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MontanaMama

(23,242 posts)
Tue Sep 14, 2021, 08:21 PM Sep 2021

Update on my rescued dove. The Ragamuffin...or RG as we like to call him.

So the dove hatchling that I rescued back in June is flying free every day now. Up until a week ago, he would fly inside the house at night and perch on the dining room light fixture for the night. Now he does his own thing which I know is the goal…but truth be told, it slayed me the first night he didn’t come inside…and the second night.

As the days have gone by, he stops in regularly to say hello…he will randomly land on my head without warning. I’ve gotten used to that. He runs with a flock of 6 or so other doves that will not tolerate me in the yard at all…they fly at the first sight of a human but RG will usually stay behind to visit and tell me about his new life.

My favorite thing is that he always flies in for happy hour…tonight was especially precious…he stayed for over an hour while his posse complained in the tree next door.

Here are some scenes from tonight’s happy hour. I love this bird so much.


















16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Update on my rescued dove. The Ragamuffin...or RG as we like to call him. (Original Post) MontanaMama Sep 2021 OP
WONDERFUL! elleng Sep 2021 #1
Great news! Ponietz Sep 2021 #2
You did well with him. GemDigger Sep 2021 #3
Oh I hope so. MontanaMama Sep 2021 #5
Awww! You saved a life and made a friend Rhiannon12866 Sep 2021 #7
Thank YOU! MontanaMama Sep 2021 #12
He's a beautiful and very lucky bird Rhiannon12866 Sep 2021 #13
I raised a starling a few years ago I_UndergroundPanther Sep 2021 #4
Wow, you're better than a vet. BigmanPigman Sep 2021 #9
I spent many summers volunteering I_UndergroundPanther Sep 2021 #10
I can imagine how tightly they cling onto BigmanPigman Sep 2021 #11
He's so pretty! Thank you for saving him. Maraya1969 Sep 2021 #6
He knows who loves him and he wouldn't be if not for you. Fla Dem Sep 2021 #8
Pretty bird! Demovictory9 Sep 2021 #14
Speechless. emmaverybo Sep 2021 #15
That's sweet. wendyb-NC Sep 2021 #16

Ponietz

(2,905 posts)
2. Great news!
Tue Sep 14, 2021, 08:39 PM
Sep 2021

Thanks for letting us know.

Doves abound in myth for good reason, and are an integral part of my own story, so I take special interest in your posts.
🙏🕊

GemDigger

(4,305 posts)
3. You did well with him.
Tue Sep 14, 2021, 08:44 PM
Sep 2021

I think they are such a pretty bird. Great news that he found a flock to go south with. Then next spring he will land on your head again and maybe with youngins of his own.



MontanaMama

(23,242 posts)
5. Oh I hope so.
Tue Sep 14, 2021, 08:52 PM
Sep 2021

This has been a summer of mama transition for me…my teenage kiddo working full time, my old dog passed away…then RG flew away. I know it’s what I wanted for him. I didn’t think this bird would live a week when I plucked him off the ground let alone thrive, leave my house and make friends. My silent wish has been that he would check in with me here and there and he’s done that and then some.

Rhiannon12866

(203,041 posts)
7. Awww! You saved a life and made a friend
Tue Sep 14, 2021, 09:18 PM
Sep 2021

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story with us...

Rhiannon12866

(203,041 posts)
13. He's a beautiful and very lucky bird
Tue Sep 14, 2021, 10:38 PM
Sep 2021

And I really loved the story. I wouldn't have known what to do, but you did...

I_UndergroundPanther

(12,452 posts)
4. I raised a starling a few years ago
Tue Sep 14, 2021, 08:48 PM
Sep 2021

His name was Rodan after the Godzilla big black bird enemy. I found him in the yard alone. He was barely in pins. He had a broken leg. I set it,put a cast on it made out of aluminum flashing lined with terrycloth,put a ball on his foot so the rachet system in his leg would work after the bone healed ,

fed him taught him to bathe and fly ,he grew up and would fly in the house until he was on his own.
The cats and Rodan would play together. He had a lot of bird friends. He came back to see me often after he stayed outside for the night

I don't live at the house anymore,but thankfully when I left he didn' t come around to visit me for like 3 months.

I miss him. He used to fly on my head lean over and grab my eyebrow ring,or if he was on my shoulder he'd grab my nose ring. Never pulled on it just held it in his beak.

He could say his name Rodan. He'd yell his name when he was hungry.

I am happy you have your sweet little dove.

I_UndergroundPanther

(12,452 posts)
10. I spent many summers volunteering
Tue Sep 14, 2021, 10:17 PM
Sep 2021

With a local vet/ friend of the family. I was thinking of becoming a vet. Until mental illness killed that dream. At least I can help animals get better,however if it was something I couldnt handle I'd be calling a vet or getting a more experinced rehabber.

I had to do that when my friend brought me 3 baby squirrels. They started up a crane unaware a squirrel built a nest in it. Mother squirrel bolted,they stopped the crane and nobody got hurt..

Squirrels have very particular feeding requirements,beyond what I can do. So I sent them to a rehabber.
They were so adorable and they cling to you stronger than velcro.

They were so young they couldn't hold up thier tails yet. After the rehabber rehabbed the squirrels they were adopted and live on a beautiful farm in my town.

BigmanPigman

(51,432 posts)
11. I can imagine how tightly they cling onto
Tue Sep 14, 2021, 10:21 PM
Sep 2021

something...those tiny nails are powerful.

Maybe helping the animals helps them as well as yourself. A win-win!

wendyb-NC

(3,250 posts)
16. That's sweet.
Tue Sep 14, 2021, 11:16 PM
Sep 2021

Blessings to you both. Thank you, for taking him in, so he could grow and become strong enough, to survive on his own.

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