The pages here are, very much, what I have come to think of and refer to as my “Days of Awe”; so much learning, so much living, and so much Love, Joy, Companionship, Friendship. When I brought Yonah in, injured, cold and wet in the Autumn rain, my only intention was to help, to provide the necessities to get him back to his flock, safely. I had no “training”, no experience other than past “rescues” with other Little Ones, over the course of my life-time. The worst was asking others for helpful advice and receiving nothing but “Nobody will take it. It's wild, not endangered. Put it in a box with some paper, make it comfortable for how-ever long...” Internet information was (is) scattered, piece-meal, and “professional” advice can be quite costly and after tedious questionnaires, result in “Bring it in to the nearest avian veterinarian.” Ah, but if there aren't any near-by? It's the end of a long and empty road. I felt very much alone and lonely... and frightened. Here was a delicate, fragile *LIFE*, in my care, and all that my heart and soul needed was to provide what-ever comfort and aid necessary so that s/he could recover and return to the life intended for him/her. I was, admittedly, clueless as to what those necessities were. As time passed and I began accumulating hints and help from so many varied and various sources, primarily on the internet... Yonah recovered, partly because of my “on-line education” and mostly because of my “gut instincts”. I resolved to compile as much information as possible into one source and to document “our” life together. The internet seemed the best course, and so, today, Yonah's web-site is becoming an on-going, ever-growing, ever-changing repository of acquired and “instinctual” learning.

Mourning doves' life expectancy in the wild is but about 18 months at very best. In spite of being some-what “protected” by law, they remain one of the most-murdered beings as “sport targets”. “Sport targets”... not sources of food, just “targets”, to humans who murder them for some incomprehensible, truly quite sadistic, alleged “fun”. HOWEVER, when conditions and situations are favourable, they've been known to live wonderful lives of 5 and even 20 years! They “mate for life”, they've been known to mourn the loss of a mate, and I've come to learn that, in the presence of a caring, Loving heart and soul, they'll “bond”... even with humans... one of their other-wise worst predators.

Please keep in mind that it's been documented that the most common cause of death to a mourning dove brought into the life of a human is heart attack. Remember that you are, by nature, a mourning dove's enemy, predator. They perceive you as such from the very second of birth. Sudden movements, loud noises, and the likes can cause horrendous anxieties and terror. Abandonment can cause serious loneliness, especially if there is only one mourning dove in your care.

I hope this “site” helps, in some way, to make their lives better. And not just theirs, but, perhaps, all of Creation's Little Ones... and too, the lives of those whose hearts and souls possess the glorious compassion to extend, to these Little Ones, help in time of need.

So now, as my Companion, Best Friend, Comrade, my “Family” and I sit together, I continue to compile the information and record the experiences we've come through, in the hope that it provides help, support, comfort and consolation to others who, like me, are blessed (and truthfully, there is no greater blessing than being able to help a smaller being and coming to know the LOVE that we're given in return) with the opportunity to give heart and soul to a little bundle of feathered LOVE.

Yonah... as he's now called, has become a cause and source of "AWE", every minute of every day. From an absolutely amazing recovery, to, in our time together, becoming an engaging conversationalist and truest “COMPANION”, perching on my shoulder, arm and head. We play together as he pecks at my fingers while I stroke his fine feathers, and, when I enter “his” room, he comes forward to greet me with welcome. I've gained and earned his trust. I've put a futon in his room where I can grab an occasional nap during a day and he's come to where, when I lay down, he flies over and will "roost" on my leg as I snooze!

We both hope that the contents of this web-site/documentation of our experiences will be beneficial to many, whether or not you have a mourning dove (or ANY other "Little One") in your own life. We hope that those of you who read along will find something here that will inspire you, and that you'll pass along our story.

Please be sure to read the COPYRIGHT statement.

If you have any comments, suggestions, recommendations,
accounts of your own experiences
I hope you'll feel free to send them to:
yonah@gmx.com

*And, if you'd like to be up-dated when the site is up-dated, please send an e-mail.*
*The Journal will be up-dated daily, as will the Photo presentations.*