(wc 596)
I recently acquired a remote shutter release and timer for my beloved camera. After reading all the material and becoming familiar with this new accessory, I set about my project of trying to capture some good photos of visiting birds. I set up my equipment on our front porch, under the climbing-rose pergola. The greenery of the rose did an adequate job of camouflaging the camera and tripod, which I had set up to photograph the birds as they visited our bird feeder.
I’ve noticed that morning and evening are the best times to find a variety of birds at our feeder, and I was really excited about being able to use this new device as an aid. The remote/timer comes with only a three-foot cord, which doesn’t make for much remoteness when you are trying not to scare the birds away. So I had also purchased a 30-foot extension cord to go with it. I got the camera focused on a central spot at the feeder, hooked up the remote, and attached it to the cord that I had dropped down from our second floor window. From that window I had a good view of the bird feeder, and I was now able to snap photos at will without the birds being frightened away by my presence. So far so good.
I was getting a bit restless, waiting for about an hour for any birds to show up – at a time when they are usually there. At last, I noticed some movement toward the feeder. Mourning doves. Mourning doves, mourning doves, mourning doves. I am not complaining, because they are quite pretty, (and greedy too – can they ever eat!) but it seems that for the last few days they are the only birds who will consent to come to either one of our feeders – at least when I am around to watch them. I am going to have to be patient, and hope that such patience will be rewarded. The photo of the juvenile blue jay that I posted the other day was not taken with my new outfit! I was on our front porch when I noticed a rustle in the tree across the street. I had the telephoto lens on the camera and was able to get just close enough to be able to get some photos – sans tripod, however.
I won’t go so far as to say “familiarity breeds contempt,” but I have the feeling that if they weren’t so common around here, the mourning doves would be appreciated for their beauty and gentle cooing a lot more than they are. I’ll share again with you a poem I wrote in memory of the author Robert B. Parker. (The entire post of which this was a part can be found here.)
The Mourning Doves
©2011 Paula Tohline Calhoun
The first call of birds I hear
Each morning as I awake
Is the soft, gentle sound of the
Mourning doves, cooing at day-break.
On looking out my window
I see them, on the roof
Some, like sentries, pacing,
Others perching still, aloof.
Their feathers shimmer, pink and gray,
Reflecting dawn’s first light,
Then suddenly, in unison
Wings whistling, they take flight.
And, following some distant call
That they alone can hear
They take their leave, to feed and play
By a distant stream or weir.
Then at the appointed hour,
In the gloaming of the day
Singing softly of contentment
In their ancient, lilting way,
They make their way back home to rest,
And gently fold their wings.
In hushed antiphonal echo,
My heart responds and sings.
*******************
At least for now, the doves’ call is enough. . .
Gentle, timid, old soul, peace, contentment . . . all words that come to mind when I see or hear the Mourning Dove.
Thanks for a lovely photo, and a beautiful poem.
I am so glad you posted this, not only because of the lovely poem, but because it led me back to your first piece. I too am a Robert B. Parker fan. And I was lucky enough to hear him speak at a writing convention. He was truly a genius. He said he wrote 20 pages a day, and he would stop in mid-sentence when he got to page 21. But he knew exactly what he wanted to write and wrote those 20 pages to be as good as he could make them. And he NEVER revised. Imagine that! Wally Lamb (another favorite of mine) says when he goes to a reading engagement, it is difficult not to be revising as he reads. There is certainly no right style… but Parker certainly had one of the right ones.
Oh! Something else in common! I so envy your chance to hear Parker speak. He really was an amazing man. I found (quite easily, it turns out) Parker’s address in Boston, and sent a letter to his widow, Joan, expressing my sadness and sympathy at the loss of her husband. In the letter, I sent the poem, and told her what inspired me to write it. Within days I received the most wonderful e-mail from her, thanking me for sending it to her. She was complimentary, but she also said that she wished “Bob” were still alive, because he could have expressed his appreciation so much better than she. Very few things have touched me more than the fact she took the time to read and respond to my letter that “came out of nowhere!”
We also have Wally Lamb in common – I have read all of his novels and it seems obvious to me that he labors greatly over every sentence. They are all beautifully wrought, and because of that it seems evident that he hones and re-hones every one – which must be why there is such a long gap between books! Also, the books are always quite long!
Parker’s not rewriting reminds me of Mozart (and they truly are both geniuses!). Mozart notated his music without scratching out anything – his first copy was the final version. . .amazing. He heard it so completely in his head that he merely had to copy down what was there.
I miss Spenser. I see that the newest Spenser has come out – finished by another author. I’m debating on whether to read it or not. Seems almost sacrilegious, but I don’t know – maybe I should give the guy a fair shake. I still don’t think that any other author could possibly have Parker’s facility with the short, clear sentence. Rapid gunfire is what they remind me of. . .
Thanks for the comment!
I think Parker said he didn’t outline either. He usually only had a vague idea of where he was going, but always got exactly there. He said it was EASY. Imagine that.
I saw Wally Lamb speak too. He’s Connecticut born and raised like me. And he’s a Facebook friend. Not just a fan site…he’s messaged me a couple of times. He feels like a friend I went to school with. I wish I did.
The dove photo is so pretty and so is the poem. I too have scores of doves along with several other kinds of birds. Of course I feed and water so they feel welcome but along with the birds I get squirrels. Talking about pest!! They are so nosy they get into anything I put out. Oh well, they too must eat. God bless.
Super loved it lady!!! I love the bird and loved the poem tooooooo!!
No that wasn’t my attempt on cooing
I too spent a lot of time wandering around to capture pics nowadays… boy, do I crave to?? Many hugs n wishing you the very best xoxoxo
After a virtually sleepless night, every joint aching thanks to the Supermoon, I gave in and got up at 5:00 to find your last night’s post in my emails. It is such a nice way to begin the morning seeing the photos of mourning doves and learning more about your new toy. Thanks for including your In Memoriam poem. too..
Good morning (mourning), Paula,
Hubs
Coo-ah! Coo, coo, coo! To you too, darlin’! Hope tonight is better.
Beautiful capture! I have a pair in my yard this year. The run out the door and scare them away every chance they get. I think the doves are so beautiful and I love their song, although it sounds so sad.
They can be very skittish, alright! I love the whistle of their wings as they take off! In the “In Memoriam” post I tell why I chose to write this and dedicate it to Robert Parker. It is from a line in his last book.