Fluffy Feathers

KAMAL BARUAH

Birds normally fly away from humans out of fear but during nesting, birds like pigeon and dove makes nest in human home and become completely fearless. The mystery of the doves is basically unheard of for many although they are abundant and familiar common backyard birds having a single black mark behind and below her eyes, as well as black dots of her wings.Ona recent stopoverat my village, I was awestruck by a place of habitat hanging from a ceiling fanin the bed room, where a mother bird protecting her squabs (young babies of dove) under her wings. I gazed in awe at the doves how they frantically built a nest over there.

On the ground, a bed placing right underneath the nest was spread over twigs, dead leaves and grass clippings. It appears, the doves are very caring parents, but terrible nest builders.That’s strange - The mother dove wasn't bothered by ourarrival and instead hiding her young babies under her.She probably quizzed to her young broods, “Hey you two, watches me closely, I will show you how to fly very soon”.While the squabs still in the nest fed by both parents. Interestingly, she does alternate hunting with the male and are able to feed regurgitated foods.

Covering in a sparse yellow-brown down, the pair of squabs isso weakand unable to raise theirheads or open eyes.Mother dove sits on her young to keep them warm until they are big enough to regulate their own temperature. Doves have evolved the capacity to create crop-milk (secretion resembling milk) to feed the young birds for a few days after hatching until they are able to digest seeds, insects, and other foods by their parents. Both male and female birds can produce crop milk to care for their young,while babies stick their bills into their parents’ mouths to get the substance.

They are small and helpless for a moment by my presence. I wonder how doves can stay on the fan and not fall off but actually hatchlingsare just a few cm long, weighing only 5gat birth. I tiptoed quietly out of the room so that they could begin their wings and rummage around near the nest soon. The incident has reminded the days ofourdaughter from her toddler days. It’s similar care needed for an infant to grow. Theraising with all the responsibilities and activitiesthat involved so far, now accomplishedafter completion of TwelveBoard.

Soon we dropped herat hostel;we realized no hive of activity at home afterall those days of dropping school and coaching back-to-back. We arenow living a pretty solitary timeinside the four walls,watching long hoursin front of TVwhilelooking on the bright side for the next opportunity to see her. Though it sets lonely, unaccompanied and deserted andthe tone of voice get disheartened sometimebut I have remindedmy companion. The road ahead is very near for another drive. We have a few miles awayfrom her in thecoming weekend before we get a bit low-spirited tonight. 

Parentbirds are like us humans continue to feed and care for their fully feathered babies after they jump out of the nest. Young dove with little feather coverage could begin to shuffle around the nest after couple of days. The baby squabs are adorable, fluffy with a tiny stub of a tail and go away from the nest soon they learn to fly. Yes, she grows up and leaves the nest. On one hand, we felt lonely, but on the other hand, she finds hostel days enjoyable like other new residents; she sharesher new experience to us now and then.

Dealing with the smell of Anatomy lab can be tough. The dissection of organs, tissues or cells from the corpse of a Koka and an Aita in Physiology felt her sad and subdued. Prick her ring finger herself for a blood test is beingexperienced to be a good clinician, whilemany other friends suffer injuries from those frightening situations.We thought she is too fluffy for these entire situations to be a serious medico.As feathers allow birds to fly, but it also helps them to stay warm.Hope herfluffy feathers shine with happiness in the warm sunshine.