This afternoon my reckoning was confirmed. There are indeed fourteen doves living in my part of this forest, because for the first time all fourteen came to the feeding-place at the same time. Doves everywhere! :-)
I had to laugh at another time today, because I opened the outer door of my office and a female dove that likes to scoot inside whenever she can showed every intention of doing it again, so I closed it till there was very little space even for her to get through, then cautiously opened it, blocking her way with a strategic foot. But she blithely dodged round it and rushed in. At the same time a dove flew into one hand, then another flew into the other, and two or three others charged inside after the bold female. Then a third flew to one arm. So I had three doves on my hands and arm, two or three rushing about inside, no way of getting my hands back to get the invaders back outside, and having to watch my footing because others were crowding round my feet.
It was a hilarious few minutes, and a very nice way of taking a break from some intense work.
I had to laugh at another time today, because I opened the outer door of my office and a female dove that likes to scoot inside whenever she can showed every intention of doing it again, so I closed it till there was very little space even for her to get through, then cautiously opened it, blocking her way with a strategic foot. But she blithely dodged round it and rushed in. At the same time a dove flew into one hand, then another flew into the other, and two or three others charged inside after the bold female. Then a third flew to one arm. So I had three doves on my hands and arm, two or three rushing about inside, no way of getting my hands back to get the invaders back outside, and having to watch my footing because others were crowding round my feet.
It was a hilarious few minutes, and a very nice way of taking a break from some intense work.