Hungry orphaned Senegal dove baby

I have new member of the family as from today.
When I was feeding my birds this morning, I noticed small baby Senegal dove moving around pigeons, but after that she disappeared and I forgot about her. It is baby bird season in SA and there are fledglings everywhere.
During my afternoon feeding, she was there again. This time she went strait to pigeons and started begging for food. At first it was funny because baby is smaller than sparrow. It jumped in front of ten times bigger pigeon and raised wings and started slapping him right wing left wing exactly the way baby pigeons do. Pigeon almost fell on his tail of surprise. Then decided to run away. Baby then jumped in front of another. This one decided to teach him manners.
At this moment I realized what is wrong. Baby doves do not run around begging food from pigeons. They wait patiently for parents to come and feed them. Even when out of nest they are quiet and one can step on them as they are so motionless. This one was very hungry. I went and picked it before pigeons hurt it and it started begging me for food immediately. Diagnose - crop empty and baby very tin. While preparing food it was whistling at me permanently. Baby Senegal doves emit strange whistling sound when calling parents for food. (almost ultrasound)
Once fed, baby made itself comfortable in the seed dish and fell asleep.

Geez - what a sweet little guy. Hope you can help him survive! I have never seen a dove like this one - so cute!!!

What a sweet little doll baby, plamenh.
Such beautiful feather coloring.

I'm so glad you were there to make the rescue.
Please do keep us posted on how things go.

This morning, baby was still alive, with more energy and most of it was put into whistling and flapping wings at me. Yesterday I was afraid to feed it too much and I gave 5 ml watery mix. Couldn’t see any poop.
This morning there were two firm balls on display. 8 ml stronger mix did not fully satisfied him, but this will do for now. Usually 10~12 ml mix is enough for growing baby Senegals.
Baby doves are adorable and very good fliers. The moment they leave the nest one cannot catch them unlike baby pigeons.
I was lucky that baby decided that I’m potential food source and hungry enough to ignore my size.

plamenh wrote:

This morning, baby was still alive, with more energy and most of it was put into whistling and flapping wings at me. Yesterday I was afraid to feed it too much and I gave 5 ml watery mix. Couldn’t see any poop.
This morning there were two firm balls on display. 8 ml stronger mix did not fully satisfied him, but this will do for now. Usually 10~12 ml mix is enough for growing baby Senegals.
Baby doves are adorable and very good fliers. The moment they leave the nest one cannot catch them unlike baby pigeons.
I was lucky that baby decided that I’m potential food source and hungry enough to ignore my size.

Wonderful update, plamenh.

I'd say you were BOTH lucky.

Baby is well, allways hungry. Whistling all the time at me while preparing food.
After feeding baby scared
Baby intrigued
Back in the cage
Nex step was to go in the dish and fall asleep (I didn't want to disturb so there is no picture)

I missed this thread until just now.

That baby is so cute and lucky she ended up in your yard.
I would love to hear a recording of the whistling...hint...hint.

No problem Charis,
I will record it (it sounds non-stop when I'm arround) but you must guide me how to publish it to the forum. :Rolling eyes:

plamenh wrote:

No problem Charis,
I will record it (it sounds non-stop when I'm arround) but you must guide me how to publish it to the forum. :Rolling eyes:

I'm afraid I would be a very poor guide but we can call on John or Cindy.

More baby photos. plamenh.

Matilda wrote:

plamenh wrote:

No problem Charis,
I will record it (it sounds non-stop when I'm arround) but you must guide me how to publish it to the forum.

I'm afraid I would be a very poor guide but we can call on John or Cindy.

I don't mean to 'pass the buck' but better make that John, plamenh. how to do that.
John created our homepage greeting from our feathered friends.

What an absolute sweetheart, my heart melted as soon as I saw the pictures.
To think it was so hungry it had to beg anyone or anything for food.
Thank goodness you spotted it.

Ok I have record of the baby dove call, now only to find abouth technicalities


I'm small but...

When I grow up!

Capuchino is the one to get the sounds loaded. How about you send him a private message?
I'm very excited to hear the sonds and I appreciate you recording them.

I love your updated photos, plamenh.
What a difference in his alertness compared to the original photo.

O yes, baby is much more energetic and in constant motion. Preening, wing streching, flapping, walking up and down... No wonder why is always hungry. Today was the Day-3 and we are allready used to tube feeding. It became hyper exited when I showed syringe and started slapping my hand with wings when feeding.

plamenh wrote:

O yes, baby is much more energetic and in constant motion. Preening, wing streching, flapping, walking up and down... No wonder why is always hungry. Today was the Day-3 and we are allready used to tube feeding.
It became hyper exited when I showed syringe and started slapping my hand with wings when feeding.

Don't ya just love that?

Quote :

Don't ya just love that?

Sure I do It keeps on amazing me how quickly babies adapt to any unnatural environment though. Adult dove won’t let you closer than 4 m but as baby has no choice, guess it decided to get the best under these circumstances.

This is just lovely
Isn't it strange sometimes how a sweet little creature can give us so much love? Often more than another human being...

Specially for Charis (she asked first)
Everybody is wellcome to hear of course.

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BabyDove.mp3 - 0.09MB

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Baby perching on my finger and seeds on the floor are better tasting then one in the dish.
Today updates - baby started pecking seeds - sigh - my role as Mama Dove will soon be over.

pigeonwriter wrote:

This is just lovely
Isn't it strange sometimes how a sweet little creature can give us so much love? Often more than another human being...

Because human beings tend to complicate things. Little creatures bond to you unconditionally.

Matilda wrote:

Ah...such sweet sounds . Thank you for recording the sweet sounds and posting them . It's so fascinating to be able to hear the voice of a little Dove thousands of miles away.

Something about 10344.4 miles or 16647.7 km give or take couple.

plamenh wrote:

Matilda wrote:

Ah...such sweet sounds . Thank you for recording the sweet sounds and posting them . It's so fascinating to be able to hear the voice of a little Dove thousands of miles away.

Something about 10344.4 miles or 16647.7 km give or take couple.

Yep...a long ways.

Last two days I was on business trip to Durban. During my absence, despite my specific handling instructions, baby managed to escape. Upon my return (last night) when I was told what happened, I felt devastated. Baby will starve to death, be killed by predators or who know what horrific fate expect him. Nightmare! I searched around the garden till late to no avail.
……………………………
This morning I looked everywhere, couldn’t find it. Plenty of baby doves and youngsters but mine nowhere to spot.
……………………………
This afternoon when I was feeding ferals, I left coop door open. Something small and blurrily zoomed by my head and when I turned to look in, there it was Baby, sitting on the cage, flapping wings and loudly chirruping to make sure I know that it is very, very hungry. So Baby sleeps happily in the cage warm and fed, me, sitting in front of computer with the glass of red wine celebrating happy ending of the trip (not mine).