Ah, mourning doves! There is simply nothing like waking up in the morning to the gentle coos of the doves in Arizona. My mom says that she doesn't hear them anymore, and she misses that! I can't think of another sound more calming, soothing, and just plain enjoyable than the gentle calls of the mourning doves. They don't sound like they are mourning to me, they sound like they are gently singing lullabies to the world.
I snapped many pics of these not-particularly-beautiful birds during our vacation in Arizona, and I am going to share quite a few here. I took these during an afternoon out on the porch, and these particular two, and their mating dance, caught my attention. I couldn't get as close as I wanted to, but hopefully you will get the idea of what I was thinking, and what THEY were thinking too!
Our neighbour's porch. Two doves settle in for a short courtship in an empty flower box:

"Oh, hello. Come here often?"

"Here's some ruffled feathers! See how big I am?" "Pshaw! I can do ruffled, too!"

"Meh. I am becoming bored with you. What else ya got?"

"Well, you seem to smell OK. At least you showered."

"Look into my eyes..."

Love's First Kiss! Awwwwww...

"Oh, baby, kiss me like you mean it!"

And... dismount. That birdie was FAST! I couldn't catch the action!

"Aw, baby, why you show me your back? Imma gonna call you, really I am!"

"Ooo, is that Charlene over there? Let me fluff up a bit. She'll notice me..."

"He'll be back. He always comes back. *sigh*"
