed, off to their evening roosts. It was our time to "close house", as it were, for the night. So I rolled Yonah's house out from the windows, closed the blinds and put up the night boards... but tonight, I put his little "moon-light" on his roof-top, set dimly. With that and the desk lamp it seemed quite nice, calm. I turned off the desk lamp and moved my things from the work table to the kitchen for the night... 20 minutes later, my Little Guy was all settled on his perch, in his "night spot". Our day had "officially come to a close.
I leaned in for our "Good night" kisses and whispered, softly: "Good-night my Little One... I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. You sleep well tonight. You're safe in your house and I'm only in the next room, so you don't have to worry about anything or watch for anything. I'm right here and NOTHING will EVER harm you. I LOVE YOU."
I got a few gentle pecks on the nose and... by 19.40... I turned the "moon light" off too. Our Thursday was done and my little Heart-and-Soul was settled for a good night's restful sleep after quite a busy day.
Friday 09 September:
The house had been so quiet all morning and the time had passed. The day-light broke a bit later than in recent days gone by, but as the clock reached 6.45, there'd still been no "morning call". I know that my Little Guy will be waking later now, but I was "concerned" by this point. The door to his room was closed, because that's what I do first thing when I wake... earlier than he does. (I HAVE to be awake and at the ready when he calls. That's my own determination. But I don't want him to "call" and EVER feel that he's alone and that there's nobody here to open the door to his house so that he can fly about, at will.)
I got up from the kitchen table and went to his door, opened it as quietly as possible, just in case he was still sleeping, and made my way across his still-dark room to the end of the futon where I sat and looked up and in on the little silhouette on the perch. Watching for any sort of movement of his head, which is what he moves first when he wakes and I'm there, I whispered: "Do you want to sleep-in this morning? Is everything OK?"
He was some-what slower-than-usual to respond but then, his little head bobbed up and down and he answered me with a soft "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". He was OK! I was OK! We were OK! The day was OK! And as I opened his door and got to the morning tasks of removing the night boards and opening his window blinds, we had "chats". Everything was perfectly fine. He was just relaxing in the early morning... Well, even the Yardiees hadn't been round for their breakfast in the garden yet, so... if I weren't such a worrier, my Little Love could have taken more time too. (I just tend to "worry"... constantly... and even more-so, after our "August incident".)
Good news for this morning's "poop check": 10 little poops, all of them "brown"... not "green"! Looks like the milk thistle and "Bene-bac" are doing well, and Yonah is tolerating them! I'm SO relieved! Though there is one more thing that I wonder about and that "Dr. Phairie-Princess" either didn't notice or chose to not mention: Yonah's feathers are such a dark brown, much darker than the feathers of the mourning doves in the yard. And I've read that "dark feathers" can be an indication of all sorts or ailments and maladies... especially the liver. Apparently, even in something as simple as "seeds", birds can suffer from quite a "build-up" of "fat" in their liver and that seems to be one of the most common ailments, causing discolouration in "poop", darkening of feather colour, malformed feathers, and so many other complications. So, the milk thistle seems to be helping if Yonah's having any "liver troubles" and the feathers won't change colour until the next moult. But, I still wonder and worry. If anything, I do NOT want him to EVER "suffer"... pains, malaise... We might not have competent doctors at our disposal, but, together, we'll figure things out and if there's a solution to what-ever "out there"... we'll do the very best we can to make sure things go perfectly well... or as close to perfect as is humanly possible.
But, other-wise, this morning looked good... and we were off to our "usual routine"... water relay, house-tidy, cuddles and "'mooches" and chatting the morning away, room-to-room!
And I had to step out and away, off to work, this morning, but again, I had the opportunity to drop by during the day to say "Hello!" and when I looked-in, I could see my Little Guy being so busy in his house, checking things there, moving the few twigs on his "floor" and generally, keeping active. THAT does SO MUCH GOOD for my "worrying soul" - seeing him "occupied" and active. It's comforting to know that he doesn't "sulk", and, seeing him active shows me that he's feeling well. Good news... GREAT news.
Well, when I got back in, "we" took a little snooze together, on his futon and I got to the affairs of the house-hold and again, we chatted... room-to-room. And, well OF COURSE, we took "breaks"... for SNUGGLES, KISSES, AND ALL SORTS OF AFFECTIONS! And my Little One took some flights about the house. (I'd swear that most of them are intended to check on me, to make sure I'm in the house, and to let me know that he's keeping track of my where-abouts. He comes flying into the kitchen, lands on the carpet behind me, looks at me for a while and then toddles through to the living-room where he heads over to the decoys, gives a couple "woo-HOO's" there and then... WOOSH! Back through the kitchen and back to his house. It truly IS rather amazing that he's SO comfortable in his house. He has complete freedom to go any-where in the rest of the house, but he prefers, obviously, HIS place. I wonder if mourning doves, in general, are so territorial. Do they tend to stay in one particular place when they become comfortable there? I would have thought they'd travel about. But Yonah prefers the familiarity of his surroundings. In a way, that's comforting to me: what-ever I've provided for him in "his room", "his house", "his territory" is enough to keep him happy, comfortable. And THAT, to me, is SO important! His comfort and his health.)
This evening, again, after our meals, we managed to grab the last of the day's sun-shine and the Yardies came round... 5 of them again! But, other than Ms. Lady Dove, the rest of them paid Yonah no mind. Ms. Dove stared at him between "snacking". And there was one quite, I'll call him "obnoxious" young male who insisted that the feeder was HIS for as long as he was there and, with many wing-snaps, shooed-away all others who came to dine! Yonah just looked-up at him as he "defended" his meal, and then, at one point, simply turned and had a little snack of the food that I put in his old house for him when he's out. It was almost as though he was saying:
"Yeah... what-ever. You send the rest of them away. I have my own food right here."
But, by 18.45, the sun had gone down behind the mountains, and the Yardies were all vying for their turn at the food in the feeder but, the temperature was dropping so, it was time to come back in for the night. And I'd already done the water relay and such. (I try not to disturb the doves in the yard, in the hope that they'll become comfortable enough with Yonah and hopefully, one day, will stop by to "visit" with him. If nothing else, it'll show me whether or not Yonah would accept another dove in proximity... or maybe, even sharing his house. I still want to know whether or not it would be better for him to have another dove to keep him company. People tell me "He doesn't need another dove... he has you." but... I'm not dove... I'm not even a "reasonable facsimile"! But time will tell... "Time"...)
So... we came back in and tonight, it took well under 60 seconds after I opened the door to his old house as it rested on his futon and he was back in HIS house... "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" to the little reflection in the little mirror and we were re-settled.
By 19.30, my Little Guy made it obvious that he was really ready for "seepie-nigh-night". He was so settled, calm, quiet, on his perch. So I took the cue... and went about closing the blinds and installing the night boards. And as soon as I started at the window blinds, Yonah went for his "before seepie-nigh-nigh snack".
He's SO BRILLIANT... He's come to "KNOW" that, when I close the blinds, it's almost "tuck-in" time and it's time to grab that snack so that his little crop is full for the night. He now has a "routine" that he "KNOWS"... And I'm hoping that my absences in the mornings when I go to work will become just as familiar to him, soon. It's going to be very difficult for me, come Winter, when the mornings will be so bitterly cold, and the skies so dark until so late in the morning. But, we have time to get us both, into the "routine"... and I'll be sure that he has his UV light up and glowing and plenty of warmth.
Well, by the time I was ready to put the roof board on, my Little Love was back on his perch, and in his night spot. I wasn't sure if he really wanted "lights off" just yet, he was so busy "preening", so, I put his "moon light" on, and placed it on his roof-top, just enough to illuminate his house so that he could see, should he want to head over for another snack or a drink of water, and then, turned the desk lamp off. Oh! But he noticed the difference in the light. And I wonder what the room must have looked like to him, since he sees "UV" and the light from the "moon-light" is a "blue-white" where-as the desk lamp is "warmer", closer to the better-quality old "incandescent". No matter, he seemed quite content with the dimmer light and looked really comfortable so I left him to settle and I went about settling the rest of the house.
At about 20.15, I looked in on him. My Little Guy was all comfy on his perch, settled at his "night spot" so I went in to "tuck him in" with re-assurances of LOVE, and that I'm only in the next room. All was well for a good night's restful sleep. And, as I left the room, I turned his moon-light off.
Ah... the house was still, and I was just in the kitchen, getting ready to call the day "done" when...
FLUTTERING OF WINGS !!! SOMETHING STARTLED MY LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL IN THE DARK AND HE WAS TRYING TO ESCAPE !!! ALL I COULD THINK OF IS "THIS HAD BETTER NOT BE RODENTS AGAIN !!! WE HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH OF THAT LAST WINTER, AND NOW, IT ISN'T COLD ENOUGH FOR THEM TO BE COMING INTO THE HOUSE, NEVER MIND, TRYING TO GET AT YONAH'S FOOD IN HIS HOUSE" !!! I HADN'T HEARD ANY NOISES, SO I BOLTED FOR HIS HOUSE AND TURNED THE MOON-LIGHT BACK ON. HE WAS ON THE FLOOR OF HIS HOUSE, BELOW HIS PERCH !!! AND THOUGH HE WASN'T SHAKING, AND HE DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE INJURED OR TOO TERRIBLY SHAKEN, HE WAS OBVIOUSLY NERVOUS. WHEN I REACHED IN TO STROKE HIM AS I WHISPERED "IT'S OK. I'M HERE. IT'S OK." HE TODDLED AWAY AS IF TRYING TO AVOID OR ESCAPE !!! NOW, I WAS ABOUT AS SHAKEN AS HE'D BEEN. BUT, ONCE I DID MANAGE TO STROKE THE BACK OF HIS NECK, HE CALMED ENOUGH TO HOP INTO MY HAND AND I BROUGHT HIM BACK UP TO HIS PERCH. HE HOPPED ONTO THE PERCH AND WAS CALM AGAIN. When I was sure he was OK, I left the moon-light on and let him re-settle in the dim light. At about 21.20 I checked him... he was OK, calm, re-settled... I whispered "Good night my Little Love. It's OK now... It's all OK now. You get a good rest." And, turned off the moon-light and let him get his sleep.
Of a particular note:
I was looking into the dark colouration of his feathers and happened upon several resources that suggested that a deficiency in vitamin A will cause feathers to darken, and even go to black! I know that there's vitamin A in the
"mixture" of seeds and pellets that I make for my Little Guy. SO many different seeds, and little "pellets" of fruits and vegetable. And I've tried to give him a "vegetable chop" but he absolutely refuses to eat that. It has carrots, and peppers, broccoli, and such in it. But, it does no good. He won't eat it if served alone. And when I've tried to mix it in with his seeds, he picks the seeds and leaves the vegetables. I try soaking some seeds in cod liver oil, but he doesn't eat well until I change them for his regular mix. And I even tried sweet potato, chopped finely and even baked-soft. Nope. He wants his seeds! So, in the research, I came across several recommendations to add "Spirulina" to his seeds. Apparently, it's good for people AND good for birds as well! With that in mind, I now sprinkle milk thistle on his seeds with each "change" of food. "Topping", as they call it. And that seems to be working rather well. He gets a good serving each time he eats now. So, after much searching, I've found a U.S.-based grower and processor, located in Hawaii (I will NOT give my little Heart-and-Soul ANYTHING from China or the likes!) and have ordered a bottle of "Spirulina powder". We'll give it a try. I expect it will change his poops back to a "green" again. But I'll be watching with extreme care. And we'll try a serving, then, as with the milk thistle and the "Bene-bac", see how he tolerates it. From there, we'll see how often we'll serve it. (Right now, the "Bene-bac" is bi-monthly. The milk thistle is every new serving of fresh seeds.) I understand that his feathers won't "change" colour until the next moult, and he's due for one in the next couple of months so... I can hope that the new feathers will come in strong, healthy and closer to the "natural" shade of beige... with the "hint of silver-grey", like his flocks out-side.
It's all been and remains "trial, error and HOPE".
But, it's also as I always say:
NOTHING is "too good" nor "good enough" for my little Hear-and-Soul.
Saturday 10 September:
Another one of those "later" mornings today. The house was so quiet and I happened to look at the clock. 6.57 and not a sound from my Little Guy's room. Yes, the sun is rising later, the "day is breaking" later, but when the clock approached 7.00, I become "concerned". I've always been the same, for all the time Yonah and I have been together. I set alarms for me to be awake well before he wakes so I notice when the time between my alarm and his "morning call" gets longer. I don't want to disturb him in the morning and I don't want to deny him hi rest, especially on a morning after he's had a "startle" the night before. But, I've only one way to know whether he's alright or not, so...
I went into his room, and silently made my way over to his house. He was on his perch. I could see his little silhouette there, so calm and quiet. And as I sat, on his futon, looking from different angles, I saw his little head bob a few times. He was awake and aware that I was sitting there. So, knowing that he'd interpret a "still and silent presence" as a potential threat, I whispered "Good morning my Love. I don't want to disturb you if you want to sleep a little while longer. I just wanted to know if you're OK."
As I spoke, he stretched his wings, so I opened the door to his house and sat back for a moment longer to see if he'd coo... He did... a soft "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". Not "weak"... just "soft". So I took that as an indication that it would be OK to remove the night boards, at least.
He was so calm and rather still as I moved his house round to remove the back board. But when I opened the window blinds and the dim, morning light came into the room he gave a "morning greeting" that was more familiar: "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo". And when I said "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo", he perked-up, stretched his wings again and started his "morning preening". I continued to open his windows and he hopped over to his door perch and then took a flight up to his wall shelf (where he could watch me... "supervising" the morning water relay and such). My Little Love was up, awake, and on his way for the morning, but I was still "concerned" that he was some-what unusually quiet this morning.
When I'd done at the windows and started to get on with the water-change, he came flying over to his roof-top and watched me as I came and went with the fresh water.
"Poop check" this morning was promising. Actually, it was the best I've seen in a while. 9 little poops and no "green". And no "bleeding of green-coloured water" on the square of kitchen roll. Maybe, just maybe, the probiotics and the milk thistle are working their "magic". What-ever it is, it's such a relief to see my Little Guy back to an almost normal state of digestion. After all, we're doing this on our own, for the most part, and the very best I can do is keep my research going and HOPE! For this morning... although he was tired, obviously, things were looking quite good... on the kitchen-roll.
Well, by the time I had to get out to work this morning, he seemed to be doing well. We'd done the morning routine, his house was all set for the morning, the sun had risen, the temperature too. We were on the way to another sunny and mild sort of day. AND... today, again, I DID manage to "slip away fro the office" round about 10.30 and came back to open the door to the house, letting in the fresh air and to peek in to see my Little Love lounging on his loft. I was glad to see him relaxing and I know he heard me checking-in, but I called in "I'll be right back in a little while." He raised his head and turned his face toward the my voice. He was "home", he was comfortable... all was well...
When, at last, I got back in, I went right over to his house and poked my head in. He was on his loft but came hopping right over to the other perch for KISSES! So I got changed into "house clothes" right away, put together a little mid-day snack and settled at his work table... we had our mid-day snacks together. I managed to get a 30-minute lie-down too... and he came flying over to "roost" on my leg for a while. Didn't stay, because when I woke, he was back in his house, checking "things" there, toddling back and forth. But, the sun was shining, there was a grand, warm breeze coming in through the open window and our Saturday was OURS, alone, at last!
As I sat, working with some things I needed to attend, at the work table, my Little Guy was at his door perch and on the little shelf on the work table, watching, SO interested in what-ever I was doing. I wonder if he isn't some-how intrigued by the movement of my fingers and/or the sound of the ticking of the key-board as I work along, typing (as it were). But what-ever it is, it certainly attracts his attention, even to the point where he tilts his head, from time-to-time, as if trying to get a better perspective, or even trying to figure it all out.
Anyway, I happened to notice, yet again, what a horrible clipping was done on his beak and how the top slightly curves over the lower. It doesn't stop him from eating, and it doesn't stop him from preening, but I worry now, that I need to keep a careful watch to make certain that the top doesn't get too long again. And so, with a wary heart, I decided that today, before it became absolutely necessary, I'd try to take an emery board and gently try to work the "curve" out. I've read that that's the best approach aside from taking a "Dremel" to his beak. But those can be so dangerous, because they trim quickly AND birds have been known to stick their tongue out as the Dremel is grinding! So NO... I'm not going to even attempt such a thing! And an out-right "file"? Well, perhaps on a larger bird with a more substantial beak it might be OK, but Yonah's little beak is so delicate... Also, the "curved" bit isn't such that it can be "clipped" any closer than it is. I don't want to risk causing him any bleeding (which, obviously, didn't matter to "Dr. Phairie-Princess", from the looks of the blood-stained towel she'd tossed into the basin in the examining room on that horrid day we went to the "veterinarian"). Nor, do I want to cause my little Heart-and-Soul and pain or discomfort. So... since he was letting me "hold" and cuddle him, I took a new, clean emery board in one hand and...
Holding him on my lap, one hand holding his head, fingers over his beak, and on both sides of it, I GENTLY "stroked", from face to tip, a couple of times. OH! He wasn't at all appreciative of the whole ordeal and made it known by trying to wiggle his head a bit and pulling back into my hand! So I didn't get much "accomplished" with my efforts. And when, after 3 "strokes" per side, I realised that my little bundle of feathers wasn't going to take this "new experience" calmly, I put the emery board aside and brought him up so that I could give him some re-assuring kisses. I just some-how know that he "knows" that I'd NEVER cause him any harm and as I spoke softly to him and gave him some gentle kisses, he calmed so that all I had to do was bring him to his perch and he quietly hopped out of my hand and onto the perch... and all was well and fine.
Since we don't have another "veterinarian" to refer to at the moment, and I don't want to risk another trauma, it appears that I'm going to HAVE to figure this "beak trimming" out for my-self now. So, when I'm sure that the "surprise" of this little attempt has passed, and we're having another calm, "lovey" sort of day, I'll give another try. Hopefully, after a couple of times, Yonah will come to understand that I'm NOT going to hurt him and that these little "beauty parlour" moments will be for the best.
ALTHOUGH... today, I finally managed to "carve" a little hole into one end of the one cuttlebone he's had in his house AND I put a bit of string through it so that it hangs, freely, from under his favourite perch! This way, it keeps it off his floor, and it moves about freely so that, if he happens to walk or fly into it, it won't injure him. If I hold it to him and move it about, he HAS nibbled and chewed on it. And he HAS, obviously, moved it about, when it was laid on his floor. So, now, I'm hoping that as it swings a bit and twirls on the string, he'll give it a few nips and such... and that way, he'll "participate" in keeping his beak in order.
Today though, THE MOST DIFFICULT aspect of approaching his beak was the worry that there just might be some kind of "fracture" on it that I can't see. And no, I didn't notice anything that would indicate a fracture. And Yonah didn't appear to be in any "discomfort" as I "filed"... other than I now he's not used to being held round his face and the sensation of the emery board on his beak MUST have been odd, to say the least. Still, since "Dr. Phairie-Princess" simply mentioned, AND DOCUMENTED a "fracture" on his beak but NEVER BOTHERED TO SPECIFY "WHERE" OR HOW OR ANY PARTICULARS, AND I WOULDN'T DARE, ESPECIALLY AT THIS POINT IN TIME, TO TELEPHONE THAT "OFFICE" TO INQUIRE, my little Heart-and-Soul and I are on our own and I just have to be EXCEPTIONALLY careful as we try to keep him in best-possible shape and condition... together.
Hey... we came into this situation together, and I had NO idea WHAT I was supposed to do for him. And we were alone, with our struggles, through that Winter of 2020... AND WE MADE IT! So, we'll be OK... we'll be OK.
So for the rest of the day we settled calmly and enjoyed the rest of our Saturday... together, listening to song-birds, a bit of radio, some other musical selections I have on the iPod... and my Little Guy went about his day... when he wasn't on my shoulder, pecking at my ear, which he did several times during the day, or when he wasn't "perched" on the back of the chair I sat on... or, was on the table-shelf... watching me type.
This evening though, after we had our evening meals together, I had been hoping we'd get out-side for another 45 minutes, at least, of sun-shine but, as the skies will do as the day moves on and the air temperature cools... the clouds rose over the mountains and blocked any worth-while sun-shine. Three doves did come by to the feeder to get a bit of a snack before night-fall. But, for the most part, the yard was empty... so, Yonah and I stayed in this evening... under the "UV" light. (At least we have that as a back-up and I make sure he gets at least an hour of that on the days when we don't get out-side. And Winter is coming when we won't be able to get out into the yard... because of the cold, so... we have this time to become "adjusted" to the "artificial sun"... I'm just thankful we have this now and we'll have it through the Winter.)
I got the water relay done this evening, "under supervision". I've been doing the "evening routine" whilst Yonah is out with the Yardies, lately so that, when he comes in, he can just get back to his house and settled, quietly. And when that was done, we had a little while to sit together and "chat" a bit before the sun completely set and the world out-side his windows actually went "dark". (And that's happening SO quickly and SO early now... The subtle reminder: Summer is RUSHING away.)
