Why Don't You Fly?

  There is something about mourning doves that never ceases to cause pondering with me.  How are these birds so calm, cool and collected?  I can usually befriend a lot of the critters on the Bayou after a few weeks of patiently coaxing but songbirds seem to be the hardest to tame.  Shorebirds, on the other hand, are always hungry and looking for handouts.  The smaller birds never want to take the time to visit but those doves will sit for hours with you if they take the inclination to do so.  The whole time they are near, the birds are placidly staring...never moving more than a few inches and never excited.  This often makes me ponder if the birds are just that accustomed to people or if they are possibly just that dimwitted that they do not understand fear.  Sitting next to any unknown critter can be a bit unnerving but not for the doves.  They just take it all in stride.

  Mark and I came up the hill from fishing and spied a dove in the birdbath.  Since he has been trying out my camera lately, the dove was a perfect chance to get some practice.  Doves sit still.  They do not hop, wiggle or bob.  They are not skittish and are hard to scare.  So, he started taking pictures.  The dove sat through the entire photo shoot with nary an urge to take flight.  

  After Mark tired of clicking the camera, he handed it back to me.  The dove sat.  Ok, so now I needed a few photographs but instead of staying on the board path, I eased my way nearer the bird.  Neither Mark nor I were particularly quiet as we were talking and he was steadily slapping deer flies.  Soon I found myself within a few feet of the bird and  it still did not budge.  I thanked the bird for its time and patience and turned to go back up the hill.  At the doorway, I looked back to see the mourning dove STILL IN THE SAME PLACE!  What's up with that??  Goodness, I love these birds!