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BBGun Bob · Veteran Member

While I'm waiting for it to warm up outside I thought I'd share this with you.
I know alot air gunners love to shoot Doves. There fast and very quick on the wing.Very hard to hit even with a 12 guage shotgun.
But I got this guy 9 years ago when he fell out of his flimsy nest in an apple tree in my front yard.I put him back hoping he would stay there so his mother would care for him.But the next day he was on the ground again. sh!t what am I going to do? he was no bigger than a small toad,little beady eyes and a wide flat beak.And I know the cats would get him sooner or later.Well into a shoe box he goes,a trip to a local pet store and some instructions how to feed him with a eye dropper.never in my wildest dreams I thought he would live!!!
Well,9 years later here he is and like a dog comes when you call him,takes a shower with me too!.He's gotten outside a couple of times and always returned.Hum ,needless to say I can't shoot his family anymore.

Sincerly
BBGun Bob

broommaster2000 · Moderator

That's God's kind of humor right there for ya. Wink

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Bob the naturist! No shooting tree rats for him now. Mr. Green

BBGun Bob · Veteran Member

Hey hold on a second Erik,
If its got 4 feet and fur I'm on it! That Chinese wife of mine will cook anything.Including a rat!When she first got here I was afraid to go to work I thought poor old Coo-Coo would be in the Wok when I got home. Shrug

BBGun Bob

Rogerflat · Silver Status Member

You'd hate this guy then.

(yes, that is me)

BBGun Bob · Veteran Member

Hey Roger,
Great pictures.It does not bother me what others do! After having this guy for nine years I can't shoot Doves.But I will and have shot tree rats ,pigeons,crows ETC.
You will like this forum.
A great bunch of guys here. and information highway runs right thru it.

Later
BBGun Bob
In Michigan

Rogerflat · Silver Status Member

Well Bob, that's definitely a mourning dove. I read that only half of the mourning dove population survives year to year, which means they have a very short life expectancy. I am surprised your little guy has made it nearly a decade. I guess its all the personal care. The thing probably eats great!

I know what you mean about finding it in the yard. I think doves are either terrible parents or bad nest makers. Before I even started shooting them, I would notice dead dove babies littered below my pine trees out back. I think they would just fall out of their nests.

BBGun Bob · Veteran Member

The first one was given to me when I was 6 years old.He died of old age when I was 32 years old. He was a ripe old age of 26.
Yes living indoors , good food and even vitimans they tend to live along time.
When he was dying I took him to a bird VET.He was amazed when I told him his age.His vital organs were just shutting from time.

BBGun Bob
Hey Roger where ya at??

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Hmm, maybe that's why all the guys in the old prison movies had doves. Or maybe that was pigeons... Razz

Birds are not my thing- I figure if I feed them then they'll just crap all over my house and car.

Rogerflat · Silver Status Member

I'm out here in AZ Bob. Doves are about the most abundant animal in the state. Lots of mourning and inca doves here.

My friend has an African Gray (parrot) and it is supposed to live 40-50 years. It's not much bigger than a large dove. So I guess that birds can live a long time. Not sure why wild doves have such short lives then, unless I read the article wrong. I know the ones that I come across have dramatically shortened lives (lol), but I wouldn't think predation is there biggest killer. Hard to say I guess.