By 19.45 this evening, we had his house and his room all still, settled, quiet for the night. And I put his new moon-light up on the roof-top board, just bright enough so that he can see well enough to fly about safely, but dim enough so that it doesn't disturb him if he wants to simply go to sleep. And it's situated so that he doesn't stare at it, as he often does with other lights in the room. (He, as well as other doves, I've noticed, tends to face the source of light, out-side in the setting sun and even in his room. So, since this little moon-light is "LED", I thought it best that he no stare into the harshness. Where it is, it casts light up and out-ward, lighting the room slightly, but the better light is closer to Yonah's house. Not, as I say, "bright", but just enough so that he can fly or hop about safely.) And so, with that, I whispered my "Good night" to him and said I'd be back later to turn the light off... and I went out to the kitchen.
All was calm and quiet until 20.10 when... AGAIN, THIS EVENING... THE FLUTTERING OF WINGS! AND AGAIN, WHEN I GOT IN AND TO YONAH'S HOUSE, HE WAS ON HIS FLOOR! The fluttering wasn't as "panicky" as it was last time, but what-ever caused it was enough to have him off his perch again! So... I've set a mouse trap for the night, with "wild bird seed" in it (mice seem to enjoy that as much as the birds do) and left it on the floor at the base of the shelving where his house is. We'll see if that's what startles him. If so, we have a lot of work cut out for us again, this season. If not... I'll just wonder what, exactly, it is that disturbs him. (I'll have to make arrangements for another few nights on his futon if this keeps going.)
By 21.00, all had been quiet and still... so I used the little "remote" for the moon-light and turned it off completely and waited until 21.45 before I was ready to head off to bed my-self, for a night of "half-sleep" for me... I'll be listening for ANY sound coming from Yonah's room tonight! (And, from now on... every night... I'll be listening.)
Sunday 11 September: MY LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL IS BEGINNING HIS MOULTING !!!
The clock reached 7.00 this morning and when there was no "morning call", again, I stepped softly into Yonah's room to check on him. He was there, on his perch, roosting and resting quite still. So, as I've been doing in recent days, I whispered ever-so softly:
"Good morning my Precious Little One. If you want to, you can sleep-in longer. It's cloudy out there and there's no rush to get up." and just as I finished saying, he replied with an almost equally-soft...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"
and a brilliant stretch of his wings! So, I opened the door to his house, put up his door perch and was about to step back to let him rest longer when he repeated:
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo".
Our Sunday morning commenced... and I removed the roof board to see what his reaction would be... Another wing stretch. So I leaned my face in to give him a few "Good morning" kisses and I got a few right away. He was up, awake...
He did manage to sleep through the night after I'd turned-off his moon-light last night. And the good news about the mouse trap I'd set last night: It wasn't only just "mouseless" this morning, it had been un-disturbed. So, looks like it isn't a mouse that's been vexxing my Little Guy. But I'll keep the trap ready and handy for a while... just in case. I do NOT want those vermin crawling and climbing about in Yonah's house... whether they disturb him or not. I WILL NOT tolerate more droppings in his food dishes, and I WILL NOT tolerate having to worry about them bringing parasites into his environment! So, the "enemy" might not have arrived, but the "war" is declared and we stand at the ready!
I noticed though, that there were a lot of little feathers in his house this morning. He's shedding a lot of his "downy" feathers lately. But, what I wasn't thinking this morning is "moulting". This morning I was "concerned" about this. After the trauma of changes in his routine in August, and the trauma of the "veterinarian" visit, in addition to the new "ingredients" in his diet (the probiotics and milk thistle), I had to consider that all of these things might have come on too soon. (Later on in the day, I realised... he's more-than-likely moulting!)
Anyway, we went about our usual routine and while I opened window blinds and got the water relay done, my Little Guy rested on his perch. He was still rather tired this morning and, honestly, I'd looked out to the yard earlier and even the Yardies seemed to be taking their "Sunday"... nobody, not even the blue jays, had been around, and usually, by 7.00, they're on their way out to the wilderness or where-ever they go of a day. Well, a grey Sunday was perfect for "lounging", and it was still quite warm so, best to enjoy the warm, lazy days whilst we may... they won't be around for much longer.
By the time I'd finished settling the rest of the house and gotten ready to move into Yonah's room for the day, he was a bit more animated and had even gone over for a quick bite for breakfast.
And "poop check" this morning? 7 little poops, all nicely formed, a dark brown and no "green water" on the kitchen roll square. GOOD NEWS! GREAT START to the day!
Well, all told, over-all, we had a quiet Sunday together. I had things to get to around the house and in his room, and while I was at the work table, Yonah spent most of that time on the little shelf there, beside me. It was just the GRANDEST sort of day... calm in the house, and us, together, just enjoying our companionship.
But as the day progressed, I did happen to notice:
He's drinking a lot of water and passing it with little "strands" of poop today. I'm wondering what's going on with him. Losing feathers, drinking a lot of water and it passing as liquid. He's eating well... VERY WELL, in fact! I wonder if this could be a sign that the milk thistle is causing him to "clear" his system. Just reading that diahoeria, loose stools and watery stools are common side effects of milk thistle. And tummy aches too. According to several sources, milk thistle isn't "toxic" in any way, and there's really very little chance that he'd eat enough to make him seriously ill. It's rather like anybody eating something that just "disagrees" with them. But over all, the milk thistle DOES help keep his liver healthy and the "side effects" tend to stop once the "system" adjusts to it. So, I'll just have to make sure that his water (in his pool, since that's where he chooses to drink from) is kept clean at all times and I'll watch, with extreme care, to make sure that he doesn't become dehydrated or that the diahoeria doesn't become too taxing on his little system. After all, I'm hoping to introduce a little "spirulina" into his diet soon too. (Vitamin A!) And that will be extremely small quantities to start, and time in between servings to make sure it doesn't make him ill. For now, though, the "plan" is to just make the next serving of food, back to the original... with no "additives" and to watch his response... and poops! Oh, but it seems that no matter how much I learn as we go along, the more "new" things my Little One can come up with to get me back to researching. He does keep me busy! AND EDUCATED! And for him... it's a DELIGHT beyond description.
Had to hoover the room this after-noon... I mean, I HAD to! With all the little downy feathers all over the place! It really is quite amazing, to see so many feathers about the place and yet, Yonah shows little sign of the missing feathers. Even that little "spot" on his right wing seems to be filled back in nicely! Now THAT was quick! Although, I have yet to really "poke about it" to check. Still, as many "downy" feathers are coming out, he's not showing any "wear" for it. I DO have to wonder though, why so many feathers so suddenly... Well, his appetite is TREMENDOUS, and his energy is, once he's awake, very good. AND... MOST important of all... he STILL comes over for KISSES so he's well enough for kisses and snuggles. "Time" will tell... and my time is his time. We'll learn... I'll learn... He'll teach me... as he's done all along.
And so... our Sunday just rolled along... quietly... together. And I got his room cleaned and tidied and managed to get much of my own tasks and chores done, including a little washing of his pillow cases (which was necessary today, because of his new "almost constant" pooping). And we took TWO breaks for naps... had a little mid-day snack together and he spent much of his day on the little shelf on the work table, right beside me.
And, on time, we had our evening meals together, as we do. It was WONDERFUL today... I didn't have to leave the house so we got to spend the ENTIRE DAY together! BLISS!
After our evening meals this evening, because the sky was so grey, it seemed to get that much darker, that much earlier. So, making my way through yet, another "carpet" of little downy feathers (he's been plucking them through the day today... poor Little Guy!), we did the water relay, had the bird-songs and radio off and I turned the UV light off as well. When the water in his pool was changed, I turned the fountain on for a few moments, to get the fresh water circulated and then that too, was turned off. To my surprise, at 18.45 he was already having his "before seepie-nigh-night snack"! Looks like our days will certainly be getting much shorter quite soon now.
But I was reading, right after meals, on several web-sites, on the matter of "moulting" that birds, in general, are not only uncomfortable with itching at this point of moulting, but they get quite tired more often. Well! THAT explains the sudden burst of energy when my Little Guy "moved house" from one side to the other and since then, has been so quiet in the mornings and "sleeping-in" later. Sure, "tuck-in" has been closer to 19.00 than 20.00 recently. And instead of his approximately 8-10 hours of "night rest", he's been getting about 12. But, if he's moulting, I've learned, over our time together, it's not only "annoying" and some-what-if-not-out-right painful, it's EXHAUSTING for him! So, we'll be making sure that "tuck-in" comes at an earlier hour... and even if the little moon-light is left on for a while longer, Yonah will have the opportunity to get the rest he needs. And if he wants to "sleep-in" of a morning, well, "What my Little Guy wants and needs, my Little Guy gets." And that's that.
Mean-while, at the rate things are going, it's beginning to look like I could start a "down pillow" with the little feathers all over the place! If nothing else, I could be hoovering almost non-stop. POOR LITTLE ONE!
As for not going out to the yard this evening, oddly enough, the Yardies didn't come round for an evening snack. Though the forecast doesn't call for one, there might be a storm brewing some-where in the vicinity... or... the Yardies know something the rest of us don't. (Or, maybe they too, are beginning their moulting and instead of flying about, they too, are roosting earlier these days.) Oh, since Yonah has come into my life, I seem to be taking so much MORE into consideration, from the Little Ones in the yard and woods, to "Life" in general. After all... "Life" is "Nature" and, ultimately, "Nature" is "Life"... and NOTHING is closer to Nature than... my Little Guy here!
Any-way... yes, indeed, tonight truly was "early tuck-in"... Shortly after my Little One had had his snack, he was over to his perch for the night. So, since it truly was quite dark, considering the hour, I went about closing the window blinds for the night and placing the night boards, back and roof. By the time I'd done, he was looking quite "settled". So, I put his moon-light on top of the roof board, as we did last night, just bright enough for him to be able to navigate across his house, in case he wanted something more to eat or to drink before "settling-in" for the night. (And it worked too... because he DID make a quick "flight" across to his food ledge and then back again so now I know that he's able to see what's around him clearly enough.) But 19.30, all was settled... my little Heart-and-Soul was tucked-in for a night's rest. But by 20.45 the moon-light was off too, so that he could actually get some proper sleep for the night. All had been silent and still... My PRECIOUS Little Guy was getting his proper rest!
I added a bit of the special "moulting mix" to the food in his dish too. Tomorrow, we'll be making a particularly special mix for him, including some peanuts and sun-flower seeds, ground to a size where he can just swallow those. These are the days when protein will be necessary, so tomorrow, we'll be boiling some eggs as well. By the time we get all the "special ingredients" in his mixture, including the "new" spirulina, my Little Guy will be getting quite the "balanced diet"! Vitamins, minerals (I'll have to boil and super-crush the egg shells now so he gets his calcium as well), and with the UV light... he should be in PERFECT shape, health and condition come the "new coat" of feathers. As I say: "NOTHING IS TOO GOOD NOR GOOD ENOUGH FOR MY LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL. And in the tough days ahead, I'm right here for him... all the way.
Come Tuesday, we'll be one month from our TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY TOGETHER !!! TWO YEARS !!! AND THEY'VE BEEN EDUCATIONAL, AMAZING AND TRULY... "AWE-FULL" !!! I never even imagined we'd make it this far together, but it couldn't have been with-out Yonah's patience, stamina and LOVE. I am HUMBLED, PRIVILEGED AND SO, SO BLESSED.
Monday 12 September:
"Wake-up" is getting a bit later and later and if my suspicions are correct and my Little Guy actually is in the beginning of a "moult", well, there's really no telling what kind of nights he's having of late. Pool Little One, the itching and the general discomfort of it all. It pains me to my core to think of him being anything but content and well. No doubt, he's having some restless nights now, and there will be more to come until this all passes.
Of course, I worry that the recent "shedding of feathers" could possibly be something a LOT worse than a moult. And so, as with this morning, when the clock got to 7.00 and the house was still silent, save for the general noise of the rest of the world waking and getting on with their own Monday morning, I HAD to get in to, at the very least, check on my Heart-and-Soul, to make sure that "things were in order" and that he was "there".
Well, when I got to his house, I decided that I'd simply open his door and place his door perch so that when he did wake, he was free to go where-ever he wanted, and that it would be obvious that I'm here, ad he wasn't "confined"... but looking in on him I noticed that, he was on his perch, but facing in the opposite direction from where he usually faces when he sleeps. Instead of facing "into his house", he was facing out, toward the wall. But he appeared to be fine that way, so I quietly opened his door and as I was putting his door perch on he called: "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo", clear and good, he was fine... just "sleeping-in".
I coo'ed back, softly, with the same and he answered with a "hoo-HOO!" so I took that as his way of saying that he was OK, and it was time to let in a little day-light... I got to the tasks of opening the window blinds and removing the night boards and getting the other-wise over-cast day on a morning roll.. Time for our "morning routine", especially this morning's water relay! He's drinking a lot more water lately, during the day so I'm making sure that the water in his "pool" (which is what he prefers over the water in the little bowl that's in his house... originally intended for drinking but just seems to serve as "a side") is as clean as, well, as I say: "If you wouldn't drink it, it doesn't belong in his house."
As I opened the first of the two window blinds, Yonah "greeted the day-light" with a some-what usual "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo", and we had a little bit of a chat when I repeated that coo.
Next item on the agenda: "poop check".
7 little ones, healthy size and shape and combination of "dark-and-white". They looked healthy, even though they were in the sand under where Yonah had slept last night. But they were in one place, so he hadn't been moving about through the night, he rested well. And being in the sand, I really couldn't tell the water content, as I can when they're all on the little square of kitchen roll. Still, as I say... they looked good, "comforting" to me, really. These days, with the trauma of last month, and the "new additions" to his diet (milk thistle and probiotics) and the change to our regular daily routine (me, leaving each morning), I'm being particularly careful to notice even the slightest changes in my Little Guy's digestion. And now, with the shedding of feathers? Well... We have a LOT to take note in the coming days and weeks. All said for this morning: "Looking good".
That much done, as I stepped out to get on with the water relay, my Little Love TOOK FLIGHT AND CAME RUSHING OUT OF HIS HOUSE AND HEADED TO THE TOP SHELF OF HIS WALL SHELVES! It really was as though he was in some sort of hurry to get out and about this morning. And when he "landed" a-top his shelf he called-out, clearly "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! WELL! There we had it... Monday was "officially open" and 'twas time to get this show rolling! (And I was relieved that all was well enough for my Precious Little Guy to be able to take a flight and give a hearty coo!)
The one point that concerns me so much these days is the quantity of feathers... so many little downy feathers! My Little Guy's "mood" appears to be just fine. He has energy. His coo's are clear and as strong as ever. But between the watery poops and the feathers... I just SO WISH I could "KNOW" what's going on with him. It doesn't seem that he's "intentionally plucking" the feathers that are almost covering the floor in his room. He "preens", no more nor less than usual. It's just such a mystery. And I can't help but wonder if he's not reacting or responding to the changes in his diet. The addition of the milk thistle, and the probiotics. Is he "improving" and this is his way of ridding his system of all the "bad stuff"? Is he moulting? Is he ridding the old feathers and replacing them with new? There's just so much that I just don't know... and I can't learn because, well, the research on-line just keeps "looping".
I look for a specific answer to a specific question and where the questions I see on the "avian-related" forums are what I'm asking, the responses/replies just run amok. ("People", generally, get onto the internet to simply blither, for the most part, never staying with the point or subject matter. It's aggravating, really. And those supposed "veterinarians" who chime-in give some of the most obscure responses to questions and then drop the issue with "You need to get him/her to a veterinarian". Yes? Really? Well, in the first place, there aren't enough of those to have any close by, and, in the second place, as with Yonah and I, not to mention the too many others I've seen post to these forums, experiences with the ones we DO manage to get to are horrific!)
It's a terribly "lonely" sense, and it weighs so heavily and dark on the spirit... All I want to know, for certain, is that my little Heart-and-Soul isn't "suffering"... isn't disquieted, uncomfortable, unhappy.
What makes it SO "oppressive" is the trait of birds, in general, to never "show" when they're suffering... until it's almost too late to do anything to reverse what-ever is wrong.
Well? I suppose Yonah and I have been, for the most part, very much alone, from the beginning. Today is today, and today he appears to be, generally, doing well, with minor exceptions. It's all I have to console me. We just have to keep trying what-ever we have, what-ever we can... and HOPE.
So today, because of work, I had to be out of the house this morning for THREE hours, and I will say that all the while, being separated from my Little Guy gnawed at my heart. BUT... when I got back home, the "Welcome" I got when I rushed in to see him let me know that all was well and he was doing just fine. SO MANY OF THE SWEETEST "KISSES"... the light "pecks" across my fore-head and cheeks! And, of course, I get to reciprocate. So, for me, it was a quick change into "house clothes" and get settled. The rest of the house got tidied and I moved into Yonah's room to attend to the rest of the daily tasks-at-hand.
It was quite a wonderfully warm day too, with sun-shine. And we listened to his bird-songs and the radio. And we took breaks for a lot of "play time" and "together time". These are the moments when I could almost "lull" my-self into being comfortable, believing that all is perfectly well with my Little Guy. But, as I say, it's "almost". I keep looking, watching, for EVERY little change. As I say: All I want is to know that he's healthy, happy and content.
He DID drop ANOTHER LONG, TAIL FEATHER today! When he does that, I keep remembering photos of him from December 2020... our first December together, and how I had NO idea that he was about to go through the first moulting that we'd experience together... And OH... the things I didn't know then that I know now about all of that. It makes the situation only slightly easier to tolerate (for me). But I'm reminded: he'd dropped many feathers before, that moulting is natural, and that, after a time, the old feathers are replaced with fresh, new, healthy feathers... For now... it's just a matter of time. I have to be patient... with "Nature". (It's difficult, though.)
BUT... we DID manage to be together, "Luvin's" and such, though I'm trying to avoid "too much cuddling and snuggling" now... just in case. His moulting is painful enough with-out me doing all sorts of "handling". My poor Little Guy!
This evening, we had our meals together, as we do, but the days are now upon us where the sun sets SO EARLY that, by the time we're done, even the Yardies have come, eaten and gone, so, I'm thankful for the new UV light... It' not "good old sun-light" but (if there's really any truth to the claims) Yonah gets his UV requirements in a day... so, health-wise, he'll be getting his vitamin D... not to mention, his room and environment will look "better" to him, with the "UVA" rays. That too, might help his mood and there-for his general heath.
I'd REALLY LOVE to go out for a few hours though. But, by the time we'd get out there, the sun drops down behind the Western mountains and, well, the Yardies are gone and too, the warmth. "Nature"... in the North Country here. But hey! This is where my Little Guy was born, of parents who were born here. This is his "home". At least now, with his life here, together, with me, the one thing he'll never have to fend against is the bitter-cold nights... come Winter. I can give him that much comfort.
Tonight made the change of season obvious too. By 19.30 my Little One made it quite clear that he was ready to settle-down for the night. He was up on his perch, all "cozy", and out-side, the evening was turning to night. So, we got right to closing the window blinds, putting-up the night boards and getting his room ready for the night ahead. Thankfully, tonight was another warm one. The chilly nights aren't far away though.
By 19.45, everything was calm, and I put his new little "moon-light" up and on, only just bright enough to shed a bit of light in case he wanted to hop across for a little something to eat before settling-in for the night.
Kisses, from me and from him, and me giving him the assurance that he was safe and sound, that I'm always close by to make sure he can just sleep through the night with-out any concerns about anything other than getting proper rest. We'd made it through another day, we'd make it through another night... All was well... he was secure.
By 20.20, when I looked in, my little Heart-and-Soul was at his "night spot" on his perch... all "tucked-in". So I turned the "moon-light" off with the little "remote control" so that I didn't have to go into the room and disturb him.
(I set the mouse trap again, tonight... I'm making sure that he's not disturbed by "vermin visitors" during the night. I don't know what it is that causes him to "start" during the night, but I'm trying to make sure that it isn't vermin. We'll have NO more of such things... especially in his room... HIS room.)
For tonight? We're well-and-fine... and my little Heart-and-Soul can rest... safely.
Tuesday 13 September: ANNIVERSARY DAY: 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS... AND WE'RE ROLLING INTO TWO YEARS!
Oh, but it was another rainy start to another day, this morning. Dark. Dreary. But, thankfully, not at all cold nor even chilly. The weather report claimed it was 20° out there... this morning. The forecast though: for the coming 3 nights, we're expecting lows of about 9°. Summer is slipping away... Autumn is slowly moving down from the North. This morning though, we were blessed.
I'd been up, awake, and about the house for a couple of hours when the clock read "7.00" and through the closed door to his room, Yonah gave the "morning call"...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"
1 year and 11 months... and my heart still jumps into ECSTASY in the morning when I hear that sweetest-possible sound! I know he's alright, he's rested, he's slept for as long as he wants and that now, we're both ready to take on a new day... TOGETHER!
It was rainy this morning. Dark. Dreary. A reminder that "Summer" is passing us by, and it's time to make preparations for the "darker" months ahead, shorter days, in the house, together. Thankfully though, it wasn't cold, and not really "chilly".
