One dove ...

[In_The_Wind]

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She sat enjoying the warmth of a heated birdbath on a cold winter morning until the snow gathered across her back.

[Aristus]

1. One dove....one heart...

Let's get togedder and feeeeel olllllright!

[In_The_Wind]

2. Sounds like a plan.

It works if you work it. [img][/img]



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[charlie and algernon]

18. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought of that too.

[hunter]

3. We feed the birds, provide them water...

... mostly for many specie's insect catching ability. The birds protect our yard. They eat aphids and other pests. We are organic gardeners.

We also have a lot of non-native ring-neck doves.

These are fast food for the native predatory birds.

I've seen predatory birds from kites to eagles.

I'm never sure how I should feel about that.

Circle of life, I guess.

My mom had a flock of Diamond Doves. But she and my dad moved away to a place she couldn't bring them.

I never look at my parent's previous homes or farm on google satellite view. It would probably make me sad. There would be tennis courts, swimming pools, and SUVs parked in the driveway. My parents intended to keep their small farm amidst the lemon groves but developers tore out the lemon groves and built MacMansions and many of those new neighbors were pesticide, herbicide, "property values," spewing white Republican nasty.

One of my great grandma's family homestead remains pretty much unchanged. It's still too remote for any kind of "gentrification."

Another great grandma had a lovely old house in San Diego. It's a strip mall and parking lot now. Ugly.

My family has a habit of leaving before things get ugly, which is why we have no money. But we are much happier than any dick-head worrying about "property values" because the neighbors have no front lawn, the cars are old and unwashed, and their chickens are wandering about freely scratching for grubs and pooping on things.

[In_The_Wind]

5. I feed the birds wherever I am.

This is my second winter here. I really hated to leave my old friends outside when we moved after being ponzied by Madoff in 2008.

The hummingbirds knew me after 15 years of drinking my sugar water mix.

I'm sorry your mom and dad couldn't take the doves with them. It sounds like the old homestead air quality would have an adverse effect if they had stayed.

Take my word for it ... money can't fill the emptiness in an unhappy heart.

[antiquie]

4. So sweet, heated water.

[In_The_Wind]

6. Anything to keep my feathered friends happy.

[mnhtnbb]

7. I have 4 doves eating at my bird feeders this winter. No photos of them yet.

I mostly see them on the ground eating seed the squirrels have knocked out of the 'squirrel-proof' feeders.
But this afternoon when I came back from walking the dog, two doves were on top of the feeder and two
were on the ground.

No snow here, but it's been really, really, cold. We had wind chill of 0 degrees the other morning. Much
colder than winter average.

[In_The_Wind]

9. Last year they didn't know I was here.

This year we have many varieties of birds. I also put out squirrel food.
The cold feels so much colder this winter.

[jakeXT]

8. Do they just drink or go inside the whirlpool ? nt

[In_The_Wind]

10. They do both. I've seen little birds bathing in the snow.

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These guys drink the warm water too.

[femmocrat]

11. They are such sweet birds.

We usually have some nests in the spring.

[In_The_Wind]

12. The Mourning Dove outside could hear my Diamond Doves in the house.

Last weekend a sparrow was hopping up against my sliding glass door (silly bird did that several times) trying to come inside.

[femmocrat]

13. Can't blame him!

He knows where the warm bed and good food is! LOL

[Crewleader]

14. I love your photos and your kind heart.

Heating the birdbath is a wonderful idea, lucky birds and squirrels to have found you.

That is one of my joys in life, taking care of the critters and birds in my backyard.
Lots of Doves, Red Cardinals, and now Robins. Also Blue Jays loud and clear just sing for their raw peanuts.

I_T_W you're quite a photographer too. Indeed!

[In_The_Wind]

15. The animals are so entertaining.

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There is always something that is picture worthy.

The most special man of my life (my rock for many years) was a professional photographer who taught me how to use a camera. My willingness to look for something beautiful to remember guides my shutter. I really enjoy sharing my work.
Bragging rights ... the museum where one of my photos was on display still sends me announcements along with a request for more.

Your backyard critters are also lucky. Far too many folks are too busy to see the beauty all around.

Check out part of my indoor flock. http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018560436

[Crewleader]

16. Thank You In_The_Wind

for sharing your beautiful history of your talents in photography and the wonderful man that taught you.
I really look forward to seeing all your photos.

You are Special and we, at DU are very lucky to have YOU, with the warmth and wisdom you share with all of us. And yes your great humor, "we need the smiles and laughs these days!"

THANK YOU MY FRIEND

[In_The_Wind]

17. Crewleader

Your post touched my heart.

I walked away from my computer for about 4 hours ... in happy tears. I haven't felt that way since I can't remember when. I truly was speechless.

[Crewleader]

19. Well deserved lady, and Thank You back!

[TBF]

20. Very pretty ~

down here in Houston we only get cold, wet, windy rain ~ temps are typically just above freezing (high 30s) so rarely the pretty snow!

[In_The_Wind]

21. We've had a mild winter thus far. It feels colder.

Only 4 snowstorms that needed shoveling. The first one was about 6 inches the others were only an inch or 2. The snow from our last storm is still blindingly bright.

I stay in as much as possible, shopping for food once or twice a month. I grew up in Georgia and never learned to embrace sub-freezing weather.