Goodbye Baby Bird

Well, I finally had to say goodbye to my sweet little dove. He (or she) decided it was almost time to fly from the nest. The problem is that after they do this in the wild, their parents still take care of them for a week or two. So I had the combined problem of not wanting a wild bird flying all over my house, and not being able to teach the little thing how to survive in the wild. So I called the local wildlife rescue, and they told me to bring him in. Here he is on the car ride over:

They took him and put him in this incubator with a bunch of other chicks his age. That is him on the far right (the best looking one of the bunch):

I am happy because they had a lot of doves of all ages there, so I know he will learn all he needs to know. And the rescue is in the middle of a woodland right outside of Austin, so I feel like he will have a very nice life there.

It was sad not to hear his little chirping this morning though. It's amazing how easily one can become attached to these little creatures.

PS: I did get scolded a little bit by the rescue people because apparently it is illegal to touch mourning doves. Ooops! I gave them a small donation then so they wouldn't turn me in to the g-men. All's well that ends well I suppose.

PPS: Lambchop is very happy to be the only wild animal in my life again. Living with a bird was almost too much for her.