After the first "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo", at about 6.58, the house went quiet for a few minutes and so, I waited a little while to see if Yonah really was calling to start the day and when the next "call" came I got up and went to his room-door to peek in for a look. The very moment I opened the door to his room he called out with a clear and long: "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" almost as if to ask "What are you waiting for there, you? C'mon! New day! Anniversary! Let's get rolling!"
The very moment I opened the door to his house and leaned in for "Good morning" kisses, he stretched his wings (which is something that still inspires me to tear-up a bit... it's SO beautiful to see, and to know that he's so comfortable with me, my presence, that wing-stretches are "OK"; he's not in "flight" mode to "escape"; I'm a welcomed presence, not a threat of any sort), AND when I got close enough, he stretched his head forward and SO SO MANY KISSES! AND CHATTY TOO! We had one of our "full dialogue" mornings from the moment I "opened house" through the usual opening of the windows (curtains and blinds). The minute I started though, my Little Guy was UP AND OUT and off to his wall shelves! Well! He wasn't going to waste any time having at this day! And it did my heart SO much good to see him in flight, so soon.
And this morning's "poop check"? 3 little poops from over-night. Not really all that much. And one from this morning. Last night's were small, this morning's was rather large and a bit on the "dark green" side. Though they weren't "watery", I'm still really concerned because of the "green".
This morning, I added crumbled egg yolk to his regular food. Protein and vitamins and the hope that it helps with what-ever is "off". And it doesn't appear that he's actually "moulting", so this business of feathers all over the place has me concerned. (I can't help but think of how I'm not exactly "recovering" from all the changes in our routine through the month of August, and I'm pretty sure that the 2 days of me being gone and away, coupled with this new routine of me being away for 2 hours every morning isn't helping Yonah either. After all, we had a "regular routine" for almost 2 years and now? Well, my resolve is to be with him as often and long and as much as is possible. Truth is, HE comes above and beyond ALL else. We'll see how it all works out... and if it doesn't, well then, we'll get back to the way it was... the way it "worked".)
As for me being away for work... well... Today, when I got back into the house he was OBVIOUSLY SO HAPPY! (Fact is: that sentiment is SO mutual!) And, more food came for him today! We're stocking-up so that he will NEVER be hungry, we'll NEVER have to be concerned about having enough for him to eat. We're set, now, for nothing less than the coming Winter. AND today, I ground a mixture of peanuts and sun-flower seeds to add to his regular food... just in case he IS moulting. Protein will be essential and we're going to be prepared!
For now though, when I got back in, I noticed that, in the 2 hours I was away, he was pooping quite a bit AND there's a LOT of just "water" coming. AND, the "water" has a "urine-like" odour to it. THAT IS NOT GOOD AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING I'M GOING TO BE PATIENT WITH.
More "research"... The one thing that I've changed in his diet these days is the inclusion of the milk thistle. So, focusing on that one change, I did more searching to see if there are any "side effects", aside from the help keeping his liver healthy...
https://animals.mom.com/side-effects-milk-thistle-birds-parrots-9761.html
One of the main side effects of milk thistle is diarrhea, loose stools and mild tummy upset in birds, according to the New Life Parrot Rescue & Helpline Service. Milk thistle can cause dark green to black stools as well.
And, in the article, "polyuria" isn't at all, uncommon with the addition of milk thistle. Not to mention, any changes in diet can cause a multitude of "changes" in general behaviour. A lot depends on the individual tolerance of what-ever "new" is added. So... TODAY... WE GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL, REGULAR DIET OF THE PRIMARY SEEDS: "HEALTHY SELECT" AND THE "WHITE MILL". No more additives for at least a week and we'll see what happens. Maybe the milk thistle he's had already will at least give him a head start on a healthy liver and the little bit of Bene-bac will get him on his way to replacing the "negative" bacteria with the good stuff... Plan of Action: give him a week to recover from the changes and then, get onto a routine where a little milk thistle, a little Bene-bac, monthly, perhaps. If his digestive system recovers by October, we'll give one or the other or both another try... and see. (Oh, as always: we're on our own... just SO on our own. And more than anything else, it scares me; but not enough to take him back to the abuse of the "vet" in Rye Brook or that sadistic thing in Saratoga Springs. We've done well for almost 2 years, on our own. We'll just hope that continues.)
As for the rest of the day? We had a GRAND day together, my little Companion, and me, in the house, as the rains fell out-side. At one point, we actually had a few flashes of lightning and some rolling thunder but, just as it is when I hoover the house, my Little Champion just takes it all in stride. He's SO UN-like dogs and cats, who seem to "panic" with the odd noise. The hoover, now thunder... doesn't phase him at all. And out-side, the winds blew, the rains pounded, the thunder rolled and Yonah just relaxed on his little corner loft... and the world went by.
This evening, after we had our evening meals together, I swapped-out the food from today, with the egg in it, for his regular mix and WOW! Did he ever EAT WELL! He's odd in that, any slightest "change" in the food in his dish and he notices and is hesitant to eat ANY of it. So, when the egg is there, he'll "peck" at it, but won't eat as well as he does, regularly. So, after a day of being the "recalcitrant" Little Guy where eating is concerned, he notices that his regular food is there and... he REALLY EATS EXCEPTIONALLY WELL... as if making-up for lost intake. Crazy Little One... this one. And amazing... As I say: he's forever teaching me.
At 19.14 my Little Champion was "lounging" on the pillows on his futon. We had only the desk lamp on... and out-side, "night" was obviously falling. His windows were quite dark already. "Night" is coming so soon these days, and the clouds and rain of the day didn't help to keep day-light lingering. The time to "close the day" had arrived (all too quickly, as always). So I got to closing the blinds and curtains and putting-up the night boards.
This evening, I tried something a bit different: since he appeared so comfy next to his little "birdie pillow" I moved it to his perch where he spends the night. Thought? Maybe he'd feel he had some "company" during the night, and since he appeared to want to be beside the "pillow"... well... I managed to get it, the pillow, "perched" securely on the perch, giving him enough space between it and his little mirror for the night, and when I'd gotten it situated, I brought him over, gently, and he hopped onto his perch. He was only slightly interested in seeing his "birdie pillow" in his house, on his perch. and then I realised... IF, during the night, he woke to see something there that hadn't been there before, it might startle him, in the dark, and he might try to fly away from it and injure himself. So... I removed it again. He didn't seem "happy" that I'd taken it, but I'd rather err on the side of his safety than to take any risks... he's been through MORE than enough "changes" these months. (Needless to say, thoughts of getting another dove came to mind again, tonight. HOW I SO WISH I KNEW WHETHER OR NOT YONAH WOULD BE HAPPY WITH ANOTHER DOVE! HOW I SO WISH I KNEW!)
Well, he settled in his house and, at 19.30, I put his new "moon light" on and at 19.40, turned the desk lamp off.
Yonah seemed some-what "intrigued" by the "new light". Maybe it was the difference from the UV light we'd had on all day. I always wonder, now, what the room looks like to him, with the different lighting: UV, desk lamp and now, the little "LED Moon". Surely, colours change in his vision. But he didn't seem to mind the "new light" and he did tend to "stare" at the glowing orb on his roof-top. (I'd put the "moon" on its stand, on the roof board, so that it didn't make a "glare" but he could still see it.)
Tonight's forecast is for a low of 14° and even more rain. 8° nights are in the forecast. The "cold" is coming. But we're prepared for those. Tonight, the curtains are closed, but the window fan is still in. If October 2022 follows previous Octobers, we have a few more days in the high 20s and nights in the high teens.. "Indian Summer". So we'll leave the fan at the ready... It can be removed easily enough... when the late-Autumn warmth is gone and Winter starts taking its rightful place in time.
By 20.15... all lights were off. My little Heart-and-Soul was comfortably "tucked-in" on his perch for another night of safe-keeping, where he could actually sleep, with-out ANY sort of thoughts of needing to be aware of his surroundings. No predators in his room, his house. No need for his natural "half sleep". Here, he can simply doze off into a completely restful sleep... through the night... fully protected.
1 year, 11 months... we're rolling into 2 years... I'm excited... frightened, anxious and still, as always...
in AWE... and in LOVE! And at the same time, that morning, almost 2 years ago, the cold rain, the little bundle of feathers, laying in the wet grass... the horror of his injuries... it's all still so clear in my mind. And days like today... "Autumnal", dreary, damp, chilled, keep the memory very close. How it still tears at my heart when I think about the terror my little Heart-and-Soul here must have endured. Well? I can only hope that I've done and am doing the best-possible for him. Others always tell me that he couldn't have ever had a better life. I'll never feel I'll ever do enough for him.
Wednesday 14 September:
We had a HORRID START TO THE DAY, THIS MORNING! FRIGHTENING!
At 7.00, no morning call, so I was already nervous. My Little Guy hasn't been feeling too well these days, obviously, with all the passing water and the "green" stools. And honestly, I'm still in knots about what potential harm "Dr. Phairie-Princess" inflicted... these are much like our earliest days together when the entirety of "Creation" laid SO heavily and dark on my mind and even on my physical being. So, not wanting to disturb, in case Yonah was still resting, I quietly crept into his room, thinking I'd just open his door, place his door perch and let him wake when he was ready...
BUT... AS I WALKED INTO HIS STILL-DARK ROOM, I DIDN'T SEE HIS SILHOUETTE ON HIS PERCH! AND IN THE DARKNESS, I COULDN'T SEE HIM ANY-WHERE! IT WASN'T POSSIBLE THAT HE'D BE OUT OF HIS HOUSE ! AND ALL I COULD THINK OF IS THAT HE'D FALLEN OFF HIS PERCH IN THE NIGHT ! AS I MOVED CLOSER TO HIS HOUSE, FOCUSING AS STERNLY AS POSSIBLE, FINALLY, I SAW HIM... HE WAS ON HIS FLOOR... THE FLOOR OF HIS HOUSE, JUST INSIDE HIS DOOR ! MY HEART FELT AS THOUGH IT HAD EXPLODED ! I WAS SO FEARFUL ! HE WAS "STANDING", BUT HE WAS SO STILL... AND SO SILENT ! AS I APPROACHED AND OPENED HIS DOOR, HE MOVED... SLIGHTLY, BUT HE MOVED ! HE WAS ... ALIVE. BUT NOT BEING ON HIS PERCH, I WONDERED WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HIM. WAS HE WEAK? SO WEAK HE COULDN'T ROOST? WHAT WAS WRONG? I CHECKED FOR HIS POOPS FROM LAST NIGHT. THE WERE WHERE THEY SHOULD BE IN THE MORNING, RIGHT BELOW WHERE HE WOULD HAVE SPENT THE NIGHT ON HIS PERCH. 10 LITTLE ROUNDS... AND THEY LOOKED "PROPERLY SOLID"... NO "GREEN LIQUID" STAINING ANYTHING. BUT... HE WASN'T ON HIS PERCH !!! SOME-THING WAS "WRONG" ABOUT THAT ! AND I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS WRONG !!!
I SOFTLY SPOKE TO HIM, ASKING HIM WHAT WAS WRONG, WHY HE WAS ON THE FLOOR BY THE DOOR ALREADY, HOPING FOR SOME KIND OF RESPONSE. HE MERELY MOVED A BIT MORE BUT DIDN'T MAKE A SOUND AND DIDN'T HOP ABOUT AS HE USUALLY WOULD IN THE MORNING. MY SOUL WAS COMPRESSED... THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN DESCRIBE IT... "COMPRESSED". AND MY HEART ALMOST STOPPED BEATING WITH ANTICIPATION AND ANXIETY. I COULDN'T TOLERATE EVEN THE THOUGHT OF ANY POSSIBILITY THAT MY HEART-AND-SOUL WASN'T FEELING WELL ! AND I FELT SO UTTERLY USELESS, JUST USELESS. I COULDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG, AND I WASN'T ABOUT TO TAKE HIM TO ANOTHER SO-CALLED "VETERINARIAN" TO HAVE HIM ABUSED AGAIN! WE WERE ALONE AGAIN... AND HIS WELL-BEING WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY AND ALL I HAVE TO WORK WITH IS MY OWN INSTINCT. SURE, THAT'S BEEN OK THUS FAR, BUT THIS MORNING... MY LITTLE GUY WAS "OFF" SOME-HOW... AND I WAS CLUELESS !!!
I DECIDED TO GET TO THE "REGULAR ROUTINE" OF THE MORNING, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AND STEPPED AWAY TO GET THINGS TOGETHER IN THE KITCHEN, TO MAKE SURE THAT HIS WATER WAS FRESH AND CLEAN. AT LEAST HE'D HAVE THAT MUCH... AND I THOUGHT OF CLEANING HIS HOUSE AGAIN, TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS NOTHING IN THERE... TOXINS, PARASITES... BUT I JUST DIDN'T "KNOW" WHAT I NEEDED TO DO FOR HIM!
AS I STEPPED AWAY TO GO TO THE KITCHEN... EVER-SO SOFTLY, HE "CALLED"...
"woo-Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"
SO SOFTLY, AS THOUGH HE WAS WEAK ! BUT HEARING HIM COO GAVE ME STRENGTH. AND THEN, IT CAUSED ME SO MUCH PAIN BECAUSE, THE FACT IS, BIRDS NEVER OUT-WARDLY SHOW THEIR PAIN, THEIR SUFFERING ! I MEAN, ON THAT MORNING WHEN I DISCOVERED HIM, FEATHERS PULLED, WING INJURED, LEG DANGLING... NOT A SOUND, NOT ANY INDICATION OF ANY PAIN OR SUFFERING. AND THIS MORNING, THE WEAK, SOFT "COO"... I WONDERED... WAS HE "TELLING ME... IT'S TIME" ?
WHAT MADE THE MORNING HELL EVEN MORE MISERABLE... THE DAMNED JOB! I HAD TWO HOURS IN THAT HORRIFIC OFFICE AND WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE FROM 9-11.00 !!! NO !!! GRANTED, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT I COULD DO FOR MY LITTLE GUY BECAUSE I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I NEEDED TO DO, BUT I DIDN'T WANT HIM TO BE ALONE ! I DIDN'T WANT HIM TO FEEL AS THOUGH HE WAS ALONE ! IT WASN'T PROPER, FAIR ! AND YET, I HAD TO WONDER IF GIVING HIM TIME TO HIM-SELF WASN'T SUCH A BAD IDEA. IN THE WILD, BIRDS, WHEN NOT FEELING WELL, WILL FIND A DARK, QUITE PLACE OF SOLITUDE WHERE THEY CAN RECUPERATE. WOULD IT BE BETTER IF I DID GIVE YONAH THAT TIME AND PLACE OF PEACE AND QUIET AND STILLNESS, SO THAT HE COULD GATHER HIS OWN INNER STRENGTH ? I DIDN'T KNOW... I JUST DIDN'T "*KNOW*" !!! BUT I DECIDED THAT I WOULD GIVE HIM HIS "NATURAL DUE"... LET HIM BE IN A QUIET HOUSE... AND I COULD TAKE MY ANXIETIES AWAY... BECAUSE *I* *KNOW* THAT HE *KNOWS* WHEN I'M ANXIOUS... HE KNOWS HOW I'M FEELING... AND SURELY, MY ANXIETIES WOULDN'T BE OF ANY HELP OR GOOD TO HIM... AND TOO, THANKFULLY, I'D JUST BE NEXT DOOR... NOT FAR AWAY, AND I CAN DROP BACK INTO THE HOUSE WHEN-EVER I WANT. SO, I DECIDED TO GET ME TOGETHER AND GET TO WORK... LEAVE MY LITTLE ONE TO REST, QUIETLY, CALMLY...
BUT OH !!!!! HOW I CRIED THIS MORNING !!!!! HOW I WEPT !!!!! SOBBED !!!!! PAINFULLY !!! NOT SO MUCH BECAUSE OF THE EMPTINESS OF MY EXISTENCE WITH-OUT MY HEART-AND-SOUL BUT BECAUSE OF THE VERY NOTION THAT HE WASN'T FEELING WELL, WAS IN SOME KIND OF DISCOMFORT, IF NOT PAIN !!! THE THOUGHTS WERE LITERALLY * CRUSHING * !!!!!
AT 10.00, I MANAGED TO LEAVE THE OFFICE AND COME BACK INTO THE HOUSE AND WENT DIRECTLY TO YONAH'S ROOM... HE'D BEEN ON HIS LITTLE "LOFT", THE SHELF IN THE CORNER BY THE WINDOW, BUT WHEN HE SAW ME AT THE DOOR TO HIS ROOM, HE CAME DOWN TO HIS DOOR AND HOPPED ONTO THE PERCH TO GREET ME !!!! THOUGH IT GAVE ME MORE STRENGTH AND A BIT OF RE-ASSURANCE, MY HEART WAS STILL HEAVY AND IN SO MANY BITS ! AND TO SEE THAT HE WAS HAPPY TO SEE ME BACK IN HIS ROOM... I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE AGAIN ! BUT THERE WAS ONLY ANOTHER HOUR AND SO, I WENT OVER TO "CUDDLE" HIM, IN MY CUPPED HANDS, AND TO GIVE HIM ASSURING KISSES, TELLING HIM THAT I'D BE RIGHT BACK AND WE'D BE TOGETHER FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.
HE'D POOPED AGAIN, WHILST I WAS AWAY... THEY'RE SO WET !!! HE'S PASSING SO MUCH PLAIN WATER ! I DON'T KNOW WHY HE'S DRINKING SO MUCH MORE. AND I DON'T KNOW WHY HE'S JUST PASSING IT THROUGH. I JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND ANY OF IT AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES MY EXISTENCE SUCH A LIVING HELL ! I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG SO I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT RIGHT !!! SO USELESS ! I'M JUST SO UTTERLY USELESS ! THERE ISN'T EVEN ANY COLOUR TO WHAT HE'S PASSING, BUT THERE'S A "CONSISTENCY" TO IT... IT ISN'T JUST PLAIN WATER... SOMETHING ELSE IS PASSING WITH THE LIQUID... AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS !!!
BUT SEEING THAT HE'S UP AND ABOUT, AND THAT HE'D COME TO "GREET" ME GAVE ME A BIT OF COURAGE TO STEP OUT AND AWAY AGAIN. MAYBE THE TIME TO HIM-SELF WAS DOING SOME GOOD, HE COULD JUST REST, RELAX, FOCUS ON HIM-SELF... AND NOT ME... BEING THERE CONSUMED WITH WORRY. SO I WENT BACK TO FINISH THE MORNING AT THE OFFICE... STILL SO BURDENED AND HEAVY.
WHEN I GOT BACK IN THIS MORNING, I WENT DIRECTLY TO THE INTERNET TO DO MORE SEARCHING, TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT COULD BE CAUSING MY LITTLE GUY TO BE PASSING SO MUCH WATER... I LOOKED THROUGH ALL SORTS OF REFERENCE MATERIALS AND THEY ALL SAID, FOR THE MOST PART, THE VERY SAME THINGS:
"POSSIBLE INFECTIONS"... "DIABETES"... "ANY CHANGE IN DIET" (AND YES, THERE'S BEEN THAT LATELY... WITH THE ADDITION OF MILK THISTLE AND SUCH)... "STRESS" (THOUGH THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY OF THAT FOR A WHILE, NOW THAT WE'RE "SETTLING" INTO A NEW ROUTINE... BUT THEN, THE NEW ROUTINE MIGHT BE ADDING A NEW STRESS, SINCE I'M OUT OF THE HOUSE FOR THESE HOURS EACH MORNING)... AND, OF COURSE, "MOULTING"... AND IT IS THAT TIME OF YEAR... THAT SEASON AGAIN, AND HE IS SHEDDING FEATHERS. MOST OF WHAT'S SAID IS RELATIVELY EASY TO ADDRESS, CHANGE, CORRECT. IT'S THE "INFECTIONS" AND "DIABETES" THAT RIP AT ME... I JUST DON'T "KNOW"... AND I'M WORRIED... AFRAID... AND ANGRY (BECAUSE WE HAVE NO ONE TO TURN TO WHO OUGHT TO KNOW BEST, WHO HAS THE NECESSITIES TO RUN TESTS... BUT THEY CAN'T BE TRUSTED ANY MORE... NO AVIAN VETS IN THE AREA... MY LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL AND I ARE SO ALONE... AGAIN! AND I'M LEFT WITH MY "GUT"... MY "INSTINCTS"... AND HAVING TO DEPEND ON "TIME"...
ONE HORRIFIC START TO A DAY !!! DARK AND HEAVY. LONELY... AND HOW I CRIED... HOW I'VE SOBBED !!!
The only bit of a reprieve was that it was a warm day... At least we didn't have to fight against the cold on top of every-thing else. I dread the very thought of trying to keep this old house warm enough for my Little Guy. He's never had to actually ward-off chills. I've always done the very best to make certain that, no matter the temperature in the rest of the house, his room, his house are always warm enough for him so that he doesn't have to "fluff" against chills.
