Winter Flights
As Winter continues to stroll along with frosty breath and sleepy flora, it is also a slower time for our A Breath of Heaven Doves' birds.
In the loft, there is not much courting to speak of. The very libido of the birds seems to become dormant, and they exist alongside one another more one big familial group. They aren't quite as active, they aren't quite as vocal, and they aren't quite as amorous as they are in the other three seasons of the year. As though, in unison with Mother Nature, they realize that all of God's creatures need periods of time where there is mainly solace and peace and much rest. Despite the heat lamps in each loft, the birds don't seem to seek them, not yearning for the boost of warmth I surely would. They have more-than-adequate shelter, they have good food, they have fresh water. With our stewardship, they are sufficiently and wonderfully made by their God; perfect and self-contained to provide comfort for themselves. For the most part, their instincts seem to make it clear that this is not the ideal time to raise their young. And so they wait -- for warmer weather and longer days of light.
Despite the sorts of winter weather many may believe is unfriendly and unwelcome where our doves are concerned, that very weather, I think, is something they continue to find joy in. No, we do not take them on releases in that inclement weather. They are under our protection in those ways (see previous posts regarding ethics). And yes, surely there are days when the cold and gloom might affect moods, even for those beautiful birds.
However, they clearly enjoy many types of weather, even in the winter.
On a sunny day, when their lofts are opened up for free flight, they often drift out of the lofts to glide around our property in a multitude of circles.
When there is a strong breeze, they clearly find joy in "riding the wind" like an invisible roller coaster as they circle our acreage -- climbing up, up, up against the gentle forces,... and then turning to shoot across the sky, riding the tail-wind as a collective group, almost as though there are rails below them. Never do they seem to collide! They dance like a well-rehearsed team, yet they fly with such freedom.
Oh, and when it snows! You may be challenged to find a more lovely sight than white doves coasting in large circles, gliding through drifting snowflakes. And as the snow pillows up on the ground, it seems to act as a sound barrier. The world becomes silent -- even the usual sounds from nearby roads are muffled. And in this miraculous set of circumstances, if you stand still ... and quietly... in the middle of the birds' flight pattern, you can hear the whisper of their collective wings -- it is like a long, intimate whisper: It is so much more audible with the blanket of white on the ground and the covering of clouds just above. The peace of experiencing this phenomenon is somewhat powerful, and as soothing as a perfectly-hot drink that warms a cool soul.
In the loft, there is not much courting to speak of. The very libido of the birds seems to become dormant, and they exist alongside one another more one big familial group. They aren't quite as active, they aren't quite as vocal, and they aren't quite as amorous as they are in the other three seasons of the year. As though, in unison with Mother Nature, they realize that all of God's creatures need periods of time where there is mainly solace and peace and much rest. Despite the heat lamps in each loft, the birds don't seem to seek them, not yearning for the boost of warmth I surely would. They have more-than-adequate shelter, they have good food, they have fresh water. With our stewardship, they are sufficiently and wonderfully made by their God; perfect and self-contained to provide comfort for themselves. For the most part, their instincts seem to make it clear that this is not the ideal time to raise their young. And so they wait -- for warmer weather and longer days of light.
Despite the sorts of winter weather many may believe is unfriendly and unwelcome where our doves are concerned, that very weather, I think, is something they continue to find joy in. No, we do not take them on releases in that inclement weather. They are under our protection in those ways (see previous posts regarding ethics). And yes, surely there are days when the cold and gloom might affect moods, even for those beautiful birds.
However, they clearly enjoy many types of weather, even in the winter.
On a sunny day, when their lofts are opened up for free flight, they often drift out of the lofts to glide around our property in a multitude of circles.
When there is a strong breeze, they clearly find joy in "riding the wind" like an invisible roller coaster as they circle our acreage -- climbing up, up, up against the gentle forces,... and then turning to shoot across the sky, riding the tail-wind as a collective group, almost as though there are rails below them. Never do they seem to collide! They dance like a well-rehearsed team, yet they fly with such freedom.
Oh, and when it snows! You may be challenged to find a more lovely sight than white doves coasting in large circles, gliding through drifting snowflakes. And as the snow pillows up on the ground, it seems to act as a sound barrier. The world becomes silent -- even the usual sounds from nearby roads are muffled. And in this miraculous set of circumstances, if you stand still ... and quietly... in the middle of the birds' flight pattern, you can hear the whisper of their collective wings -- it is like a long, intimate whisper: It is so much more audible with the blanket of white on the ground and the covering of clouds just above. The peace of experiencing this phenomenon is somewhat powerful, and as soothing as a perfectly-hot drink that warms a cool soul.
Labels: A Breath of Heaven Doves, cold, dance, flight, God's creatures, instincts, Loft, release snow white doves, sky, wind, Winter
posted by The Dove Lady at 6:43:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home