A mourning dove

Look what I found nesting in the corner of the pergola in the Lady Banks Rose.

A sweet mourning dove.

The mourning dove is my favorite bird. I love their soft cooing.

I decided to do some further research on line to find out more about the dove or maybe some interesting facts. The one thing I found that was very interesting to me was:

"It represents Spirit in all indigenous beliefs. Since we communicate and learn through our 5 senses, this is how Spirit can communicate through other creatures and reach us without inducing panic or stress. It is common for one on a vision quest to follow the trail of a rabbit which crosses the path, or to head into the direction of a crow or hawk in flight. There will be messages and opportunities for growth in these encounters. When a mourning dove lands on your balcony & looks at you for an extended amount of time, there is no need to be concerned for your physical wellbeing. You can believe that the message was of peace and love. The assurance that you are one with creation."

This reminds me of the time I was sure I saw a Passenger Pigeon (which looks very much like a mourning dove) on the birdbath in the garden. The Passenger Pigeon is extinct, but I just know that that is what I saw, and it sat there for the longest time, watching me.

Hearing the birds sing is music to my ears. That, and sunshine, I don't think I could live without.

The poetry of the earth is never dead. ~John Keats