***** I ORDERED A "SWEETER HEATER" TODAY ! SPECIALLY MADE FOR "POULTRY", FOR HATCHLINGS, CHICKS AND GENERALLY KEEPING THE LITTLE ONES IN THE BARN WARM, THEY HAD DIFFERENT SIZES AND I THOUGHT THE "11x11 INCH" WILL BE PERFECT ! IT CAN BE PLACED ABOVE YONAH'S PERCH WHERE HE ROOSTS AT NIGHT. IT'S "INFRARED", NO LIGHT BULBS, NO OPEN, GLOWING HEATING ELEMENTS, SO NO "LIGHT" THROUGH THE NIGHT. A BIT OF AN "INVESTMENT" BUT, IF IT MEANS KEEPING MY LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL WARM AND COMFORTABLE... I JUST HOPE I CAN "INSTALL" IT PROPERLY SO THAT IT DOES KEEP HIM WARM AND COMFORTABLE. WINTER IS COMING... AND YES, HE HAS HIS OWN LITTLE RADIATOR, BUT THAT HAS TO HEAT THE ENTIRE ROOM TO KEEP HIM WARM. AT LEAST WITH THIS NEW GADGET, HE'LL BE ABLE TO BE IN THE WARMTH AND, IF IT GETS UNCOMFORTABLE, HE CAN MOVE AWAY FROM IT... HE CAN "REGULATE" ACCORDING TO HIS OWN WANTS AND NEEDS. WE SHALL SEE... AS ALWAYS, AS IT'S ALWAYS BEEN... WE SHALL SEE... WE TRY, WE LEARN... AND I HOPE. HEY! NOW HE HAS HIS OWN HEATING FOR HIS OWN HOUSE ! *****
Well, so, the day moved along and I kept a careful watch on my Little Guy. And as the hours passed, he appeared to be OK. his energy picked-up. He wasn't his usual "animated" self, but he wasn't quite "lethargic". It just bothers me so much that he doesn't let it be known when he's not feeling well. He still retains that "wild" aspect where he won't let his ailments be known. In the wild, those who can't keep up with the flock are either abandoned or left to die. Yonah has no way of knowing that I would NEVER do either of those, so, instinct tells him to "cover" as well as possible. All the while, it gnaws at every bit of my being, knowing that he's not feeling perfectly well. But as I say, he didn't get worse, and he does seem to be getting "better". I'll just keep a most-focused eye on him, and keep "HOPE"
By 19.14 this evening, after we'd had our evening meals together (and Yonah did eat rather well, which is a great relief to me, knowing that, if he felt so bad, he wouldn't bother to take any nourishment), it was already dark out-side. The evening water change was done. Tonight, blinds and curtains got closed. The forecast is for 8° for the low. (More cause for me to be concerned. But the house furnace is turned on and set for 70°F so that Yonah's room doesn't take a chill over-night.) We had a little while to sit, quietly, together, and I pulled the chair over to his house and we had a little chat... like we used to do in the earlier days when I'd sit by and he'd roost on his perch and I'd talk to him... and he'd just stare down at me. Oh, those days... What must he have been thinking, then? We were on the verge of becoming the little "team" we are today and how strange it must have been to him... especially me talking to him. But, we had that again... and tonight, he stared at me again, as he used to, but at least now he knows that I LOVE him SO MUCH... and that he's safe... NO harm will come to him in his own house now.
By 19.41 I put his little "moon light" on the roof board so that he has a dim light but enough to see his house and room. It also gives me a bit of a light when I come back in... and I WILL be sleeping on his futon tonight... Just so that I can be close by... for what-ever reason we might need... Hopefully we'll have NO "need"...
But, at day's end... we're together, and my little Heart-and-Soul is tucked-in in his house, safe and sound, protected against the night's cold, the predators out there... he can sleep, comfortably. It's the best I have to offer... that and fresh, clean water, and the best mix for the most nourishing food... and anything else? I'll have to learn what I can and must do... to make certain that my "LIFE", my Little Guy, is always safe... and comfortable.
It was quite the horrific start to the day... but tonight... we're ... together.
Thursday 15 September:
This morning... THIS morning... the clock read 6.52 when, through the door to Yonah's room, came the most BEAUTIFUL sound: "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo...hoo-hoo...hoo-hoo"!
It was a perfectly peaceful night, last night, and I did stay through on his futon. And I woke before my Little Guy, and quietly stepped out of his room, to get started with my own morning routine in the kitchen... all the while, listening for him to call. When he did, and it was long and clear, I was SO ELATED! And from the length of the coo'in AND the fact that, when I called back to let him know that I was there and heard him, his response was immediate, well... WELL! ABSOLUTE HEAVEN! HE WAS AWAKE, OBVIOUSLY WELL-RESTED AND LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING ON WITH THE DAY AHEAD! HE WAS FEELING WELL THIS MORNING AND THAT'S ALL I NEEDED TO HEAR, TO KNOW.
When I went in, he was on his little perch, in his usual place, where he'd slept the night. And as opened the door to his house and leaned in... OH... THE KISSES !!! KISSES, KISSES AND MORE KISSES! Those gentle pecks across my forehead and down my cheek! And when I leaned-in to give him kisses, he didn't toddle away this morning. The JOY of being together was mutual. A COMPLETE OPPOSITE OF YESTERDAY !!! AND SUCH A RELIEF !!!
And "poop-check" this morning: 10 PERFECT LITTLE POOPS ON THE KITCHEN ROLL, DIRECTLY UNDER WHERE HE'D BEEN THROUGH THE NIGHT LAST NIGHT ! HE HADN'T BEEN DISTURBED. HE HADN'T MOVED ABOUT, IRRITATED. AND THERE WAS NO "WATER"... NO "GREEN STAINS" !!! THE USUAL QUANTITY, THE USUAL "QUALITY". All I can do now is HOPE that this is the beginning of a return to his proper health, that the past few days were just "one of those bugs"... that what-ever had caused my little Heart-and-Soul and "malaise" had passed. But, at least this morning, "Life" was giving us a break, a semblance of "normalcy". And with his energy and the KISSES ? WELL! There couldn't be anything more to be desired!
And there was a nice sun-rise trying to make its way through the trees, bringing in some much-needed day-light. And though out-side was a touch "chilled", in his room, all was well, fine, warm enough, and comfy, cozy. Opening the blinds and curtains was a delight, to be sure. It all seemed that we were being blessed with a nice day ahead. And this morning, though I would have MUCH preferred to stay with my Little Guy, I didn't feel so "oppressively horrified" at the prospect of stepping out to work for the couple of hours. (Maybe the time he had yesterday was beneficial? Maybe he had the chance to rest, recuperate, rid his little system of what-ever it was that "attacked" him. Another morning of peace and quiet... another morning... But I was determined to make short work of "business" today... I NEEDED to get back to the house, to be IN the house... to watch and make certain my Heart-and-Soul was good again.)
And so, yes, I was out and back by 11.15. And with the sun-shine pouring in through the windows, when I get to Yonah's room, it was a brilliant 22,5°! Toasty warm! Out-side, the trees on the mountains are just beginning their Autumn "blush"... the greens being touched with whispers of reds and golds. The temperature was a cool 16°. Summer was leaving... but in his room, his house, Yonah had all the comforts of warmth, and the protection from all the elements out there, in the world. No worries about finding food or water, or protection against predators, weather. He had a safe place in which to recover, at his pace. And, of course... me... being here to keep a careful watch.
It was GLORIOUS, for the most part. I did notice a couple of little "spots of water" on the work table where, when I was gone, Yonah had "made a poop" but there was no "poop"... just droplettes of "water". We're not completely out of the "danger zone" yet. He IS drinking more often of late. I'm thinking that there might be something wrong with a bag of some of what we're mixing together for his diet. Something must be "off" with something "new". I'm not sure what, exactly, but... the current plan is to check, CAREFULLY, EVERY BIT OF WHAT HE'S EATING, and working on "elimination"... taking one sort of food away at a time, and looking for improvement.
BUT OTHER-WISE... HE'S WAS SO "LOVING" ALL THROUGH THE DAY *AND * HE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE BRILLIANT SUN-SHINE AND THE WARMTH TODAY... For the first time in a while, he BASKED ! At first, I was a in a bit of a panic (of course... that's usually my first response... over-protective me), when I saw him "splayed", laying there, on the floor of his house. But then, he moved about and I realised: he was soaking-in the warmth and light! And, as it always is, for me, it was PURE JOY, DELIGHT to see him relaxing and enjoying the warmth!
I'd ordered some "Spirulina" for him. Allegedly there's a lot of vitamin A in it and it's good for both of us. (The thought of ingesting algae though... it never really appealed to me, but, it's been around for quite a while and I've not seen any negative reports on it.) I found "all natural" and "pure" and "Grown, Harvested and Processed in the USA" (Hawaii of all places) so... my plan is to try it my-self first and see what it does. But for right now, considering all the other business of passing water and the "green" stains from his poop, I'm in no rush to start adding anything to Yonah's diet. Right now, we have to move "backward"... removing things from his food, until we can find what's not agreeing with him.
OH! But it annoys me to remember Dr. Phairie-Princess' remark when she said that he has "70% gram negative" in his poop "and we don't like that". And when I asked how that could have happened (after a year of eating what I thought to be the healthiest foods available) she snapped "HE'S WILD! HE PROBABLY HAD IT WHEN YOU GOT HIM!" Yeah? Well... I'll just take that as a "I don't know." and we'll work on the situation together... alone... thank you, very much indeed. We did manage to get through our first year... and into our second... with-out "intervention". We'll see what we can do from here... together... just the TWO of us... together.
Anyway... I spent most of the rest of the day at his work table, and he was SO obviously content seeing me in the room with him. From basking to relaxing about his house, a few little flights, exercise, to his futon, he really did appear to be calm... and he DOES make it obvious that he enjoys the company. (COMPANIONSHIP) I don't know which one of us enjoys the company of one-another more. I do know that I'm better just being in his room, with him. And, as I say, he makes it quite obvious that he enjoys it when I spend the day in his room... whether I pay a lot of attention to him or even a little. It's the COMPANIONSHIP. Just more AWE-INSPIRATION ! I NEVER would have even imagined that this Little One from the wilderness would EVER come to actually enjoy the company of a human... I mean, we're their natural predators! But not in this house! We've become "extensions of the other"... at least Yonah isn't actually and "extension"... he's the central cause for my existence. As I say: I am because he is. That's it... all.
And so, together, is how we passed the rest of the day... all day. And with the sun shining and the warmth it gave to the room, it was a "perfect" day... Of course it was... even with-out the sun, EVERY day we spend together is PERFECT!
But then... after we had our evening meals together this evening... as it is with these days now, the sun was heading quickly down behind the Western mountains... The Yardies had come and gone out-side, and no sooner had we done the evening "water relay"... the sky out-side the window had gone dark... It was time for us to wrap this wonderful day and get ready for... "seepie-nigh-night" already! But Yonah was obviously not ready to give up on it all just yet. I went about the usual closing of blinds and curtains, and once the back board was installed and his house was in place for the night, he headed up to his food and started his "evening snack". Once done... when he'd filled his little crop... he headed OUT into the room... to the wall shelves... the top one, where he got settled on a box and decided he'd stay there a while. It took some coaxing to get him back down, and back into his house, but, with cuddles and kisses, by 19.35 "tuck-in" was accomplished. My Little Guy was on his perch but tonight, he was still obviously not to pleased. Sometimes Yonah's so much like that child who will yawn all through dinner, eyes barely open, but, the moment it's time to get to bed, will bounce back with full energy and give a good run before settling. Tonight was one such evening. HOW-ever... once he was in and on his perch, all night boards where they were supposed to be, I took his door perch away and closed the door to his house. I put his "moon light" on the roof board where it illuminates his room but doesn't glare into his house and turned his desk lamp off. The lighting was soft, subdued... it got the message across and my little Heart-and-Soul got him-self situated for the night.
These days are difficult for both of us... they turn to night so very too soon. But, along with the exercise and all the play and "LUVIN'S" of a day, I want to make sure that my Little Guy gets his proper rest... especially these days when he's obviously recuperating from some sort of ailment. So I take comfort in knowing that, instead of having to be "half awake" all night, watchful of predators and the elements, in his house, on his perch, Yonah can actually get a good night's sleep... care-free... warm, dry, safe, and I'm right here to make certain that it's always that way for him.
Friday 16 September:
We had another night together, last night. I have to say that I do sleep MUCH better when I'm in the room with Yonah through the night. And, as it is, I woke well before my Little Guy woke this morning. But he truly does need more rest than I do. Besides, I make a point of it to be awake and ready when he calls in the morning so that he knows he's not alone, and so that he NEVER feels that he's "trapped" in his house. On those days in August when I had to leave the house so early in the morning, THAT was my PRIMARY concern: that he'd wake in the morning and not be able to leave his house, to get out and around, get his exercise, a change of scenery as he might want. That worked out alright, but I NEVER want to go through that again. No matter whether or not he could get out, he woke to an empty house... nobody to respond to his "morning call". NEVER again! So this morning, as I do, I got up and crept, silently, out of his room and closed the door so that my activities in the kitchen didn't disturb him... and then... at 7.17 on the clock, came the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". And I was ready to ROLL!
And poop-check this morning... PERFECT! All in the one place below him, so I saw that he'd slept calmly last night. And NO WATER! No stains! About 12 of them, good colour, good balance between the dark and white. One thing that I'm noticing though is that he's passing water only during the day. Maybe he IS drinking more water whilst he's awake? I can hope. I'm keeping a careful watch on it. But it's some-what assuring that it's not an actual case of diahoeria. If it were, he'd be passing all that liquid even over-night.
All said though, it was a FANTASTIC DAY TOGETHER! AND SEVERAL TIMES, HE CAME OVER TO ME, RESTING ON MY SHOULDER AND PECKING AT MY EAR! "QUALITY TOGETHER TIME"! What makes it so particularly dear to me is that HE comes over, of his own choice! I don't do anything to "prompt". It does my heart so much good... HE wants to be close, and he's comfortable enough to know that he can come over. (I wish he'd do that more often, but, as I've always said: I don't see Yonah as a "pet", nor do I see him as "domesticated". He's still, at his core, the same little "wild" mourning dove, from the yard, from the woods, from these mountains, and to me, he'll always be just that. He's just decided that I'm "OK" to be with. There's nothing, to my mind, more of an honour.)
Well then, by 18.57 this evening, after meals and all the rest of the day, the "water relay" was done. The temperature in Yonah's room was 22.6°. Not "cold" but, he was still "slightly fluffed", as he'd been for most of the day. I am "worried"... his energy has been fine and he wanted to be close to me all the day, still, if he's "fluffing" there's just "some-thing" that's just not "right". I'll be keeping an extremely careful watch. The watery poops and the fluffing. Just makes me feel all the more inferior. I can't tell what's "wrong" and he can't tell me. It actually pains me. One thing I can take comfort in: he's eating... very well. There's that much that's good.
But 19.45 this evening, my little Heart-and-Soul was tucked-in... safe, sound, ready for another night's rest. Hopefully tomorrow will be "better", no more watery poops and no more fluffing of the feathers. I just don't want to think of him being even slightly uncomfortable in any way for any reason.
The rest of the lights in his room were off... and I dimmed the little "moon" light... just so that he had enough lighting in case he needed to get to his food or water or...
(This evening, I found and ordered 2 yards of "Mulberry Silk". Supposedly it's the "finest" silk available, preferred over all other sorts. I had no idea how the quality of silk is gauged, but apparently, the silk worms that produce this feed only on "mulberry" leaves and it's the best quality available. When the time comes... this will be his "bed"... when-ever that "time" may come. I hope it's not "soon"... but I feel better knowing that I have what he deserves: the finest-possible. After all, he IS my "Heart-and-Soul"... the ONLY reason I bother to take a "next breath.)
Saturday 17 September
Something made Yonah "flutter" at about 5.00 this morning! I was on his futon and it woke me. I turned the little moon-light on to check on him. (So glad I got that! Better to have that than to have to get up and turn on any brighter lighting and REALLY startle him... especially during the night... in the darkness.) I went over to see where he was... he was still on his "night perch" so what-ever it was, it wasn't anything "terrible". He was awake, of course. I wonder if I didn't wake him. But he was calm. So I whispered "Everything is OK. I'm right here. You're not alone and there's nothing here that's going to cause you ANY harm. I LOVE you and I'm right here to make sure you're safe. You can go back to seepie-nigh-night. Everything's fine." I have to say that it appears that he has some "understanding" when I talk to him. Maybe it's the sound of my voice, the "quality"? What-ever it is, he appears to be calm when he knows that I'm "there". Imagine! Once upon a time, I was his natural predator... Today, we're "the flock". WOW! In Creation, there's NOTHING more humbling!
This morning, I got up from his futon before he woke and went into the kitchen to prepare my morning coffee and to get the day started... and... at 6.00, through his door, came the "morning call":
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"
I HAD to stop everything else and get in to see him IMMEDIATELY! He was WONDERFUL! And this morning's "poops"... all in one place, so he rested well through the night. And no "water"! A GREAT start to a new day!
And too... he was QUITE "VOCIFEROUS"! We had quite the chats from right away this morning and through the rest of the day. I SO NEEDED that! AND, poops today were "good". Only the slightest bit of "water"... here and there, now and again, but "regular" in between. Hopefully what-ever it was that was causing him to pass water has "passed through". In any event, my Little Guy's got a GREAT appetite, ate VERY well during the day and was energetic, flying all about the room. And THAT started right away this morning with a quick flight out of his house as I did morning water change, and up to his "top shelf" on the wall.
"WOOHOO!" indeed!
So the day went along with the two of us together, as I did some work at the table, and my Little Guy went about his own "business"... flying about the room, taking a snooze, eating well. It was a "Saturday together"... and apparently we kept each-other good company. (I can say that for me, being with Yonah is preferable over ANY-thing else or being ANY-where else... and it does seem that the feeling is mutual.)
But the day today, as with every day, went by so quickly! The days are growing shorter now that the Autumn is coming in. Then again, NO day is EVER "long enough"... with my little Heart-and-Soul.
After we'd both had our evening meals (together, of course... that's the "normal routine" in the house now), we got to the evening water relay at 18.30... and at 19.00 I turned the "UV" light off.
At 19.30, my Little Guy was up on his roof-top platform and I had to bring him, still on the platform, into his house. I held it level with his perch and he simply hopped off the board and onto his perch. He was "home" for the night... I turned the "moon" light on and turned the desk lamp off... and "tucked him in" for the night... with kisses.
At 20.30, I dimmed the moon light down to minimum. It gives him just enough light to see his surroundings but not so much that it would disturb his sleep. And... at 21.30, I "closed" the rest of the house for the night and got to his futon for another night together... Moon light off... another day... another Saturday... together... came to a wonderful close and to another night where we'd sleep the darkness away... together.
Sunday 18 September:
I woke, this morning, at 7.00 and the first thing I did, as I do, looked into Yonah's house to check... firstly, to see where he was. That's always my first "duty" of every day, to check to make sure he's on his night perch. And yes, there he was... and he was awake... but silent. So I looked more intently... to make sure that he was OK... I figured he just wanted a few more minutes of "rest", not quite ready to "get up" yet, so I opened the door to his house and headed into the kitchen to put the kettle on for my coffee...
I'd no sooner gotten the kettle on when...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"
"Morning call"! My Little Guy WAS awake and it was time to open the curtains and blinds! So... as the kettle heated, I went in...
There he was, on his perch... and as I said "Good morning", he stretched his wings, preparing for... what-ever was to follow. Seeing him stretch his wings in the morning is SUCH a DELIGHT! It's my assurance that he's rested and feeling well. And this morning's "poop check"? "Perfect poops" over-night! The "usual" quantity... I do count them to make sure there aren't too many nor too few. And each one was just perfect: white-to-dark, consistency and shape. It was re-assuring to me.
Although, during the day, he's still passing some water with. Thankfully, it's clear, perfectly clear. There's no indication of anything other than water passing. It's not good that he's passing so much water so quickly. But at least it isn't "green" or "yellow". And on the poops that aren't so wet, the "white" is "white"... no discolouration there either. What-ever it is that's causing him to pass water doesn't seem to be any sort of "infection". Hopefully it's just a bit of "stress", for what-ever reason, or maybe, like people, he's just got some sort of "digestion disturbance".
