Our whitewing dove, Panchi, is growing up.

 

I had a scare a moment ago when she, trying to land on my head as always, followed me out the door. A bit disoriented, she flew a few feet toward the open sky, but when I called "Panchi!!!" with a panicky voice, she immediately turned around, mid-flight, and came right to my hand. I quickly dispatched her back in the house. Whew!!!

 

I have been wondering what would happen if she ever got outside. Would she come to me as she always does indoors? I hope that answer is always yes. I have come to really love her and, more critically, she would have no idea how to fend for herself, especially in this harsh winter desert storm we are having at present. She has become far too accustomed to walking around on the floor with the dogs, and I am concerned she would have little fear for neighborhood cats. I don't think she would last long outdoors. Also, she seems very happy to be here in our home, as she has never tried deliberately to fly out the door to escape.

 

I somehow expected her maturation to happen more quickly than it has. She is well over six months old, but has only now finished filling out with her adult feathers, complete with lovely gold-colored iridescence around her neck, and her voice is only now beginning to change.

 

When I heard her new sound a couple of nights ago for the first time, my heart leapt. It is strange to suddenly hear something other than baby peeps and squeals, especially when the new sound is so haunting. And unfamiliar. I suppose I have rarely - if ever - heard this little transitional "song" of a whitewing. It is not yet the full-fledged coo sequence, but some half-peepish, half cooish thing that is not entirely lovely. But, it is fast becoming so, as it holds the promise of sweet dove songs to come.