My Close Encounter

by Robin Cody
(Racine Wisconsin)

I have lived in Racine Wisconsin for almost four years now but have never had the pleasure of a close encounter with such an amazing beautiful creature as the Mornning Dove.

I was blessed to have that encounter today! I have seen Mourning Doves fly through our apartment complex quite often and have had the pleasure of hearing their call too.

However, I've never had the pleasure to view one up close as you will see from the picture I took on May 7, 2012.

As Spring has given us the pleasure of such birds as the Cardinal, Mourning Doves, and quite thick Robins, I noticed one Mourning Dove liked to perch itself on our bicycle handle parked on our patio.

It came back quite often and seemed to like perching itself there.

We have a big bush in front of the bicycle where I noticed it also liked to ruffle it's feathers in.

As Spring progressed, the more I started seeing this lovely creature. Everyday she would come back and perch itself on that bike handle.

Today, I had come back from taking a stroll. As I was walking closer to our patio I noticed her sitting on the bike handles pretty as a picture! I walked ever so slowly closer to the bird and even told it how beautiful it was.

It just perched there as if it knew what I was saying and returning the favor by letting me admire its beauty.

I wondered if I could walk slowly into the house and have enough time to grab my camera. So I did, and the dove never even flinched an inch as I got six amazing photos from only a foot away from it!

It was an amazing experience, one I will never forget. It was like looking at the hand of God himself.

I thought maybe since I was so close to it, she would let me touch it's feathers but she didn't and flew to our apple tree.

Needless to say, I picked the best one and placed it on my desktop to admire every day as I start my computer.