Gone Wild!
December 22, 2005

One afternoon in October as DJ and Daddy were heading off to soccer practice, as Dad was heading out to the car, DJ came running up with a panicked look. He had something in his hand with a feathered tail, and told his Dad, 'He just let me pick him up'.

Dad needs glasses, that's a given. He could only make out it was a bird and immediately thought somehow the cockatiel room had opened and cockatiels were loose in the front yard! A closer look proved that wrong - it was what looked to be a baby mourning dove. Why it would let DJ just pick it up was odd, but we do have a squirrel that knocks on the back door to be handed peanuts, and have a pair of mourning doves that have roosted outside our back door every year since we've lived here. Word in the animal kingdom must get around (there is a soft touch at that Kramer place).

It was time for practice. Tammy took the bird so the boys would not be any later. She gave a distressed look to Dave as they pulled out of the drive. A few minutes later she called on the mobile phone to relay the bird had been hit by a car, had significant damage to its chest, and was completely exhausted. There was only one thing to do at this point - make an emergency vet appointment.

Not all veterinarians take in wildlife, and even fewer vets are avian certified (about 110 in the world as of this writing). Luckily, our vet (Rose Fiskett, VMD of the Potomac Valley Veterinary Hospital) does both! On the way over (in rush hour traffic that Tammy NEVER drives in - except for bird emergencies), the little dove was sliding around in the carrier. Tammy took it out and put the baby in her lap to help steady it. She said later the little bird just looked up with that look of total submission - ready to die.

On examination, the chest muscle was a terrible mess and both legs were broken. It would be a lot of time, skill, and rehabilitation if this bird could ever be set free again. Dr. Fiskett performed emergency surgery to repair the wounds and reported back to DJ that night the bird was doing great. She made a point of letting him know the only reason that bird was alive was because he acted. DJ went from 4 feet to 10 feet tall in the course of the conversation! For the next several weeks, DJ sought out updates from Dr Fiskett, who stayed in touch with Nora Missell of the Wildlife Rescue League, the rehabilitator who had taken over the case.

Doves are an interesting species. It seems they have a homing sense that brings them back to their neck of the woods. In rehabilitation efforts, animals are cared for with as little hands-on as possible, so eventually - hopefully, they can be returned to their world. For doves, releasing them as close to their original area was helpful we were told. We received word the dove was fully recovered and completely rehabilitated. Dr Fiskett called with a special request for DJ - would he be the one to release the dove he saved?

"YES, I'll do it!", with not a bit of hesitation. We got up extra early and went to the exact spot DJ found the baby dove. The dove was in wonderful shape - fully healed from the last time we saw him. DJ took the bird from the carrier very gently and said a few words of encouragement, then said a little goodbye. With a strong pulse, the little dove took for the highest tree, gave it a victorious circle, and landed on a high limb. What a wonderful feeling we all had to witness this cycle complete.

We were able to keep site of the dove for just a short time before it met up with the local flock. Now - it's off to the bus stop and school for DJ and in to wash up and get breakfast for the hungry flock. Our brush with the wild side was very warming to us all. Knowing this little dove made it home for Christmas makes this one just that much more special.

Mom and DJ trying to coax a nervous little dove about to see his old neighborhood for the first time in over two months.
DJ gets a brief reunion with the dove he helped save.
After a few parting words, the dove meets with freedom.
The sounds made by a mourning dove are very pleasant. The sounds made by this dove as he made his way back into his home were heavenly.
Our last glimpse of the baby dove. Here's hoping for a long and healthy life little fella!