Other-wise, I HAVE to say that his energy is GREAT! All through the day he was flying about his room AND... THIS AFTER-NOON, HE CAME OUT TO THE KITCHEN AS I WAS WORKING THERE, TO KEEP ME COMPANY FOR A WHILE! He doesn't do that as a rule, but today, for some reason, he wanted to be with me, to watch. One thing for certain: this Little Guy really DOES take an obvious interest in the things that happen around him. He misses NOTHING! And he seems so fascinated when he watches... from what-ever it is that I do at the work table to ANY little thing I add or move about in his house... AND in his room. It's as if he's "intrigued". And I can't help but recall reading where doves, in general, will do just that: take to the room(s) where people tend to congregate, and they'll find a place in the room with the best advantage, and they'll watch the general goings-on. Well, Yonah is no exception to that! And it's just pure delight to see. (I always wonder what his thoughts are as he watches me, and I SO wish I could have SOME idea as to what he thinks. And all the while, in my mind, I have to remember that NONE of what he's experiencing during our time together is ANYTHING even slightly similar to what his Life would be, were he still "out there"... It still hurts me though, to think that he wasn't born to live this way and that he's been removed from his "natural" environment. Still, those who've come to see him and his surroundings tend to say the very same thing: "He's spoiled." - IMPOSSIBLE! And that he's living a "perfect life" now, having everything he could ever possibly want or need... fresh, good food, freshwater, warmth, shelter, protection from ALL sorts of natural predators. Sure, I'm making certain that he gets all the very-best-possible, to the best of my own capabilities. But the fact remains: I'm not his "natural flock"... and I have to wonder if he doesn't miss the company of other doves. Where that's concerned, if I could know, for certain, that he wouldn't mind "sharing his home" with another dove, I'd find a way to get another. But, sometimes he seems to resent even the "pillow dove". Then too, there's the thought, of others, that he and I are "his flock" now and that introducing another dove might be seen as "competition for his affections"... never mind, his "mate". Just makes me feel all the more inferior... I just don't "know"... and I most seriously doubt I ever will. So, for now... we keep the situation as it is: my little Heart-and-Soul and me...
Well We DID have a WONDERFUL Sunday together today. I had no-where else to be and had more than plenty to keep me occupied at home... at the work table... in Yonah's room. And we had a little mid-day meal together and, for the most part, just enjoyed each-other's companionship... chatting from time-to-time, and I had a little snooze in the after-noon, and as I snoozed, Yonah did too.
This evening at 19.30, it was time to close the curtains on the day out-side and get to the evening routine... water relay and settling his house for the night.
By 20.00, all the commotion of the evening was done, Yonah's house was settled, the "moon" light was on for a while... my Little Guy was all tucked-in for a good night's rest.
Tonight though, at 21.00, I turned his moon light off... and, since all was well and he seems to be doing better, I thought perhaps it would be better if I didn't sleep on his futon... just so that I don't disturb him during the night if and when I have to "get up". He was already tucked-in and settled, and I hope he was asleep/resting so that he wouldn't notice that I wasn't there, on the futon. It does bother me though, not being in the room with him. But... we'll see how he's "rested", in the morning... "poop check" tells so much about so much...
Monday 19 September:
This morning, I crept into the room, in the dim, morning light that makes it through the blinds and curtains, and peered into Yonah's house, as I do, to make sure he's calm and on his "night roost" and as I did, he "greeted" me with an ever-so-quiet little "HOO!" I'm never sure if it's a "startle" or his way of saying "Hello there!" or... "It's about time you got in here. I've been awake for forever, waiting here." But what-ever it is, he doesn't appear to be startled and so, it really is more like a "Well! Good morning!"
And when I opened his door and leaned in to give him some "Good morning kisses" of my own... WOW! DID I EVER GET A "FACE-FULL" OF KISSES THIS MORNING! Fore-head, cheek, across the nose, the eyes (which I keep closed ever-so tightly... my Little One just seems to LUV going for the eyes!). Knowing that my little Heart-and-Soul is as happy to see me in the morning as I am to see him, well... I just stayed there, standing, face in, until he'd done with his "kisses" and then, when he toddled away, we got to the morning routine.
And as I worked along, water relay and the likes, Yonah was UP and OUT and on the wing... off to his wall shelves, up to the top one with a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo!" HOO! Indeed! Energy and ready to GO! All seemed well until... Poop check...
THIS MORNING... THAT "POLYURIA" IS BACK! AND HE'D PASSED "GREEN WATER" DURING THE NIGHT! NOW IT WAS TIME TO ACTUALLY TAKE THIS QUITE AND MOST SERIOUSLY! HE'S PASSING WATER AT NIGHT! I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE IS! SOMETHING IN HIS HOUSE? SOMETHING IN THE SAND? SOMETHING IN THE WATER? MAYBE IN THE POOL WATER? BACTERIAE IN THERE THAT HE'S DRINKING... ESPECIALLY AFTER BATHING? I JUST DON'T KNOW AND I NEED TO FIND OUT!
As much as it bothered me to do so, I TOOK HIS ENTIRE HOUSE APART AGAIN, RIGHT AWAY, THIS MORNING! He doesn't like it when I do that. As I've said, he notices EVERY change in his surroundings, no matter how slight. Even when I "move" something, a plant, a stone, a branch... anything, in his house, he watches, intently, to see what I take, where I put it and watches for me to return it. So when I take the WHOLE HOUSE apart, it obviously disturbs him. I'm not really sure why. By now he must know that, in short order, his house and home will be returned to where they were (or close to it). But still, his "annoyance" is obvious. He flies about the room, from place-to-place, and all the while, his gaze is focused on his house AND on me! Today it was particularly difficult for me because I didn't want to disturb him any more than he might already be, if he's not feeling well. And the LAST thing he needed was NOT to have his "home" to rest in. BUT... I wasn't taking ANY chances. SOME-THING in his house was causing him some sort of "ailment" and I was determined to get rid of it! So... EVERYTHING in his house "went"... in it's entirety!
EVERY bit of every part got taken out, scrubbed, thoroughly, with a bit of bleach in the washing water and then RINSED, each tray, for at least FIVE times over. Then, each tray got thoroughly dried and sprayed with a proper coating of "Permethrin". Granted that would only control "mites" and "fleas", neither of which there's any indication, but I'm NOT taking ANY chances on ANYTHING being in there that could cause troubles.
And, just to be certain, after cleaning the "cage" and the shelves as well, when I put the house back together, this time, there's no more sand (since it comes from the river and even though it's rinsed under constantly-running tap water, then boiled, thrice and "baked" for several hours at a temperature of 400°F, now I'm wondering if there aren't some remnants of some sort of something in there. Well? GONE today). And the pine trees are gone as well. No telling what, if anything, might be in/on the trees OR in the soil! GONE too! Poor Little Guy! His house is now plain kitchen roll. White paper. At the very least, if there are any little "parasites" (mites, fleas, ticks, &c.) they'll be visible on the white.
THEN... when every-thing was back "in order", stark as it is, I hit my only resource for information: the INTERNET!
I HAVE to say... my "Guardian Angle" (as it were) was "on duty" today because, looking through a number of "links", I happened upon a site called "Just Ask" and there, I was connected with an AVIAN VET! I have NO idea who it was or where, but for the smallest fee, (that was MORE than worth no matter what will be charged) I got to communicate with somebody who could give me some sort of guidance.
The general consensus: What-ever is it that's causing the "polyuria", it's most likely something that Yonah is eating during the day. So, since there's nothing different about his food, nor the water, which is the same water I'm drinking, with coffee and other times, there must be something else he's been getting into. The vet thought it the best approach that I took his house apart and cleaned it and replaced everything with plain kitchen roll. Advice: keep watching to see what changes come from here on. My plan: give this at least a week. The vet agreed. AND she said that I could contact her directly (with this little "subscription" of today) to let her know how things progress and to ask any more questions that I might have. It's odd, for me, to conduct this sort of thing over the internet, and all we can do is "type" back and forth. But, after that "visit" with Dr. Phairie-Princess, if this is the way I have to go, then so be it. At least this way, I can be sure that there'll be no more "abuse". Yes, I feel "disconnected" and still feel quite "alone" again. But my consolation comes from the "approval" of a vet who kept assuring me that I'm doing a wonderful job of taking care of Yonah, especially considering I'm "flying on my gut instincts". To be honest, at best, it gives me the encouragement to continue on with my efforts, though, I'll never be completely sure of my-self and no matter what comes of it, no matter the improvement, I'll never truly feel I've done "ALL" I could... and though I might do "ALL"... I'll never feel it enough. I just can't tolerate the notion that my little Heart-and-Soul is even slightly uncomfortable. He's been through such living HELL... literally. From the attack on 13 October through all of the "changes" to his life... with a human, in this house. All I really want is to know that he's healthy, comfortable, to the very best possible extent... considering the circumstances. But all I can do is what I'm able to do and provide what-ever is available. One good: he's warm, out of the elements of the "world", and he's got no need to be concerned with ANY thing that would cause him any harm... And I'll see to it that, for as long as his little heart beats and his little lungs take air, he'll stay that way.
For now... it's "watch and see... and HOPE"... At least it's all so much better than our earliest days (and nights) together. Now, I have support references... and a bit more knowledge and understanding of what to look for and what anything might mean... and now... there's a "vet" ... "out there", to turn to, and one that seems truly concerned and wantingh to help. There's that... today.
OH... One particular note: WHEN I WENT TO MIX MORE FOODS TOGETHER, I HAPPENED TO NOTICE THAT THE "ZUPREEM" IN THE JAR WAS LOOKING A LITTLE "DUSTY"!!! I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S JUST "DUST" FROM THE SEEDS BEING TOSSED ABOUT OR IF THERE'S SOMETHING "WRONG" IN THERE... THERE AREN'T ANY OF THOSE "WEBS" FROM THE FLY LARVAE, BUT, THE "DUST" REALLY WORRIES ME! COULD IT HAVE BEEN A "BAD BATCH" AND THAT'S WHAT'S CAUSING ALL OF YONAH'S TROUBLES? NEEDLESS TO SAY... WHAT WAS IN THE JAR IS NOW READY FOR DISPOSAL! AND I'M NO LONGER COMFORTABLE WITH THE "DOVE MIX SUPREME" EITHER. THOSE ARE TWO THINGS THAT I'VE ADDED TO HIS FOOD MIX OF "WITTE MOLEN" AND "HEALTHY SELECT" WHICH IS HIS "BASE" FOOD AND WITH WHICH HE'D BEEN DOING QUITE WELL ALL ALONG. SINCE TODAY IS "ELIMINATION DAY"... REMOVING "DOUBTS"... THOSE TWO ARE "GONE" AS WELL... We're back to the basic two ingredients... and we'll see what happens.
Well, it was a some-what difficult day... for me, in particular. My Little Guy seems to be doing quite well. Then again, birds are strange in that they don't tend to show pain or discomfort. Even less so than most other animals. And Yonah? Well, there's no "complaining", no little "whines" or sounds of discomfort. And his energy seems to be fine. Then too is the fact that animals, in general, will do their best to hide any "weakness" they might have. It's their "survival". In some cases, injuries or sickness is seen by flock or pack as "weakness" and either the "weak" one will be abandoned or destroyed. So I don't doubt that Yonah's instincts are telling him "No mater what, act like nothing's wrong." and there's nothing I can do or say to get him to understand that I'm here to try to make things better... that I'd NEVER do him ANY harm... and I will NEVER "abandon" him. Still, he did eat during the day... I didn't see him drinking anything so I'll have to watch for any signs of dehydration too. But, over-all, he was as if nothing's wrong.
This evening, at about 19.34... Poor Little One... "tuck-in" is in a "sterile" house. No sands, pool, trees. I took the pool out to clean it and left it out so that he has his little dish of water only for drinking. I don't want him drinking "pool" water, in case he bathes in it or... as he'll do, poops in it. Besides, it gives the pool (dish) a chance to truly dry completely out... If there's anything "on/in" it, we'll dry it right out! And before I replace it, it'll get a good boiling and scrubbing too.
I just hope he "finds" the dish of water... He's so accustomed to the large dish with the "moving water" in it. But I'm sure he'll discover the dish... and when he's thirsty, he'll drink from that.
I DO have to say though, that, during the day, he ate very well, so he does have a good appetite and what-ever might be "disturbing" his digestive system, it's not "serious enough" to keep him from eating. THAT is one of THE MOST assuring signs! AND... he DID poop during the day... as he does. And today... ALL THE POOPS WERE PERFECT LITTLE POOPS! What-ever it is that's gotten to him, it's been removed... or so I can hope.
Still, looking at his house now, with nothing "alive" in it, so white, plain, sterile... It's more like a "hospital room" My Little Guy is in "ICU"! It's SO reminiscent of his first days and nights. (I wonder if he remembers those.) At least THESE days and nights, I know a bit more than I did then... and can offer more help.
So, the day passed... Lighting low during and this evening, the moon light is on... for rest and relaxation.
Temperature out-side is 18° and it's raining... Forecast says 13° for tonight's low. Only 17° for tomorrow's high... the "cool and damp" are making a return already.
Thankfully, there's the little heater in Yonah's house to ward off the chills and the dampness. He doesn't seem quite "fond" of it (yet) but, it IS a lot better than having him taking a chill during the night. And it does fit his house perfectly... hanging form his roof with the paper clips. The spacing is good. And it DOES supply a wonderful warmth... and no "lights" and no "humming" noise... just silent warmth. It might be a little "too warm", but if so, there's plenty of space for my Little Guy to go to in his house to get comfy. And if he takes a chill else-where in the house, he can always return to the heater. It works... WHAT A GREAT INVESTMENT! I wish I'd have known about it sooner! But... it's here now... and Autumn is coming and too, the Winter. This year, he won't have to be "heated from below" with the radiator. This year, he'll have his own, immediate, direct source of warmth!
All of his utensils... food and water dishes, &c. have all been washed thoroughly with a bit of bleach and "Dawn" dish liquid and are now drying. So too, the jar that his "mixed" food was in. I'm not sure what I'll do with the 3-each bags of "Zupreem" and "Dove Supreme". I won't put any of that out for the Yardies... for fear of making them ill too. But I'll hold the closed bags and keep a careful watch... Hopefully it was just that one bag. And hopefully these new "pellets" from "Higgins" will be beneficial to Yonah.
Tonight, I'm in dread of the night... and tomorrow morning... But, as I say, with all the sincerity of Creation:
No Yonah... No me... That's all there is to it...
Tuesday 20 September:
This morning's "call" came as the clock read 7.00! On days when my Little One wakes precisely on an hour, I have to wonder: is he suddenly living on "people time" or is our contrived time learning how to return back to the "natural" way "time" was intended. Which or what-ever it is, the fact that the season is changing is more obvious, when "wake-up" comes a bit later each day. No more 5.30 or 6.00... we're beginning to "sleep-in". But hey, this morning was so dreary, grey, it was perfect for just lounging, grabbing a little more "rest time".
No matter... my day doesn't actually start until Yonah's day starts... and that's the way I'm perfectly happy. After all, "time" is his and his time is my time (to the very best of my ability to follow him).
This morning's poop-check? Looking GOOD again! Proper proportions, and no "water". But his house looks so sterile! I can't imagine what he must be thinking of it. But to me, it's just horrible. Not to mention, it keeps reminding me of our earliest days and nights together when all he had was that horrible "wire mesh box"... and white, paper kitchen roll. It's just too "clinical". But for now, it's necessary. I'm not taking any chances and I want to make sure that there aren't any "parasites" in the house and/or ON my little Heart-and-Soul! I'm planning on a couple days longer this way, and then we'll go through another proper cleaning and bring back some semblance of a "natural" environment again. Not sure how, when it comes to the trees though. I'm actually nervous about soil, never mind what-ever could be on any of the little pines brought in from the woods. There's SO much that can go so "wrong". When I think: out there, in the world my Little Guy was born into, all of what I'm so worried about is just "there". From the trees to the water, the soil on the ground... insects, parasites, all sorts of little "predators" just waiting to attack. I'm sure there are "natural" defences against it all. But the fact is, now, Yonah's never had to deal with any of that. And what-ever the Little Ones use to fight against what-ever is out there, all of that doesn't exist now, here. Not to mention, if there's any "natural immunity"... well... I've pretty much done away with that too. (Interference of humanity... unintentional as it is. In trying to keep his environment "healthy", I've made it "un-healthy". He's never had to "fight" against those things he'd have been exposed to by now. So? So... along with the general provisions of food and water, I have to make sure that nothing potentially harmful is in his life now. No problem there. As long as we're together, I happily do what-ever he needs... no matter what. And if we have to find another "doctor"? Well... we'll do that... with a LOT of caution. For now... white kitchen roll and a LOT of careful attention.)
Poor Little Guy though... it was such a truly dreary, rainy day all day and what made it all the worse, I had the normal 2 hours away for work this morning and then, right after, had to run out of the house for what I'd hoped to be about an hour but ran into the entirety of the day! I didn't get back until almost 18.00! The 2 hours in the morning are hard enough on me, thinking of my little Heart-and-Soul being all alone in the house, and today, what made it worse was the dull, grey drear of the day... and that "cool, damp, Autumnal chill". But he did have his bird-songs playing, and the radio was on, low volume, just to add a bti of variety to the sounds around him. And too, that "UV" light... a pretty good substitute for sun-shine (I can only hope).
When I finally got back, he was in the corner of his house, on his little "loft". It was SO GOOD to be back together! And he was obviously happy to see that I'd FINALLY come back. (It's said that birds, in general, don't perceive the passing of time as people do... and of course, I'm sure "time" to any animal is nothing even similar to the way people sense it, but, if I'm away for any duration, the "welcome" is truly obvious... especially when Yonah comes hopping over to his door perch... and I get a wing-snap! He DOES sense the period of being in the house... by himself, and though he handles it quite well... indeed... he's not "comfortable" with it. After all... mourning doves are "flocking", social Little Ones... and, for all it's worth... Yonah and I are... "the flock" now.)
So, as soon as I got in and we had our "Hello" kisses, and I kept apologising for being away so long... we DID have our "evening meals" together... late as they were. And yes, Yonah DID get to eating as soon as he saw me sit at the work table with my plate. (I HOPE he wasn't waiting for me during the day. But I'm pretty sure that, no matter what, he does eat when he gets hungry... just something that gives me a bit of consolation: he doesn't have to go "hunting" for food when he's hungry, and he doesn't have to go in search of water when he's thirsty... AND, even BETTER... the food and water he has now are fresh and clean... no pecking at the road-side or drinking from puddles. I can provide him with that much... at the very least.)
Evening poop-check report: POOPS FROM THE DAY WERE DRY AGAIN! NO "GREEN WATER"! NO MAJOR WET SPOTS! Hopefully, what-ever it was that gave him trouble has passed through! (I'll keep watch though. No rush. But good poops are WONDERFUL to see again!)
As usual, today went by entirely too quickly... especially since we had so little of it together. By the time we got re-settled, it was time for "tuck-in"... and so, as the sun out-side set, turning an other-wise dull day to night, the night boards went up. No "water relay" yet. The "pool" still isn't re-installed (so that the only source of drinking water is in the little dish). It truly did "hurt" me... thinking of how little time we had together and now it was time to close the day. But, tonight, again, it would be a night together...
So, with kisses good-night, and a some cuddles, the blinds and curtains closed, it was "lights out"... with hopes of a peaceful, restful night ahead... and even more "perfect news" come the new day... tomorrow.
Tonight though, I tried something "different": I put "Birdie-Birdie" (the pillow dove) in Yonah's house! Balanced on his perch, a little bit of trying to see how he'd react to the presence of "another" through the night and a little bit of my own "aches", thinking of him being "alone" through the night. I know that little pillow isn't a proper "companion", but he seems to like it so much that, well, maybe it'll help take away some feeling of being "alone". Maybe it'll give a little comfort... having another "dove" there... in that terrible, "sterile" place I SO hoped would be a "home" for him. We'll see how it goes through the night. Hopefully it won't startle him, in the dark. But, if it does... I'll be right there to "rectify"... I'll be right there...
Wednesday 21 September:
We BOTH woke this morning at about 7.00! I'd no sooner come out of my own sleep and opened my eyes when...
"woo-HOOooo!"
I was in my room this morning because I'd had a most restless night last night and didn't want to keep disturbing my Little Guy with getting up and down. But, still, I heard the "call" and was up and in his room in mere moments.
"Birdie-Birdie" was still where "he" was placed last night so there wasn't any sign of "startle" or "battle". Not sure how it went through the night, but thankfully, there were no "incidents". (I still have to wonder though: how would another actual dove be accepted... or not? HOW I WISH I COULD KNOW FOR CERTAIN! Still, I'd prefer another mourning dove and with the way "things" - read: "laws" - are and the reactions and responses I've gotten from the "authorities" on the subject, short of another dove in distress in the yard - WHICH I DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER - that's just about impossible. I've been thinking "ring-neck"... but no matter, I don't want to bring a Little One into the house who'll be rejected, resented or worse... perhaps attacked, abused. So? So... for now, it's "Birdie-Birdie", in the house and on the futon. The "learning" continues, and my "Professor" teaches me... as hopeless as I might be.)
Anyway, as I say, with-in moments after we'd both awakened, I was in the room, the curtains and blinds were opened to another dreary, Autumnal day. But Yonah was UP and OUT and "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo!" Obviously, he'd gotten a good, and restful sleep over-night!
This morning's "poop-check": The usual "10" and... NO WATER! No "strange green". They were WONDERFUL! And he's got AMAZING energy... AND AFFECTION! It's time to start putting his house back together the way it was... "start"... I have to decide what to put back and how to put it in there.
One note on the day: he DID have a "watery poop" during the day, on the pillow on the futon. The "catastrophe" isn't quite "gone" yet. It's all "promising" but... I won't be comfortable until we've had a couple of days of "no water". Sure, during the day he drinks, to be sure. But it's just that the water passes so quickly and instead of the "urea", the white in his poop, there's so little, and sometimes none, of that. More watching and hoping it stops... SOON!
