Years ago, The Prude dabbled at being a naturalist. This involved taking her coffee cup outside and observing the behavior of the birds socially networking at the feeder.
She even wrote stuff down about them, ala John James Audubon.
Her favorite birds were the mourning doves, and she took prodigious notes.
This morning she wanted to write a post on her favorite bird, and tore the house apart looking for the notes.
She remembers quite distinctly that they were genius notes. They were full of wisdom and keen observation and pithy comments.
She can’t find them anywhere.
So this morning we’re banking on The Prude’s memory, which has a reliability factor approaching that of an MP3 player purchased from the Dollar Store.
But The Prude has a great appreciation and respect and empathy for mourning doves and believes you should too.
TOP TEN REASONS YOU SHOULD LIKE MOURNING DOVES
Reason #10
Her name. You can’t go wrong with a name whose homonym leads one to believe she gets up early to take care of all her tasks, but actually means she sounds mournful because the world is such a naughty place that needs so much tidying and so many lectures. Listen to her sometime. That cooing? Those are the constant sighs of a Bird with Too Much On Her Mind.
REASON #9
Her work habits. Watch her at the bird feeder. She spends most of her time cleaning up the birdseed messes left behind by others. And sighing while she does it.
REASON #8
She won’t be bullied by blue jays and crows. The cute little songbirds all dash off nervously when the thugs show up. But the mourning dove calmly goes about her business. If she doesn’t keep things tidy, no one will.
REASON #7
She whistles while she travels. Listen to her on take-off. That whirring sound is the equivalent of The Prude singing along to the car radio while her children roll their eyes.
Note that you will never see adolescent doves flying alongside their moms.
REASON #6
She recycles. Her husband isn’t big into nest building, so she sensibly just moves in to nests other, fussier females have abandoned for bigger and more ostentatious nests.
Come back tomorrow when we round off the Top 10 with the self esteem issues mourning doves and middle-aged women share.
3 comments:
How True! As a fellow mourning dove watcher I have seen these behaviors, but have never been inspired like the prude to make such great analogies with them. Thank you, Prude!!!
The mourning dove,
Sweet mourning dove;
A bird of little brain
Her reflex slow
(Her thoughts, also)--
'Seems "Huh?" is her domain.
Linda, obviously I have too much time on my hands.
Robin, this is SO FUNNY.
Obviously the people who say rhymes are passe never read yours!
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