Adopters Love Their Doves

Here are just a few of our dove adopters stories. MickaCoo adopters LOVE their doves! (And, as pointed out by volunteer Janelle, Doves are pigeons too!)

SAMMY & BRIGID

Our family has been living with a pair of doves for almost a year now and I would like to share some of our experiences with you. While their names might portray a couple of tough-guys, Sam Spade and Brigid O'Shaughnessy are quite mellow. They are good listeners, who always have time for a story, their antics are entertaining, and they love hanging out. When not in the aviary or their indoor house, their favorite spot is the back of the dining room chair: if nobody's at the table they face the window keeping a watch on the neighborhood, but if you join them at the table, they'll turn around and face you (possibly to keep an eye out for any food opportunities that might avail themselves). The doves, Sam and Brigid, just love food. Generally they eat dove seed mix and roudybush pellets, supplemented with safflower seeds ("dove candy") and oyster shell. Brigid has a particular fondness for millet spray, and they both love their fresh greens-- especially what we have planted in the aviary (we have some potted leafy vegetables and we rotate the pots in an attempt to keep up with Brigid's and Sam's eating habits), and both have a special place for mache in their hearts.

While Brigid and Sam are small compared to pigeons, they are curious and brave, always ready to investigate anything new in their environment. They are quite selfless in their efforts to protect their "eggs" (fakes), including their dedicated duty to keep the "eggs" warm even during their transport to and from the aviary everyday. Brigid and Sam spend their mornings outside in an aviary, and then come inside when Tina and Tony, the pigeons, get their timeshare afternoon shift in the aviary. The main attraction in the aviary is a simple wide branch that allows Brigid and Sam to perch in the open part of the aviary. They especially enjoy the rain and prefer shade to sun. When not on the perch they are eating (food is a big deal for them), foraging for seeds on the aviary floor or cuddling up to the potted lettuce that they so enjoy munching on. Sam also enjoys the mirror and the mirror provides a good audience for his bow-cooing.

Cooing is very important for Sammy. My son, Colin, says that Sam is a terrific alarm clock as he coos madly at half past six every morning (when he routinely goes outside to the aviary). In the summer, Sammy cooed to the sun as it rose in the morning and cooed goodnight to the sun as it set. Sometimes he'll coo outside of daylight hours: we live about two miles from train tracks and as the trains cross the streets at night they whistle, Sammy coos right back, and, of course, the trains respond with another whistle. While all this cooing might make Sammy appear vain, I can assure you that he's quite guileless. He's a very responsible dove, always looking out for Brigid, his "eggs," and listening intently whenever you talk to him. And Brigid returns those affections.

Katrina Johnston

DAISY & MAGIC and PIERRE & LUCIA

My first experience with doves was as a wildlife rehabilitator. They would come into the wildlife center, usually caught by a cat and they were amazingly calm and easy to handle but I had never met a domestic dove until I discovered MickaCoo. I had been a supporter of Mickaboo from its inception but didn’t know about MickaCoo then I met Elizabeth Young who introduced me to the joys of domestic doves.

I have two dove couples and I do mean couples as they are forever lovers. Pierre and Lucia are more like a long happy married couple while Magic and Daisy are the honeymooners, at least Magic thinks it is a honeymoon every day. Doves are very romantic, the males sing their soft love songs day and night. My doves are in a double flight cage which I wheel outside every morning so they can feel the weather and get sunshine which they show how much they love by stretching out their wings to get every ounce of sun. Originally I had thought to build then an outdoor aviary but the longer I have them the less likely I am to do that as I would miss their sweet voices. They never keep me awake but it is lovely to wake in the night and then hear them cooing so I will probably leave it the way it is.

I have other birds but there is something about the doves that warms my heart and I can’t image not having them. They are very easy to care for- 15 minutes in the morning and that includes chopping a salad and that’s it. They are also very inexpensive as they don’t need toys like exotic birds, they have each other. Maybe someday I will build a aviary but for now I just enjoy every minute of them in and out of the house.

by Marsha Bassett

DESI & SOPHIE

It was a difficult time and I was looking for comfort. An adoption plea caught my eye for a tame dove needing a home. I’d never cared for a dove, but I loved the beautiful peaceful sounds they make and their gentle ways. “She’s lonely, too”, I thought. We could cheer each other up.

I emailed Elizabeth Young, a rescued dove’s finest friend. The dove I had seen in the ad was now in an aviary, and would need to be adopted along with her new mate. Elizabeth explained that it’s unusual to adopt a single dove as they need the company of their own kind. “I could build an aviary” it occurred to me. “I’ll have a roomful of love and save sweet lives, too.” Reading how naturally healthy and hearty these birds are, and that given a safe outdoor environment, they can bring years of beauty and joy to a home, and with relatively little expense.

In the end, I came home with two. He was a little bit handicapped and she was a dainty bird appreciative of his awkward protection. These two were perfect for bringing into our home. We were unsure, however, how it would work with our other animals. So we decided to foster and see how things worked out.

We are a blended family now, with a dog, a rabbit, a parrot and two doves who have since brought us all endless charm, and to me, daily comfort. Every morning is a celebration of love as our dove husband bows and coos to everything that catches his fancy; his dainty wife, the birds outside, the squirrels who come to gawk at us, shiny casters on our parrot’s cage, and gratefully, to me.

Give two lonesome doves (or more!) a safe home and you will be richly rewarded from the first day forward. Our Dove Story has a happy ending. And yours can, too.

by Gina Farr

MISSION KIDS DOVES

We at Mission Kids Co-op pre-school in San Francisco are the happy caretakers of six doves from MickaCoo Rescue. The kids love hearing the doves cooing in their outdoor aviary and watching them fly back and forth and jostle for position on the branches and in their nesting boxes. The birds seem to love watching the classroom in action-they are always facing the windows so they can see the kids playing inside. The kids and parents in the co-op take turns feeding and caring for the doves each day, and learning about how to make sure they stay safe and healthy.

The doves are a wonderful addition to the pre-school, and we are grateful to MickaCoo for providing the resources we needed to get started: support, knowledge, and doves!

Julie Lane

co-op parent

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MickaCoo is in URGENT need of dove fosters and adopters in the SF/Bay Area! Please share this story (link - http://www.rescuereport.org/2012/01/adopters-love-their-doves.html) with others and if you would like to get in on the dove love, complete our online application.

Thank you!

Ringneck Doves As Pets by Cathy Kendall