Some rather re-assuring news came today: Another mourning dove in the yard! With a short tail! Very similar to what Yonah's tail is looking like these days! Maybe it's "the season"? In one respect, if it's "Autumn moulting", I'm comforted to know that Yonah's "shedding" is simply that: the normal cycle. HOW-ever... if it IS "moulting", there's "dread" too... We're in for another several weeks of him not feeling well, at all! And now, at a time when he seems to be getting through some other ailment. Moulting is a Hellish period... for both of us. For my Little Guy, it's discomfort, poor spirits, the pain of losing one set of feathers and the "poking-through" of the "new" set. It tears me apart to see him, and to not hear him, because he's almost completely silent during a moult. (Understandably, because it must be horrific for him.) All I can do now is "wait and see"... and HOPE that, if his recent feather-loss is moulting, the process will pass quickly and with minimal discomfort to him. There's really nothing else that I can do. It's not as if I could give him any sort of "lotion", though there are accounts that tell of "aloe sprays" meant to keep his little body moisturised. Allegedly, it relieves some of the "itching", but not the pain of the new feathers poking through his skin. And then too, there's the residue such a spray would leave on him. There's no telling how much discomfort that would cause. "Moulting" is one of my most-dreaded events. Still, better moulting than anything that could cause him horrific consequences. As I say... "wait and see". (It's a relief though, to have the other mourning doves to watch and learn from. I'm fortunate there. If only they could tell me... if only Yonah could tell me... If only I were "intelligent enough" to understand the 'woo-HOO-hoo-hoo". But I'm not... sadly.)
The "Higgins" pellets arrived today. They're supposed to be of the "best" on the market for ALL sorts of Little Ones, full of all sorts of good things, including some fruits and veggies! I put a scoop in with Yonah's regular mix to see if he'll eat any of it. Seems that he'd actually gotten a few this evening. I'll have to watch the poops again... just to make sure they don't cause MORE "digestive disturbances" and to see if he'll actually eat any. (I'm really rather sure though, that, if he doesn't like them, he'll manage to avoid them and I'll find them tossed about in his house. He's AMAZING in that he CAN separate what he doesn't want to eat from even his regular mix. I can't quite figure out HOW he does it, but, there are particular seeds, the "chia", for example, that he doesn't like, and the Niger, and I see them off to the side in the "toss-aways". So, if these pellets don't meet with approval... well... I can set them out for the Yardies and see if THEY'LL accept them. It's all still so much "trial and error". My MAJOR concern: that they don't cause "stomach troubles". I'll know better with-in a day or 2. More "observations" to follow.)
I picked-up 2 bags of "Play Sand" today too. They're wet, of course, so I'll let them dry out as much as possible. The plan is: no more "river sand". Granted, I rinse and wash and boil and bake that. But, there's still a chance that there's something in there that might be making Yonah ill. Could be some sort of mineral in the original rock. These mountains are "rich" in iron and there might be too much in there when he swallows the grains as grit. Or, there might be traces of some sort of plant or animal matter than I'm simply "cooking into" the grains. What-ever the case, "Play Sand" is safe enough to put into children's play boxes and my research into it says that it's cleaned quite well before it's packaged. So it's starting out clean. I will, of course, treat it the same as the other sand: wash, rinse, boil, bake... just to be more certain. It's really quite "fine" though and not at all too "gritty". And I have to watch for any "dust" because Yonah could inhale too much of that and, well... we want it to be grit in his crop... not dust in his lungs. So, we'll see what has to be done to get rid of as much fine dust as possible. It's a NEW education. But, at least it's clean... even before we get started. Hopefully it'll serve better. (I'm just looking forward to getting the "house" back to some semblance of "Nature"... AND, a little "beach" is something my Little Guy has been used to having... and he's enjoyed, especially when the sun-shine warms it and he has a place to bask, especially after a dip in the pool. This "sterility" of the kitchen roll is just... well... it serves a purpose for the time but it's time to get back to "normal".)
The "box" I'd ordered, "custom-made", arrived today too! It really is quite beautiful. Primarily oak with a strip of rich, dark walnut across the length of the top. And what's called "splines", the joining pieces at the corners, are walnut as well. The top slides open and closed, flush with the rest. It's for Yonah... when... He'll be wrapped in his "Mulberry silk" and... well... it will be his "eternal bed". I can't think of the time when he won't be up and about, coo'ing and flying about, the house filled with the whistle of his wings. It's entirely too deeply painful. But the one thing that I can and will say is: it won't be all that long and I'll be off to find him. We'll be "out there" together. Hopefully he'll be able to "wait" for me. The only thing in this world that I fight for is to be here for him, for as long as he needs me. When he no longer needs me, I no longer need be. So now, I'm relieved to know that I'm "prepared". "Life" tried to destroy him. I'll make his "being" something extraordinarily special. After all, in the purest literal sense, Yonah Taube is the only reason I'm still here.
Another day has come and passed... and at 19.30 tonight, blinds and curtains were closed, the necessary "house-keeping" was complete, the night boards were up. At 20.00, my Little Guy was "at home", his new "moon" light was on. His room was settled. At 20.30 I put the moon light off... Another day... another day... and my little LOVE... my Heart-and-Soul was tucked-in for a night's restful sleep. It was quite the day and I'm SO indescribably Blessed... my Little Guy seems to be coming through what-ever it is that "got to him" (again). We're probably heading into a period of misery, for both of us, if he's going into moulting. But, for now... tonight, hopefully he'll sleep through the night, and we'll both be here to confront the new day... when the sun turns tonight's darkness into what-ever day-light we'll have tomorrow... tomorrow... "tomorrow"
Thursday 22 September:
Morning call... 7.34! And 10 perfect little poops! No water. No green. Just the "regular" quantity, colour, composition... AND, a "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" with energy and impatience to get to the day! Couldn't (and wouldn't) ask for better! My Little Guy obviously had a good night's rest and was feeling quite fine... so my day was as perfect as any day could be!
And during the day? Well, we had the BEST! I'm still working on "arranging" Yonah's house, to get his perches and other "furnishings" arranged in preparation for the new "Sweeter Heater" (infrared) I've order for him. There are toasty nights to come, no matter WHAT the weather might throw at us, and there's COLD to come. (Tonight, we're dropping to a mere 5° but... this is only September... There will be more of these and then? The "minuses". But THIS year, we'll be prepared. My little Heart-and-Soul will be warm, toasty and comfy-cozy through the night! I'll see to that!)
What was REALLY the most enjoyable part of the day was watching him watching me as I moved things about in his house and room. EVERY little "change", from the position of a perch to the placement of twigs, Yonah missed NOTHING! And I held things up to "show" him what I was working with and from time-to-time, he'd tilt his head, as if trying to get a better look. And as I put something down in his house, he seemed to take the most careful note of what went where. I was AMAZING to see how much actual interest he takes in his surroundings. They don't change often, and nothing really moves about, because of being in-side, so I suppose it does make a difference to him when I relocate anything. Well, right now, it's even more important because THIS WINTER, he'll be as warm as possible.... with his very own heater. No more radiator on the floor. No more heat "diffused" through the room. This new heater will be directly above or beside him (we'll know better with trial and error... though "above" seems to be the best place). And it'll be HIS heater... and HIS alone! (I'm a little "excited" about it... obviously.)
After I'd done with the "house arrangement", I took to the work table to get a few more things "accomplished" and today, more often than not, my Little Guy was ON MY SHOULDER, PECKING AT MY EAR AND CHEEK! I guess he knows (some-how) that all the "re-decorating" is for his benefit, that all the activity was to make his house more comfortable... and I was being told that the efforts are appreciated. What-ever the cause or reason, I couldn't have been more delighted! He doesn't come over to me often, so when he does, and he decides to say for any length of time, for me, it's an honour, privilege and absolute JOY!
Dreary, windy, rainy "Autumnal" sort of day all day. It's getting close to "October"... and... "those rainy days"... "Anniversary" is approaching. These darker days are "two-fold" for me: We're making it through another year... or... Will we? Especially now, with the "health issues"... I try to focus on the "successes"... I try.
THE ONE THING THAT REALLY PULLED THE DAY TOGETHER TO MAKE IT ALL THE MORE JOYFUL THOUGH... A MESSAGE FROM "Dr. CATT" !!! (I still can't get over an "avian veterinarian" by the name of "Catt"!) THE "JustAsk" DOCTOR! SHE'S ACTUALLY FOLLOWING-UP ON YONAH'S PROGRESS! (Dr. "Phairie-Princess" never bothered, never mind that she seemed put out just by our being there in her office.) SHE'D CONSULTED WITH "A MORE SEASONED AVIAN VET" TO INQUIRE ABOUT WHAT COULD BE CAUSING YONAH'S "POLYURIA"! The list of possible causes is both comforting and yet, unsettling... to me:
• dietary change (I wonder: could it be the new "Higgins" pellets?)
• "certain antibiotics - Yonah doesn't have a history of antibiotic use"
• "steroid administration - -Yonah doesn't have a history of antibiotic use"
• kidney disease
• heavy metal toxicity
• Mycoplasma infection/air sac disease
• Chlamydia infection
• Paramyovirus infection
"If the PU/PD doesn't resolve, the next step is to run a cbc and chemistry panel and perform full body radiographs.
I hope this helps!"
I just about broke-down into absolute TEARS! SOMEBODY CARES! Dr. Catt AND Dr. "Tom"! It was SO comforting... even with the potential horrors on the list! I just don't feel so "alone" now. I just wish this Dr. Catt were closer... I'm not even sure where she is... but I believe she's out some-where toward the Mid-West! Doesn't that just figure? BUT... NOW I HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FOR AND SOME BASE TO WORK FROM! IT'S NOT A "CURE", BUT IT'S A START!
Odd, some-how, that "heavy metal toxicity" should be mentioned in the list. I've removed the "river sand" with that in mind. I remember reading that one of the leading causes of death in mourning doves is "lead poisoning"... from "buckshot". They'll swallow that, in the fields where hunters were, and eventually, the metal will poison them. But I'm thinking of the iron ore in the mountains here. After all, we're in a town that was settled for the mining of iron ore. So, there's one possibility eliminated. And with the "Play Sand"... that's primarily quartz so... if the sand isn't the actual cause of Yonah's illness, hopefully the elimination of "iron ore" will be of some help.
Also, the first item on the list: "dietary change"... I HAVE to wonder if the "Higgins" pellets don't have something in them that Yonah's little system is rejecting. It's supposed to be highly recommended, this pellet mix. And it's supposed to be "complete", supposedly I could give it to Yonah and nothing else. But, as with ALL foods, no matter what, no matter who they're for, there's always a potential for either some sort of "toxin" in, and, like people with "food allergies", there might be something in the mix of the pellets that just disagrees with Yonah.
"Kidney disease" REALLY troubles me because that's one of the most common ailments in all sorts of birds, across the spectrum! And it's one of the more difficult to get rid of with-out all sorts of medications. "Milk Thistle" is supposedly very good to prevent that AND to treat it... And so... "Milk Thistle" will be added to Yonah's diet. (In fact, from what I see on the topic, it's also good for people! So... "people grade" it is... Dr. Phairie-Princess gave me some sort of "liquid" form of milk thistle, but it's got "lactulose" in it and I recall reading some-where that that's not exactly a "good" thing to give to birds. So? More search and research... if it'll help my Little Guy... we'll find it, get it and he'll have it. If nothing else, it'll help to eliminate something more on the list of possible causes.
"Air-sac disease"? Yonah's coo'ing doesn't seem to be any different from his usual. Sure, at times, it's quieter, but it doesn't appear to be "blocked" or "strained". And when he "yawns", there's no indication of any sort of infection in his mouth or throat. "Air-sac" troubles can come from mites too... and I've scrubbed his house, many times, to make sure there are no mites there. That's the reason I've removed the mosses too (much to my sorrow... and Yonah's too, I'm sure). AND... the trees too! I'm taking NO chances... NO risks. There could have been something ON the trees or IN the soil... but, they're gone now and might be for the duration.
It's the other infections that tear at me. Sure, there are, probably, all sorts of medications and treatments for those more serious infections. But... if I can't find a local vet for Yonah... I'll have to hope there are alternative ways to get hold of the medications AND somebody who won't mind teaching me how to administer them (and HOPEFULLY NONE will be "IV").
But... for now... I'm comforted knowing that SOMEBODY ELSE CARES! AND I'M SO GRATEFUL! And I have a starting point... AND Yonah appears to be doing better now that his house has been cleaned-out. I'm thinking the "Higgins" pellets will be going away though... and we'll work through another "wait and see". This little "journey", this "learning" has been, for the most part, as I've said, "trial and error". It's difficult, especially since there are so few references to work from and with. And so few who have the knowledge and will share it. Add to that, the scarcity of "avian vets"... I don't like "learning as I go along", and, more and more, I see that my little Heart-and-Soul and I are together in this... alone. But together, alone, we'll come through this. We've come through a lot worse... those earliest days were horror... and here we are, today, still together. We CAN and WILL get through this too!
And so, the rest of the day went a bit better, and I dug into all the "possible causes"... and learned more.
The VERY BEST of it: my Little Guy is eating very well! He's eating! So, what-ever it is that's bothering him isn't so serious that HE doesn't feel the necessity to keep his nourishment up. THAT'S SUCH A RELIEF!
Other-wise, we had a great day, together... quiet and calm.
This evening, I made sure his house is clean, got him settled for the night. At least he'll be nice and warm, which is helpful to his "recovery". Thankfully he has his own little heater.
At 20.00, I put the lights out in his room... and as I stepped out of his room, he called:
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"...
I had a good cry... it was almost as if he was calling:
"I know what you're going through but don't worry, it's all going to be just fine!"
Just another one of those moments when I feel insignificant, insufficient...
Friday 23 September:
A "sleep-in" sort of morning today.... I was up and about for quite a while and suddenly noticed the time: 7.50! There'd been no "call" and all was so peaceful in Yonah's room. Needless to say, I went in with the heaviest heart. I'm never at ease in the morning, until I hear the "woo-HOO-hoo..." and that it was so late this morning only made my anxieties deeper, darker, heavier.
But there he was... my little Heart-and-Soul, on his perch where he'd slept the night. AND from the looks of this morning's "poop-check", he'd had quite the calm night! AND ALL OF THE LITTLE POOPS WERE PERFECT!
As he does, he'd slept beside the little mirror (which always makes me wonder if he sleeps there because there's the image, his reflection, and it gives a sense of not being alone... HOW I SO WISH I could KNOW, with-out ANY doubt, that another dove would be welcome!). And he'd slept in the warmth of his new heater, comfy, cozy... no chills. (Out-side this morning, the temperature was a mere 16° and though sunny, there was a light dusting of snow on the upper peaks of the mountains. The "cold" is coming... But there's a wonderful heater, silent and with-out any un-necessary lights to disturb a good night's sleep, right there. I'm thankful for that!
Morning routine was "routine" and I'd no sooner begun when my Little Guy started hopping about in his house. All was just fine this morning! WHAT a relief!
Right away, after all was settled, I got to washing this new "Play Sand". Noticed that it's "quartz". I found, in my searches, that quartz is used in grit given to chickens, AND it's considered "non-toxic"! "Play Sand" is cleaned, quite thoroughly, before being bagged, if course, since it's "Play" and used in children's sand boxes. That's a MAJOR plus, right there. Since these bags obviously have a few holes in them and the sand is wet, surely, it's not as clean as I'd prefer, so... this too, will be washed as thoroughly as the "river sand". I'm taking NO chances.
I got through half a bag today, rinsing under running tap water until the water ran clear. There's a lot of "fine dust" in this sort of sand, and that has to be removed. If kicked-up and air-borne, Yonah can inhale it and it'll "congeal", as it were, in his little lungs! By the time I'd gotten through the first rinses and the water was clear, there was almost only half of the original quantity. But I put the remainder through a "screen sieve" under more running water, as I shook the finest sand through. The "grittier" portion is quite pretty, though there isn't much of it... white, as opposed to the browns and blacks of the "river sand". It's a bit on the "sterile-looking" side. BUT... it's CLEAN... and it's NON-TOXIC! So, if Yonah eats any, it's SAFE! (My plan is to add his regular "High Calcium", "Kaytee" grit to it... that, by the way, is "granite" and oyster shells. I understand why birds ingest grit. I understand what it does. I've seen claims that it isn't "necessary", but Yonah has always enjoyed it... so it appears. But the very thought of ingesting this "grit"... I understand that it gets ground-down in the gizzard and will eventually "pass". Still... the very idea... eating "gravel". Oh... but this is all such an education for me!)
So now, we start with a "new" gravel... and when this batch is dry, after a few rinses in boiling water and a few "bakes", my Little One will have one of those "white sand beaches" to bask on. (I have to wonder if the "white sand" will hold any more warmth as the sun shines on it. Hey! More warmth! That'll come in quite convenient... come the cold of Winter!)
I'm thinking that I could try using the finer sand to sprout some of the "mix" that I'd gotten. The mix is flax, chia, sesame and hemp seeds, supposedly quite healthy for people... but all of those seeds are in some of the more expensive mixes for "pet birds". (Sprouting them will show whether or not the seeds are actually "viable"... if not... I'm surely NOT going to give them to Yonah to eat!) At any rate, IF they DO grow, it'll put "green" in Yonah's house AND... provide some "greens" to nibble on! We shall see...
The day turned BRILLIANTLY SUNNY today! And I worked some more, on my Little Guy's house... to bring it "back" to something more of a "home" than a "hospital care unit". I brought his trees back... I'd given them a light-but-proper spray with "Permethrin"... to make SURE that there are NO parasites or anything of the sort on them. I'll be watching with EXTREME CARE, from now on... looking at the trees, the soil, the pots... I'm leaving the kitchen roll in too... no sand just yet. If there IS anything in the trees, the white paper will show it better. It's going to be a slow return, but hopefully, this will all be worth the while.
As I worked in his room today, Yonah was with me... AND, quite often, he came to my shoulder... and was with me for little "strolls" about the house! Admittedly, it's more my own "projection" of my own thoughts, but it DOES seem as though he's telling me that he IS aware of what I'm doing and why and that he approves. (I can only hope... but he's not showing any "anxieties" of his own so, things must be, at least, tolerable.)
It was a "busy" sort of day. I'm in no rush to get things done in Yonah's house and I'm taking all the time I possibly have to make sure that his house is "healthy". And before I knew it... it was time for our evening meals! Another day had rolled along past us... and too quickly! So we settled-in at the usual 17.00, Yonah at his little ledge where his food is and I at the work table We "watched" the evening news as we ate and when the washing-up was done, we got things together and settled for another night's rest.
By 19.46, the blinds and curtains were closed, night board were in place and the little "moon" light was on. I could tell that my Little Guy wasn't "quite ready" to close the day and go to sleep but, these days, more than others, I want to make sure that he gets his much-needed rest! (And I keep remembering: mourning doves usually get between 12 and 14 hours of rest so...)
When I leaned in to give "Good night kisses", he hopped onto my shoulder and gave me a few "proper pecks/kisses". It truly is as though he's thanking me for what I'm doing! (Well... I'll take it that way anyway.)
At 21.00 I stepped back in to check on him and to put the moon light off... my little Heart-and-Soul was on his perch... under his heater... all snug, warm, comfy. There's another "cold" night ahead, but my Little Guy will be safe, warm, protected... and tomorrow, hopefully, he'll be even better than he is today! We WILL come through all of this!
Saturday 24 September:
7.00 this morning with a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo"... WOOHOO! INDEED! And 12 PERFECT little poops!
It was a busy day today too... my Little Guy's house is coming back together... at last!
His pool is back, after the most thorough cleaning imaginable! Scrubbed. Soaked in and with vinegar. And the pump for his fountain got a proper "flush"... with white vinegar for 90 minutes, followed by another 90 minutes of running tap water. The tubing got replaced and THAT TOO... got a proper flush... with pure vinegar. We are taking NO chances with ANYTHING any more!
I'm NOT putting ANY of the river rocks back into his house this time. Especially not in his pool! I can't be sure-enough that there's nothing on any of them that is causing him any sort of distress so, we're just going to have to come up with some other ideas where "Nature" is concerned.
Originally, I thought the river rocks in the pool would keep his house closer to the "world" he was born into... they're local, they're part of the landscape out there in the woods... they're there, in the river. The water in the river is perfectly clear and clean... well, as clean as can possibly be, considering the river meanders beside the road at many points before reaching locally. But there's never any algae growing on the river bottom, and the bottom is, for the most part, rocks and sand and very little to almost no "silt". And it's seldom ever "warm", since we're almost at its source, up in the mountains. Still... I can't help but remember that this little hamlet that we're in was founded on the abundance of iron ore in these rocks and mountains and that the rocks I've collected are, mostly, a "rust" colour... there's iron in the rocks... and if there's iron in the rocks and the rocks are in the river, there's iron in the water. And having them in Yonah's pool, with the water from his fountain running over them and at night, just soaking them... there's iron getting into this water! And he does drink from the pool.
