First things first, I would like to send my greetings to the community of Feathered Friends.
This is my first post, and it is my entry to Show Me A Photo Contest Round 202, Free Theme.
There is a reason why they say: “Free as a bird”.
I’ve always been kind of jealous of the freedom that most birds enjoy.
At least, those that are not captured in a cage.
The collared dove is such a bird that leads a free life.
Look at this pair of collared doves.
They resemble a couple going out for a gala dinner, smartly dressed in a suit and an evening gown, respectively.
Together with the crow, the collared dove is a vagabond of the animal kingdom.
I’ve never seen or heard of a collared dove living in a cage.
In my eyes, the collard dove is a model for survival and sustainability.
It lives on very little, and it is the perfect example of frugal living.
Contrary to migratory birds, like swallows, which travel very long distances back and forth every year, the collared dove is happy staying at the same place.
In the most extreme scenario, it may fly a long distance within the same locality.
In the following photo, you can see a couple of collared doves on an electric wire.
Perhaps I zoomed in too much to take a picture of them, because they were at some distance.
In the photo below, you can see three collared doves sitting on the edge of a tall metallic construction.
Collared doves are regular visitors to our balcony, especially in the winter.
Offering them only a few bread crumbles can help them survive the cold.
Another thing that I think is funny about collared doves is their mating ritual.
After the male dove chases around his prospective female partner for a time that seems infinite, he finally manages to "persuade" her.
It only takes a few seconds, and they are done.
Well, they are not that different from humans in that!
Thank you for reading.
Sources and further reading: