Tag Archives: mourning doves

The mourning dove still calls at 9:...

By Dave Bonta | Published March 11, 2012 at 12:35 pm

The mourning dove still calls at 9:30. A field sparrow’s accelerating notes: Hurry up! Hurry up! Daylight savoring time—when is that?

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A mourning dove skimming the treetops...

By Dave Bonta | Published April 2, 2011 at 11:40 am

A mourning dove skimming the treetops flies off toward the northeast, the whistle of its wingbeats like something from the age of steam.

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After last night’s rain, the...

By Dave Bonta | Published January 19, 2011 at 9:10 am

After last night’s rain, the snow fits each dip and hummock more tightly, like a garment shrunk in the wash. The creaking of doves’ wings.

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Feathery contrails outline a wedge...

By Dave Bonta | Published December 29, 2010 at 8:21 am

Feathery contrails outline a wedge of blue. On a high branch, three mourning doves sit facing the sunrise. The middle one preens its wings.

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So clear, even the mourning dove sounds...

By Dave Bonta | Published May 20, 2010 at 8:33 am

So clear, even the mourning dove sounds joyful. Muffled thuds of a pileated in a dead tree, knocking—as Rumi would say—from the inside.

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A shimmer so fine it takes me five...

By Dave Bonta | Published January 1, 2010 at 10:30 am

A shimmer so fine it takes me five minutes to ascertain that it is snow, not rain. Dove wings whistle and a raven croaks: no dry land here!

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Quarry noise. What good are holidays...

By Dave Bonta | Published December 24, 2009 at 9:05 am

Quarry noise. What good are holidays if we can’t at least have some quiet? I concentrate on the dove wings’ one-note flutes, imagine angels.

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A screech owl adds its quaver to the...

By Dave Bonta | Published December 22, 2009 at 8:03 am

A screech owl adds its quaver to the minimal dawn chorus: mourning dove coos, finch and sparrow chirps. Snow and highway noise on the wind.

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Sunday morning rain is different; it...

By Dave Bonta | Published August 2, 2009 at 7:53 am

Sunday morning rain is different; it’s quieter. The distant rumble I take at first for traffic on the interstate turns out to be thunder.

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Here in the clouds, one mourning dove...

By Dave Bonta | Published March 29, 2009 at 8:47 am

Here in the clouds, one mourning dove has added an extra note to the beginning of his song, turning a dirge into a slow dance tune.

 

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