Years ago, I was in a building where the plumbing hadn't been up-graded... it was mostly the original, 100-year old pipes, but I gave it no thought until, at one point, I was becoming so ILL with stomach troubles, and fatigue and other problems. And when I mentioned it to one of the other residents he asked: "Are you drinking the tap water?" Well, of course I had been. He then pointed-out the age of the plumbing and that it was, more than likely, mostly the old "lead" piping. "And you shower in that too!" he said. So, it was strongly recommended that I stop drinking the tap water and... well... indeed, with-in about a week's time, I was feeling MUCH improved!
That in mind, and the mention of "heavy metal toxicity" as a possible cause of Yonah's "polyuria"... IRON... in the rocks, the water... the SAND! NOT again! When I think of all the MONTHS that my poor Little One has been EATING those little grains... pure iron ore! The intention was proper: they're "natural", they're part of his "birth-right environment". No doubt ALL of the grit-eating birds out there ingest some of that sand along the river bank. But that's been his primary source! Well! NOT ANY MORE! (Today's another one of those times when I feel the absolute idiot... un-thinking... "stupid human". It's said "The road to Hell is paved with the best intentions." Well, this road is under demolition. "Live and learn". Hopefully I've "learned" in time!) Now, I just have to change my "HOPE"... and HOPE that the quartz of this new sand is clean, clear of toxins.
I'd also put larger rocks in his house as something he could peck on and keep his beak trimmed. Again, rocks with iron! As he wears away the rock... there's more opportunity to ingest MORE iron, not to mention any potentially hazardous anything that might be present in the rock. Yes, I've scrubbed and boiled the large rocks as well, but...
AND, come to find out, there are certain bacteriae that can be killed with boiling, but there are some that release "toxins" when they die! There's SO MUCH that I've come to learn about SO MUCH that I NEVER gave ANY thought to before! SO... with all the heating, I could have been making some other-wise relatively innocuous bacteria quite harmful, and there they were, the "toxins"... in the ROCKS!
I've been saying, all along, that most of this has been "trial and error", "live and learn". I had NO idea HOW MUCH there has been to learn... and I've been learning as time has passed.
Well, right now, I'm just hoping that my stupidity hasn't caused any irreversible injuries to the one little LIFE that is my sole reason and cause for even "existing". The thought of him suffering, at all, tears at the very core of my being.
BUT... I DO have to say that today, he's FULL OF ENERGY, and he appears to be recovering from what-ever it was that afflicted him... I'm not the "prayerful" type, but my heart is sending prayers now... and begging forgiveness... a forgiveness that I know I'll never give my-self, for ANY discomfort that I might have caused. Now, the only thing I can do is wait... watch...
For now... the pool is back... And instead of the water running over rocks, I contrived a little contraption with a small, CLEAN, plastic "yoghurt" container. Set in the pool, up-side-down, it serves as a "stand" to hold the potted tree. I cut an opening so that the water in the pool can be drawn out to the pump and the "outlet" tubing comes out just under the tree so that there's movement of the water. It's still a little "fountain", but the water comes directly out of the tubing and into the pool. No rocks. And it doesn't "flow over" anything. It's all direct. Not as "decorative" but... "cleaner", to be sure. What Yonah thinks of it is to be seen. Hopefully he won't mind the absence of the little rock water-fall.
And the clean "Play Sand", the basic "grit" is now in the trays where the brown river sand used to be. It looks "nice"... a bit stark, "cold" actually... (too much like snow... to me), so plain and white. BUT... IT'S CLEAN... AND, PRESUMABLY... SAFE! I'm curious to see Yonah's reaction to it. I wonder if he'll enjoy basking on his "new beach" and... I'll be watching to see if he ingests any... as grit. (I've added a little "pile" of the other grit that he's used to having. That's got calcium in it and since it's primarily granite and oyster shell, it's clean... nothing to harbour any "toxins".)
It was a BUSY day today... and all the while I worked on putting "house and home" back together, my Little Guy was out, about, watching my EVERY MOVE! And each time I added, removed, replaced, displaced ANYTHING in his house, he was right there... supervising and taking careful, obvious note of the additions and relocations, As he does: he misses NOTHING when it comes to change in HIS environment!
My delight of the day: HE'S GOT HIS ENERGY BACK AND HIS POOPS ARE LOOKING HEALTHY AGAIN! Hopefully, where his ailments are concerned, this too, has passed.
Well then, all that done and said... it did take the day, but we managed to get a bit of a snooze in too... Almost an hour... TOGETHER... on his futon. I laid down and, as he does, Yonah came over to the pillow beside my head... And when I woke, he was there, on the futon, at my leg. Hey! At least he doesn't think I'm trying to harm him. I know enough to know that if he sensed that I meant him any harm... he'd avoid me. I can't ever express, even closely, how truly humbled I am, how indescribably honoured I feel, knowing that this little bundle of feathered LOVE has come to know that ALL I truly want across the vastness of time and Creation, is his comfort, his well-being, that he IS truly, as I call him, my "Heart-and-Soul". This little being, this little LIFE, born into an existence where we, by the "Natural order", ought to other-wise be "predator and prey", actually KNOWS that even when he's just in a "bad mood" or any mood other than "content", every moment of my existence is a living Hell. "Awe"... in the truest sense of the human term... that's all I can say... I am in "AWE".
So today, his "house" is returning, slowly but surely. His pool is back, and his "beach" too. The sand is white, the "fountain" in his pool is a plastic container, there are no more river rocks. It does look a bit "cold"... especially with the white sand (looks too much like snow! and we'll have more than plenty of that in a short while). But it's clean, and safe. But most important: my Little Guy seems to "accept" it. (I can't say that he "likes" it because I have no way to know that with any certainty.) He's flying in and out and about the place as always. Maybe the "change of scenery" is good? After all, were he out where he was born to be, he'd be able to fly about where-ever he wanted to go, and there's a huge world out there to be explored. In any event, at least it isn't ANYTHING even similar to the first place I provided... and when I think of THAT, I'm really rather disgusted with my-self. That wire-mesh "box"... and nothing but kitchen roll. Still, did I EVER even consider that we'd be together this long? No. Time has passed. I've learnt... and he continues to teach me... and he's SO PATIENT!
Finally, at about 19.15 this evening, everything in the house-hold returned to "normal", got settled, calmed. Our evening meals were taken, the washing-up was done, and we got back to a bit of "serenity" after a day of almost chaos. I put fresh water in the pool (yes, again... but that water can never be "too fresh"... after all, my Little Guy drinks out of the pool and well, I don't want anything in there to upset his "system"... we're hopefully getting through that now... No repeats!) and closed the blinds and windows against the night and the chill that was coming.
By 19.40, the lights were dimmed, and "tuck-in" was done. Another day had come and gone. At least tonight, there was a more "homey" sort of place for my Heart-and-Soul to rest in.
But oddly enough, he was still quite "energetic" at 20.10! I couldn't help but think that he was still un-winding after all the commotion I'd caused for most of the day. Lights went out though... I have to make sure that my Little One gets his much-needed and well-deserved (for putting-up with me) rest... though, if we both could stand it... we'd never put the lights out... There's NEVER "enough" time with him.
Sunday 25 September:
Slept through the night on Yonah's futon and as I do, was up and about well before he woke, so I silently went out into the kitchen, closing the door to his room so that the light and my moving about didn't disturb him. And as I went about the house-hold, I waited...
"Morning call" came as the clock read 7.00! The house filled with the "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" and our day came to the official start. My Most Precious Companion, my little Heart-and-Soul was up, awake and ready to roll with the day! And, at that point, so too, was I. And he sounded well-rested... and well! That's what I SO neede to know.
Poop-check this morning... 10 PERFECT little orbs, as they are. The "tummy distress" either has passed or is passing wonderfully! At last! AND they were all in one little place just below where he'd been through the night, so he'd had a peaceful, restful night too!
There was a bit of a "chill" to the night last night, but his new heater must keep him comfy because he was roosting beneath it when I woke. I check for his little silhouette EVERY morning. If I've spent the night on his futon, I check before I leave the room, and if I spend the night in the bed-room, I check before I close the door to his room. First and foremost, it tells me that he's where he should be: resting on his perch, and secondly, it let's me know that he's OK... There have been only 2 times when I'd looked-in and he wasn't there. One time was when he was at the door to his house for some reason, quite calm. I hadn't heard him go there but he was calm, and quiet so I still don't know why he left his perch. And the other time, he'd been up, awake, and didn't call... and so, it seemed he'd been awake and was just waiting for me to come in and "open house". Both times, it frightened me to think that.. well... he'd "dropped" off during the night! So, I continue to check... EVERY morning.
This morning, he was right there... and with the heater above him, I know he was warm enough. These days that's been important not only for the sake of his comfort but for his "healing" as well. I won't have him fighting an ailment AND a chill in the house. And I have to say that this new "Sweeter Heater" is perfect, so much better than the little radiator we've been using. Now, the heat is where Yonah is, and not "rising" from the floor, heating everything else... This is more "focused". It puts my mind at peace. And it's a constant warmth, with no lights, no noise. Just silent warmth... all through the night.
This morning was dreary, damp. And through the day, it was a constant rain or drizzle. "Autumn" is coming... "that" season... that "wet"... reminding me so much of October... 2020. Looking at Yonah's room today, remembering "then"... one would have to say "We're doing OK". Much has changed... and with time, much has improved. Again, the heater kept him warm in spite of the dampness in the rest of the house. I got work done around the rest of the house, and my Little Guy took the day easy. He's enjoying having his house back again... the trees, the pool. Things are the way they're supposed to be. Well, closer to it anyway. I'm working on getting his "out-side" back... in a HEALTHY environment!
And, since it was Sunday and dreary... we managed to get in TWO snoozes... TOGETHER! About 25 minutes each, I laid my head on the pillow and my Bestie came over to join me! Started on the pillows beside my head, but worked his way onto the futon and when I woke, there he was, at my legs. PURE JOY! Sometimes he's almost like a puppy... the way he gets comfy, beside me (well, at least that close anyway), and obviously, he "snoozes" whilst I snooze. Imagine THAT! (And all the while I keep thinking: A little mourning dove, born of the wilderness... We're so completely different in just about every possible way, and yet... we've grown so close... and he's come to trust me. Just indescribable!)
Funny today... This evening, after I'd hoovered the room and the house, I was putting Yonah's room together and had moved the pillows and blankets over to the work table to straighten the futon up. They were just piled on the table and over the chair and when I realised I couldn't see Yonah, I wondered where he'd gone to! I couldn't find him, so I looked in the living-room, thinking he'd gone in there. Nope... The bed-room? Nope... And not in the kitchen, nor the loo. I WAS BECOMING SICK WITH PANIC! I knew he couldn't have gone out of the house! So now I was wracking my mind with wonder. WHERE could he be? Under the furniture? In the alcove in his room? UNDER THE FUTON? I looked at the pile of pillows and blankets... and my insides wrenched! I couldn't have "buried" him under all that! And if I did, the injuries! Every bit of me tingled, my ears "hissed". My heart raced! It couldn't... it wouldn't... I COULDN'T... the injuries, the pain... the...
Gently but quickly, I started lifting the pillows and blankets from the chair and...
THERE HE WAS! THERE WAS A LITTLE SPACE UNDER ALL, ON THE CHAIR, AND SOME-HOW, HE'D MANAGED TO GET INTO IT BUT NOT OUT OF IT! He wasn't "trapped", really. But I imagine the "darkness" in there didn't "comfort" him. But he was SO CALM about it all! Never called-out. And as I lifted the blankets, he just set there, just as quiet as could be! HE KNOWS he's safe and that no harm will come to him, even when he's covered in blankets! I'm just STUNNED with amazement... so OVER-WHELMED in AWE! He MUST know he's protected... even when he's in a little space in some relative darkness, under blankets.
I HAD to cry... with relief and with the honour of seeing that this Little One actually DOES trust me, and his environment... It truly IS one of THE MOST amazing things... It reminds me of the first time he hopped up onto my hand... then up my arm... What-ever it is that I'd done, he came to know:
HE'S MY HEART, MY SOUL, MY NEXT BREATH...
Well... we made it through that... and we made it through the day!
Of course, as we were getting ready to settle-down for the night, he started coo'ing... not quite ready for sleep. but... by 19.30, the lights were dimmed... his little "moon" light was on... his house was settled, the day was settled.
At 20.00, I dimmed the moon light to its lowest... my Most Cherished little Heart-and-Soul was tucked-in... and the world was set... for him... off to sleep... "seepie-nigh-night"...
Monday 26 September:
7.00 again, this morning... came today's "morning call" to "action"! Another day ahead! "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"... indeed! And we'd been together through the night again, last night. I slept on Yonah's futon. (It's really easy to get used to sleeping in his room. And I have to admit that I sleep more restful when I'm in his room. It's comforting to know that if anything should startle him in the darkness, I'm right there, to let him know that he's safe... Of course, I think of the fact that he has his own room so that I don't disturb him through the night, and I hope that I don't snore. But if I do, it doesn't seem to bother my Little Guy because, he appears to be well-rested of a morning so... I take comfort in that much.)< br />
And this morning when I leaned in to say "Good morning" I was greeted with SO MANY KISSES! Such a GLORIOUS start to the day!
And poops? 12 little perfect poops! Looks like all that "disturbance" is GONE! DONE! AWAY! What-ever it was that caused it is obviously gone! I don't know that I'll ever know, for certain, what caused it all in the first place. But, what-ever it was, what-ever I did to get rid of it... WE'VE MADE IT THROUGH! WE'VE MADE IT THROUGH!
We had an entire day together today. I had no-where to go and much to keep me occupied in his room, at the work table. It was dreary again.. rainy again... thankfully not too cold, but just "damp" again. And... AND... as I worked at the work table, my Little Guy came flying over to set on my shoulder, checking on what I was doing... and when he wasn't on my shoulder, he watched from his door perch. "Our flock" was together and, apparently, that was perfectly good... for both of us.
He seems to "approve" of the "new" white sand in his house. He's hopping about in it, and even ingesting some... as "grit". I've been wondering if he'd see it as the "sand" that it is... since it's not a colour he'd be familiar with. BRILLIANT Little Guy. (Hopefully it won't disagree with him in ANY way... I feel so "inadequate" when it comes to his well-being... never mind, just about every other aspect of his life. Just so inadequate... and, quite frankly, "alone" because of the lack of information and resources to turn to.)
APPARENTLY THOUGH... HE IS DRINKING WATER... BECAUSE... THIS EVENING, HE WAS ON THE FUTON PILLOWS, WITH THE "PILLOW DOVE" AND... ANOTHER WATERY POOP !!! A set-back? A "one off"? The only thing that's "different" is the new pellets! I went to my only source of help, support, learning... off to the internet! As the wonderful Dr. Catt told me... there it was, as a reminder: a change in diet can cause polyuria! THE PELLETS!
THEN... as I was looking and reading and learning... I'VE MADE A MISTAKE! THE PELLETS I GOT ARE "HIGGINS"... "HARRISONS" IS THE BRAND THAT I WANTED TO GET. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE THE HIGHEST ON THE "RECOMMENDED" LIST! NOW I WONDER WHAT I'VE GIVEN MY LITTLE ONE TO EAT! AND... COULD THOSE PELLETS BE THE CAUSE OF THIS WATERY POOP! NO MATTER AND WHAT-EVER... THE "HIGGINS" ARE GOING! NO MORE! AND I'LL GET A BAG OF "HARRISONS" ASAP! I'M JUST FEELING SO UTTERLY STUPID! WHAT WAS I THINKING? NEVER MIND... OBVIOUSLY, I WASN'T "THINKING". "HIGGINS"... "HARRISONS"... I JUST HOPE I'VE DISCOVERED THIS ON TIME!
Well then, at 19.50... we'd changed the waters in the pool and the dish, and gotten Yonah's house in order for the night... the moon light was on. Tomorrow, I'm going to work on the placement of his perch too. It looks like I could raise it a bit, bring him closer to the heater... I just have to make sure he's not too close to it. Although it gives a wonderful warmth, the heater itself can get quite hot. The instructions say no closer than 6 inches... he's a bit lower than that now... so... it might take a bit of re-working of perches but, I want him close enough so that he's not chilled... especially during the night... and particularly considering the nights will be getting even colder... very soon! Something more to be done tomorrow... and with as little disruption as possible. My Precious Little Guy has been through MORE of that than he ought.
20.30... all was well... and my little Heart-and-Soul was on his perch... and... the day was done... it was "seepie-nigh-night"... for another day that went by entirely too quickly! (Bad enough I never feel we have enough time together... and now the days are getting noticeably shorter! "Time"... I used to dread it... used to resent the dawning of another day... Since Yonah's become my Life... I've become so aware of the passing of every hour of each day... "Time"... now there's just never enough of it. But what-ever we have... we'll have... together.)
Tuesday 27 September:
7.00 this morning, again, on the mark... "woo-Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo". Makes me wonder who's "time" my Little guy is living by. Or, is it us? Which ever it is, it's just a touch fascinating. But, hearing that little voice in the morning just sets every part of my being. Gives me the sense of "purpose", my reason for waking, taking another breath. And hearing Yonah so clearly, a healthy coo in the morning... he's rested and in good health. We're doing OK! And too, the rest of the world. As long as my Precious Little One is well, nothing else is of importance.
And this morning's "poop-check" from last night: Perfect. Quantity and quality, nothing "out of what's to be expected". We're slowly getting through another little "catastrophe". When I recall all he's been through, he's such an inspiration when I start thinking life is difficult. He takes the illnesses, after being brutally attacked, his little body chewed, feathers pulled... and then, I can't help but remember (and will never forget) that incident at Dr. Phairie-Princess' office! When I see that his little "system" is fighting against some kind of illness... and all the while, he coo's, goes on about his daily routine... it just makes me all the more determined to do the same, no matter how I might be feeling. Up, down, other-wise... this gentle little bundle of feathers and coo's tells me: "Handle it... no matter what the world might throw... We can do this, work through it..." and now... we do it all... together.
The day turned out to be yet, another dreary, rainy, chilly one. And I worked, for the most part, at the table, in the room, with my Precious Companion either in his house or on his futon.
Today though, I did move his perches up, a little closer to his heater, on the top of his "house". It's going to be another one of those "trial and error" situations. He can't be too close to the heater itself. I don't doubt that he'd just stay away from it if it was too close. But I'm not taking any chances. But too far away just defeats the purpose, completely. So, up went the perches... and yes, he did go up to check to see what I'd done... Seems to be OK... we'll see... especially tonight, at "seepie-nigh-night", and tomorrow morning... at "poop-check".
The forecast calls for a "high" temperature of only 3° on Thursday. Cold days and even colder nights are coming. We need to get this "heater adjustment" done before then! I won't have my Little Guy being cold through the nights ahead! Sure, he's got feathers to fluff against chills, but, there's no need for that, no need for him to fend against cold, so I won't have it. Warmth and comfort is part of my debt to him... and I pay it with pleasure.
We had a bit of a laugh today. I was grinding peanuts to put out for the Yardies (since they'll be needing the extra fat and protein with the coming cold nights) and had had a bit of cling for the jar-top that I'd put to the side for a moment. When I went to get it, I couldn't find it! It wasn't on the work table. It wasn't on the floor. No-where to be seen or found! Ah... a "mystery". But I figured I'd just get through the task at hand and go looking for it when done. BUT... when I stood up to go to the kitchen... I happened to notice...
Yonah had it... up at his loft! He was playing with it, picking it up and giving it a few good shakes! Seeing that was really so funny! And he seemed to be enjoying the "thrashing" he was giving it! I can't imagine what he thought it was, but it certainly was giving him quite the exercise! Sadly though, I was more afraid that he might tear a piece off and either swallow it or inhale it so... it had to go. Poor Little Guy... he was being SO playful! I'll just have to find substitutes. It really must be rather boring for him... being in this house all the time. Even though he has the entire place to fly about... I mean, I don't mind being in here, even for entire days. And I'm thoroughly at peace, as long as he and I are together. But I'm pretty sure I'm not the "ideal room-mate" for Yonah, and the truth is: he was born into the entire WORLD... and this house is only the tiniest part of that. So... off to shopping. (It's just almost impossible to find anything that isn't "Made In China" these days and, with the history of all the recalls we've had over the years, because of toxins in toys, kitchen items, &c. I'm NOT taking ANY chances putting ANYTHING potentially harmful in Yonah's way. If I find anything that looks "fun", I'll take the idea and make something... with safe materials... as I can get.) But, as I say, seeing him having the time of it with something as plain and simple as a bit of cling... Oh, but he CAN be so funny!
A note: during the day... TWO MORE WATERY POOPS! I've put the new pellets in a jar and might mix them in with the food for the Yardies. The pellets have fruits and vegetables in with the grains, and I'm almost certain that the Little Ones out there simply won't go near them if they suspect them in any way. And I've no doubt that the squirrels will eat them... unless they make them ill, in which case, they'll stay away from the birds' food... maybe. In any event... I scrubbed the food dish that had the pellets in it. Hopefully, this is just "remnants" of what-ever upset Yonah's digestion. We'll have to wait until it's all gone... Meanwhile, at least his over-night poops are good. There's that much that's OK.
