wood pigeon in a java dove nest

[Feefo]

Sue,

If you scroll down this thread http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showth...referrerid=560

You will find photos of Jo's woodpigeon (now named Little Wood) at the same age.

Just to double check: is the white on your rescue's tail a thin white band ? And did you stretch out the wing to see if there is a white band (it wouldn't be visible on the folded wing).?

The turtle dove is a protected species.

The collared dove fledges between 15 to 19 days, the turtle dove at 20 days, the stock dove 27 to 28 days and the wood pigeon at 33 to 34 days.

Cynthia




Cynthia

[sueUK]

hi,
The white on the tail is just a little tuft of white each side - there isn't much of a tail yet of course, but it definitely has white each side of it!!
I've opened up the wing, and he spreads and flaps them a lot - and not a trace of white.
When is a bird fledged? does that mean fully feathered? or flying? this baby is neither. He has lots of feathers, but also big bare patches on tummy and under wings and on his neck. He flaps his wings a lot, but I think he'd crash pretty fast if he launched himself off the edge of the table.
Oh well - all will be revealed in time I guess.

[Feefo]

I interpret fledged as being feathered and ready to leave the nest.

This bird fascinates me, I am really looking forward to the next update. Couldn't you have a quiet word with your cat and get it to reveal where the egg came from?

It is difficult to judge the size from a photo...how big is he when compared to your fist?

Cynthia

Cynthia

[sueUK]

I wrote a reply, and half way through it sort of vanished!
Anyhow - the baby is about the size of a lemon - half the size of my fist? and today it weighs 3 ounces (85 grams)
The white feathers on the tail now seem to be more under the tail, at the sides - I'll try to get a picture of his bottom! The wing tips seem to be a darker grey than the rest of him, but not black, just dark grey.
He is two weeks old today!
Thank you Brad for posting the latest photo, I do wish I could work out how to do it myself, but thanks for being so helpful.
I've moved the heat pad so its only under half of his house, giving him a choice about where he wants to sit.
Cynthia - if it is a turtle dove, and a protected species, does that mean I can't keep him? I'm happy to release him if I'm sure he'll survive out there - but what if he can't?
Sue

[Feefo]

I had no idea it was so very tiny!!!! A woodpigeon of the same age would be about the size of both hands clasped together. What a little jewel.

I was thinking about the protected species bit and I think the fact that it hatched in captivity is significant. I will do some research on that. But first we have to establish exactly what it is.

Cynthia

[sueUK]

Cynthia,
I am still struggling with getting images onto this site - so I'll email todays pictures to you if I may. (If you then want to put them on the site thats ok.)
I got my son to take the photos, so the bird can be seen in relation to my hand!
I really do like this wee thing!! He's so cheerful!

Sue

[Feefo]

Thanks, Sue, I appreciate that.

Cynthia

[Feefo]

It is beginning to seem very likely that this is a turtle dove.

I found this description which refers to the white corners of the tail:

Has proportions of collared dove but appreciably smaller. Body plumage mostly blue-grey and pinkish with chestnut-brown on mantle; dark feather centres give a scaly appearance to back. Long, mainly black tail appears wedge-shaped in flight due to white corners. At close range, black and white barring on neck can be seen. Presence often indicated by purring song. Favours arable land with hedges.

And this on their eating habits:

Adults feed on the ground, mainly on cereal and wildflower seeds and the occasional insect. During the first five days of life the young are fed on 'crop-milk' which the parents regurgitate. They then eat small seeds and insects.

Chick crumbs would appear to meet the dietary requirements.

Cynthia

[sueUK]

How exciting!
Who would have thought, when my cat brought that little white egg in, that it would turn into such a fascinating enterprise.
I'm glad I'm off work now, for the summer (I work in school, so I'm home now till september) I can give it plenty of time and attention.
I am pleased, too, that my son, and all his long lanky freaky friends, are as interested and involved in this bird as I am!

Sue

[Feefo]

Thanks for the photos Sue. I think the reason that you can't post them here is their size, they would need compressing.

The photos have managed to sway me again, perhaps Sweetpea is right and it is a collared dove after all. Time will tell but this thread has a photo of my own baby Poppet when he was roughly the same age and they look very similar to me:http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showth...referrerid=560

And there was me thinking that at least I knew my wood pigeons and collared doves!

Cynthia

[sweetpea]

Hi Sue and Cynthia, I am not sure about this as doves including tame ringnecks have sooo many different names but the only type of wild dove here in the UK is what I would call the collard dove. Sue I did post a pic of the little guy I was handrearing on here when he was about 3 weeks old not ready to fly just yet but full of grey baby feathers, also you can see the little guys splay leg. The fact that you have hand reared this little one (well done) whether he turns out to be a dove or woodie you will have a very trusting and loving friend.

[sweetpea]

I have attached a pic of Paulie the chick I raised and this is him at about 10 days old. I remember that he was a bit of a puzzle when I first asked for help on hand rearing as to what he was as he was very dark.

[Feefo]

Thanks Sweetpea, I have never seen a collared dove that dark, but Paulie was undeniably a collared dove, so I think that the prize for identification goes to you!

We do get turtle doves in the UK , but they are very rare and they are only here for the summer months.

Sue, can I add the photo of your baby to the collared dove development album to show what a hatchling looks like? And Sweetpea, can I add Paulie as the next stage of development? This identification subject is bound to come up again and those two photos are excellent reference material. I would change the name of the album and give you full credit for your photos.

Cynthia

[sueUK]

Cynthia - I'd be delighted for you to use any of my photos.
I continue to photograph this baby regularly, as well as keeping a log of his weight and development day by day. One day it may be useful to someone!
So - baby almost certainly a collared dove............Thank you for your photos Sweetpea, and Paulie looks just like mine, doesn't he/she? It makes sense, as there are a lot of collared doves in this area.
What do I do about returning it to the wild? Will this be possible or should I keep him in an aviary with being hand reared, no fear of cats, wonky feet? (I have an aviary, currently empty, 6' tall, and 6' x 3' floor area) He and Georgie could share it, so neither was lonely.
Can a collared dove breed with my white java dove? I'm sure they can. (if its a male, of course)
There's so much I don't know!

Sue

[sueUK]

Oh dear - reading other people's posts, my aviary is very small isn't it? more of an outdoor cage really. My ex husband originally built it for some finches he kept!
It has an old rabbit hutch fixed on the back wall, which the java doves used to use for a sleep area and for nesting - they also liked roosting on the roof of it and I used to put their food up there. At one time there were 4 doves in it.
I can't enlarge the aviary, so if I need to keep the baby, and if I put the new bird and Georgie in there together, do you think it will be ok?