The day passed and this evening we both had our "evening meals" together... I need to see that Yonah's eating... properly and enough. As a vet once said to me about a cat: As long as he's eating, he's OK. Well, my Little Guy IS eating... and he's eating quite well, so he's got good appetite AND he's eating his good food too!
Before we knew it though, the sun had set! Another day had passed... time to close-up the blinds and curtains against the night's on-coming chills. It's my least-favourite time of any day... but, my Little Guy needs his rest... and tonight, he'll have the warmth so, I have that much "consolation".
At about 19.30, he had his usual "snack"... He's eating! I'm SO happy about that! And at 20.00, the desk lamp was off, his "moon" light was on... he was tucked-in, comfy, cozy, for a good night's restful seepie-nigh-night. And by 21.00... all was "well" with the world. Tomorrow? Hopefully, things will be better... no more "polyuria"... PLEASE!
Wednesday 28 September:
A "common Autumn" sort of day, alternating between clear, brilliantly sunny and over-cast and rainy, warm with the sun-shine, chilled with the rains. I'd spent the night on Yonah's futon again, last night, more-so because I'm still not completely comfortable with the new heater than much else, especially since I'd raised his perch yesterday and I wanted to make certain that he wasn't so close that he'd be uncomfortable, let alone, entirely too warm.
Well, when I woke, before sun-rise, he was comfortably resting, in his usual spot, and sleeping quite calmly. And, from the location of last night's poops, he'd been there, all through the night. I was SO relieved as I stepped out of his room, to start my day in the rest of the house.
Well? The clock in the kitchen read "6.58" when the "morning call" of "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo...hoo" came through the door to his room, softly but clearly, and I was completely at "peace of mind". My little Heart-and-Soul was up and awake and we had a little bit of a "chat", the volley of coo's until he called "woo-HOO!". Indeed, enough of this "through the door chatting", it was time to face the new day! I was off an into the room, and as I opened his room-door, I called "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" and he replied... "woo-HOO!" (as if to say: "Let's not get back into that here. It's time to open windows and get on with things.") THAT'S my Little Guy!
"Normal morning routine" again, this morning, now that his pool is back, and water there had to be changed to "fresh". So, I opened his door, leaned in and as for the past few days now, we exchanged our MANY "Good morning" kisses and a couple of cuddles until he scuttled away, across his perch. I take that as my "hint" that it's time to get the night boards off, the curtains and blinds open and attend to business-at-hand.
Poop check (now a morning priority) showed that yes, indeed, he'd rested calmly, through the night... and, thankfully, the 10 little globes were properly dry, with good colour, consistency and combination of dark-with-white. GLORIOUS!
We didn't have much conversation though, as I opened the windows to the early morning grey out-side, but it didn't take long after I started the "water relay" and he was up, out and about the room, and as I toddled back and forth with the fresh water for the pool, there was a bit of an "exchange", a "light chat", as it were. So, first morning impression: my Little Guy was in good spirits, just not feeling "chatty". I was comforted.
Since I'm able to, I managed to drop back in to see him about an hour later... and he was up and about... so I popped my head into his house, we exchanged a few kisses and I returned to finish work, feeling better, knowing he was active and not simply "sulking", as it were.
When I got back in from work, as I always do when coming back into the house from any-where, I went in immediately to check on my Heart-and-Soul and found him, on the back of the chair at the work table. (I'm coming to believe that he's already aware of this new routine where I leave in the morning and he knows when to expect me back.) I was SO relieved to see him out and about and up and flying round. And as I came into the room, he gave me his "welcoming wing snap" and we cuddled and kissed. And I DO believe that he senses my relief and my DELIGHT to see him because he's just as ready for a few cuddles and kisses as I am.
I made short work of getting settled in the house and at his work table to get to the "house-hold affairs" of the day and he spent quite a bit of time on my shoulder, my back and in the hood of my Sherpa.
I'd turned his heater off whilst I was gone this morning, and there was a slight chill in the house, a bit of a damp chill at that, so I put the heater back on and got to my own business (well, "tried"... today, Yonah wasn't having me just sit about... as I'm sure he sees it when I'm at the work table).
We had our mid-day snack together and after, I grabbed what I'd intended to be a "30-minute" snooze but quickly became more of a 20-minute snooze because, as always, shortly before the alarm was to "buzz", my little "Buzz" was at my head, "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo". So I was up, off to finish chores... with breaks of "Luvin's" all through.
This evening, at about 16.00, as I prepared my evening meal in the kitchen, with my Little Guy in the hood of my Sherpa, we went for a "stroll" to the front door. The sun was shining so brilliantly, in the Western sky, and we watched the light traffic as it passed by. The back and front doors were open and there was a cool, but comfortable breeze blowing through the house. I decided to go to the back door, to see if the "Yardies" were here. Their feeder has been moved from the "kitchen garden" to the rail on the back gallery, for the Winter and like the little Champions they are, the doves, nuthatches and blue jays have found it again, this year.
When we got to the door, three doves were having their evening snack, and Yonah watched, intently, from the comfort of my shoulder. But then, as the others ate, he left my shoulder and flew over to the perch I have set-up for him, on the in-side of the screen door... and he watched the others, and paced a bit.
For a while, the others seemed not to notice him and went about their eating until the smallest of the three, "Ms. Dove", headed up to the roof-top of the feeder and took notice of Yonah, there, at the door. She began pacing, and watching him as he watched her. Neither one made a sound, so I "coo'ed", softly, and all three of the doves took notice, then went back to their eating until...
Ms. Dove came closer to the door and Yonah and she stared at one-another for quite the while. (I stepped away from the door, out of their sight, but where I could watch) It seemed that SHE had a particular interest in Yonah and he in her. But neither one made any particular movements or sounds other than to simply stare.
After a few moments, Yonah took flight and headed back to his house in his room where he repeated "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo" several times... AND Ms. DOVE HEARD HIM AND TRIED TO FLY INTO THE HOUSE! SADLY, THE SCREEN DOOR WAS CLOSED AND SHE RETURNED TO THE FEEDER. BUT... SHE NOTICED YONAH'S CALL AND WAS TRYING TO FLY TO HIM!
WELL! NOW, I have the determination to figure a way for them to actually be able to have "time together"... I have to set-up some sort of place, on the out-side of the screen door, where Ms. Dove can "roost" a while. Perhaps a board or some kind of "platform" where she can eat and then, if Yonah remembers, he can be on his perch by her. (To be honest, I would more than welcome her into the house, if she chose to be with him...)
When she left, I went to Yonah, who was on his door perch, and I held him in my hands, caressing him, as I do, when he have "kisses and cuddles", and stoked his neck and sides. He snuggled into my hands so calmly. And I told him:
"If she wants to come in for the Winter, she can do that, if you'll have her. We have more than enough room, more than enough food and water... and more than enough LOVE here."
(And as I type, the radio plays Bob Marley Three Little Birds... "Baby don't worry, 'bout a thing. 'cause every little thing, gon be alright." Makes me wonder... and Yonah is on the back of the chair here, at the work table...)
I DO wonder, really, if my Companionship really is enough for Yonah. We coo, back and forth. And he does make it obvious that there's a "bond", a "LOVE" between us. But, in my heart, I always wonder: will he actually accept another dove in what has been "HIS" house and home for, well, almost two years? And would he prefer a female companion or another male? Would he see another male as a competitor? Would another male see HIM as a competitor? Would any other dove accept him and his current home? So many questions, and my dread it that another dove would either reject Yonah or his home situation and would be in misery. Well, should the situation present, I do have another little "house" for another dove... Yonah's "old house". And I would hope that another dove would take to the rest of this old house as Yonah has done, so that neither of them would be "confined", save for the nights.
Almost two years and I'm still so un-educated in so much.
But for now, for today, we're together, and my little Heart-and-Soul appears to be satisfied with the way the situation is. I'll hold to that.
And for today... we had new experiences... together. And, for the most part, all went along ever-so well. (I still can't get over Ms. Dove... coming to the door! It tears at my soul, wondering if she doesn't know Yonah... and wondering if she isn't his "mate" or at least a "romantic interest". And now I'll be looking to see if she doesn't come back... and if she does... I don't know. I'd NEVER "capture" a dove, nor ANY other Little One from the yard. The very thought of taking them from their natural environment literally makes me sick. Still, I WISH I COULD KNOW, FOR ABSOLUTE CERTAIN, THAT ANOTHER DOVE WOULDN'T BE REJECTED! I SO, SO WISH I COULD KNOW... FOR ABSOLUTE CERTAIN!)
Right after evening meals, we changed the waters in the pool and dish and settled-down, quietly as I got to today's journalling... Yonah was beside me, on his door perch and suddenly... at 19.00 on the mark, he "called"...
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo".
He was ready to get some rest! He was tired. It was time to get ready, close the windows up, set up the night boards! By 19.30, all chores were done and I set-up his futon... I'll be with him through the night tonight... I think he enjoys knowing that I'm there, in the room, whether he can see me in the dark or not. But I can say, "for absolute certain" that I'm more at peace through the night, being in the room with him. I don't want him to be "stuck" in a room with me there all the time, that's why I don't move him into the bed-room. I want him to have "his own place and space" in this house. But, having the ability to spend some nights together... well... I get to "sleep over" from time-to-time...
19.40, desk light and UV off... the little "moon" light on. My Little Guy seemed a bit reluctant to settle-down for the night but it really was time. All the Yardies were gone, off to where-ever it is they go for the night so, it really was time to close the day. I keep in mind, having read, mourning doves get 12-14 hours "rest"... and "rest" is what my Little One needs... Fortunately, in his own house, he can sleep the night through, with no concern for or about ANYTHING presenting ANY kind of threat to him. I can't give him a "perfect world"... but I CAN give him that much... at the very least. Safe, warm, protected... and SO, SO LOVED! I'm so imperfect, inferior, but... what I have to give... it's his.
Thursday 29 September:
The night was still lingering out-side the windows this morning. It's holding a bit longer now, letting us know that the Summer is truly behind, Autumn isn't far off. The house was still and at 7.03, through the door to Yonah's room... "Morning Call"! Loud and clear!
This morning's first checks: poops were just as great as they could be. "Quantity and Quality" assuring. And they were all right where they should be, directly under where my Little Guy had spent the night in sleep... calmly.
When I popped my head in for "Good morning kisses" I was greeted with a hearty "woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo"! And I noticed that the distance from his heater is now perfect. The warmth it gives reaches the little body below... not too hot and definitely not too cool. So, it looks like we're going to be just fine, come the really cold nights. Granted, the house hasn't really taken the chill of the recent temperatures yet, but, if any more adjustments need be made, they will be. I'm just happy that Yonah's source of warmth is now directly in his house and he doesn't have to rely on the heat rising from a radiator at the floor below. He's going to be just fine! (And I too, will be "just fine", knowing that he won't be chilled as he sleeps at night. Not to mention, the warmth will help him with his little recent ailment... I'm sure.)
He was SO chatty this morning that it pained me to have to leave him for a couple of hours, to go to work. But, we got his room all settled nicely, his bird-songs playing and the radio on, low... a little music and some "voices" so that the house didn't seem so "empty"... and it wouldn't seem that I'd left him completely alone. (The ONLY real positive about going to work is that I'm right next door and, when there's a lull, I can pop in to visit. Other-wise, I REALLY dislike being away. My Little Guy is my Companion. And, that aside, I always worry about him. He hasn't done in years - literally - but I still worry about him colliding into a wall or window... even though I've seen him, SO MANY times, perfectly navigating from his house, out of his room, round the corner, into the living-room and back again. There's always "that one time". I don't believe I'll ever be able to forget the injuries. And I don't EVER want "reminders". So, when I'm away, I'm constantly wondering... and worrying.) But, with bird-songs and radio, at least he wasn't in silence. And that's not to mention that I remember reading that birds, in general, don't like complete silence around them because they tend to go completely silent in the presence of threats, so they get nervous if their environment is too silent for too long. Oh... the thing I've come to learn over the course of time... taught to me by the world's Perfect Little Professor!
And so, with all proper in the house, I headed out... with kisses and assurances of a quick return.
When I got back...I called from the front door, as I do every time I leave the house for any length of time. And as soon as I got to the door-way of his room... YONAH CAME HOPPING OVER TO HIS DOOR PERCH TO WELCOME ME WITH A WING-SNAP! It seems as though he's saying "WELL! It's about time you got back!" So, we had cuddles and snuggles and kisses a-plenty, to be sure.
I wanted to get to the local land-fill today, so I got busy getting things together in the house for that next, quick trip AND... AS I WORKED IN THE KITCHEN, HE TOOK A LITTLE TODDLE... THROUGH THE KITCHEN, OUT TO THE FRONT DOOR! So often, I HAVE to wonder if he doesn't, some-how, sense what I'm about to do. This time, it was "He's going to leave again and I'll be at the door." (I wouldn't ever doubt that he's learned to sense my movements. He's BRILLIANT in SO many ways... Nothing is to be doubted.)
Well... I DID manage to make the next trip... and THIS time, when I got back, I walked in to find my Little Miracle Guy, on the back of the chair at the work table... "fighting with" a bit of kitchen roll that he'd found some-where! I had to wonder: was he playing with it, or going to use it in some "nesting"... or was he angry... because I'd left him alone again? Which-ever it was, it was a delight to see him there, if for no other reason than knowing that he wasn't just in his house... "alone".
And so, after that, we both settled-down in his room for the remainder of the day. My "duties" were done and we were back to the way the day ought to be: together. And I have to say, it did appear that my Little Guy was quite satisfied, once he saw me at the work table. His "flock" was together... his day had returned to "normal".
This evening, we had our meals together, as we do, and, after the washing-up was done, he came over to my shoulder... and we took a visit to the back door to see what was going on out there. Not a Yardie to be seen. The season is coming when there will fewer of them anyway, but to see none was, to me, a touch depressing. The evenings in the yard are coming to an end for a while. The sun sets so soon and the temperatures drop so low... It just reminds how quickly all the time passes... from an hour to a day... a week, a month... a season.
We made a visit to the front door too. Yonah always seems a bit fascinated by that "view". And I always wonder what he's thinking... looking out toward the mountains. Does he remember them? Had he ever been in the woods on them? There's an open meadow across the road where I thought, one day, I would have taken him, to send him back to his flock out there. There's enough open space that I could watch as he'd fly, and that way, I could know, for certain, that he was well enough, healed enough, to take height and distance... and enough speed to dodge predators. As the Little One on my shoulder looked out, with his own thoughts, my heart broke a little... the "plan" never came to be... I'll be saddened by that forever. But I keep reminding my-self: although he's not lived the life he was born into, he's alive... he does have the safety and security of his own space now. He has the best food, clean water to drink and to bathe in when he wants to. He's warm, protected from the elements. I'm not the "perfect mate", but he's my "Heart-and-Soul" and I do ALL of the best I possibly can for him. I know it's not enough... but I can hope it's "sufficient".
Since it was getting later, it was time to get to the evening "water changes" so with my Most Precious Little Bestie on my shoulder, I started to get things together for that chore AND, for almost ALL of the moving back and forth with containers of water, he rode along... watching my every move! So interested! (And maybe he sensed my touch of melancholy and it was his way of telling me: "You're doing alright. I'm OK with things as they are. We're the 'flock' and it's fine." Sure... I project my hopes... but, it's all I can do... really.)
The evening turned, too quickly, to the night... and when everything else was done, it was time to get things settled and prepared for "seepie-nigh-night". We got the waters changed, the blinds and curtains closed against the darkness and chills of out-side... my Little Guy's house was all in order, settled for him for the night ahead.
By 19.30... he was tucked-in, comfy, cozy, on his perch, under his heater... warm, safe, protected... with plenty of food and water near... and me... to make sure than NO harm will EVER come to him again!
Friday 30 September:
7.01 on this morning's clock and through the house came
"woo-HOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo...hoo-hoo!"
Time to get the day rolling... the show on the road... Open the curtains, the blinds, the door to my Little Guy's house! And he was if quite the greatest of moods again, this morning! We had a "chat" during all the morning "chores"... water changes, house-tidying. It did my heart so much good! Even "poops" were great! Looks more like what-ever had caused all that "disturbance" is passed at last! The worst part of this morning... I had to leave for work. (I'm so thankful though, that it's only a total of about 3 hours... still... it's 3 hours out of our waking hours that we're not together... I don't know if the separation bothers my little Heart-and-Soul and much as it bothers me, though, I have to say that he DOES show that he's happy when I come back, after being away for any length of time, so... I suppose I can say that our "Love and Admiration" is mutual.)
So, by 8.55, I was out the door... and Yonah had the entire house to him-self... to fly about where-ever, or, as he does quite often, to "toddle" about. THAT's one of his little characteristics that I SO enjoy seeing... his little "toddle" from room-to-room. And it's why I make CERTAIN that the floors are clean... not with harsh chemicals, but making certain that there's nothing there that he'll peck and ingest... and he DOES like to peck about... just as every mourning dove I've ever seen does. (Keeps reminding me of the report of how many of them die from lead poisoning because as they forage for food, they ingest spent buckshot! Well, there's no buckshot on the floors in the house, but I see to it that there's nothing other that could cause any harm to my Little Guy.)
The hours passed... though not quickly enough for my liking. They pass all too quickly when Yonah and I are together, but away... they DRAG ON! ("Time", it's said, "is relative". Well, that's more obvious to me these days when I really have to be away. Time "at home" passes in a couple of blinks... Time "away" is oppressively tedious!)
When I got back today, though... JUST as he'd done yesterday, he FLEW to his door perch for cuddles and kisses! He was SO playful today too! And when I finally got back to the work table, he FLEW to the back of the chair and stayed with me as I worked at my tasks! He wanted to be "together"... to be close by. So, yes, i WILL say that he DOES sense my "loss", and he DOES know, in his own way, that I miss him, so terribly. And he DOES have his ways of letting me know that he's happier when we're together, even if it's just being in the same room. Whether he wants "contact" or not, just knowing that "the flock is together" makes him happier. WHO would have EVER thought that a Little One, from "out there" in that HUGE world, would appreciate being "in the company of"... never mind... in the company of a "people"? Surely, it comes as a bit of a shock to me. But I just can't even come close to describing the AWE I experience, knowing that our "sentiments" are mutual. I AM truly HUMBLED.
It was a MAGNIFICENT, BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL, FANTASTIC day, just being with my little Heart-and-Soul today... and, of course, today, again, went by ENTIRELY TOO QUICKLY! But we were together and we BOTH enjoyed that much.
This evening, the Yardies were in the back yard, for the briefest while. I thought we might go to the back door for a while, but, I managed to get Yonah on my shoulder and over to the door and no sooner did we get there, he was OFF! He just didn't want anything to do with what-ever was out there in the yard. I wonder: is it that he feels no connection with the birds in the yard, does he resent that they're out there and he's not, or is it simply that he just doesn't have any interest when he obviously doesn't want to be at the door? It's just another one of those things that I'll never know... with any certainty, and again, it puts me in my proper place in Creation: human... and so inferior.
So, after evening meals and washing-up were done, it was time for evening water changes and closing the blinds and curtains... another day... came to a close. But this was a PERFECT day, together. And I noticed that there was a little more space that I could close between Yonah's heater and perch. I'm really pre-occupied with his warmth as the days pass and the truly colder, damper days approach. Tonight, I'm going to sleep on his futon so that I can see how he likes (or not) the proximity to the heater. I'm positive that if it's too close, he'll get too warm and move. If he does, we just re-adjust. If not? Well... hopefully this will be "the spot" where he'll be kept comfortable... no matter how chilled the rest of the house might become... as the nights drop to freezing... and colder. I'm REALLY just so happy that he has this new heater! It's SO much better than needing to warm the entire room... and having him up there, in his house, on his perch... waiting for the warmth to rise. Not to mention, this heater won't dry the air out! Doves, I see, need a degree of humidity. And although Yonah has his pool, I'm pretty sure the radiator dried the entire room out, considerably. So... now... another "plus" for US!
And so... by 19.30, the sun was completely gone from the sky and with it, all traces of day-light. WOW! It's become SO obvious that our day-light hours are diminishing! We had the blinds and curtains drawn, waters changed, house was tidy and my Little Guy was all tucked-in for the night. I left the little "moon" light on, at its dimmest, so that I had a little bit of light to navigate by when I came back in to get onto the futon... It's just enough for me to be able to see, and yet dim enough so that it shouldn't keep my little Heart-and-Soul from dozing off.
I'm in a little bit of a surprise tonight...
TOMORROW IS OCTOBER AGAIN! AND THIS OCTOBER, MY LITTLE HEART-AND-SOUL WILL OBSERVE OUR TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY TOGETHER !!!!! MY LITTLE HEART... MY SOUL... MY LOVE... MY COMPANION... MY BEING! It's truly bitter-sweet because of the circumstances that brought us together. But, two years later... here we are... and he appears to be happy... or, at least, happy enough. At any rate... Nature tried to "eliminate" him... Doesn't look like it was his "time to go" or... I've managed to thwart Nature. In any case... TWO YEARS! I NEVER would have dreamt it possible!
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