doves

If I were to choose a onomatopoeia for one of my favorite sounds, it would be for the dove family. I used to own a pet shop, and every morning when I went in to clean, feed and care for the animals, I had the opportunity to hear and witness the natural behavior of many species.

The animal I loved the most was the ringneck dove. They had caramel to brown feathers, velvety soft and a black ring around their necks, thus the name. I had a mated pair, and so named them Blue and Velvet.

I would let Blue and Velvet out of their cages to stretch and fly a little around the pet shop to satisfy their natural daily routine. Blue the male was the most enthusiastic of the two, Velvet being ladylike and demure.

Blue was busy one morning, showing off, as it must have been near mating season. He flew around and around, and abruptly landed on a countertop, making him skid to a stop as there was nothing to curl his feet around. I stood there, ready to take him back to his cage. He looked at me, bobbed his head forward, and without much effort proceeded to leave me "a gift" on my countertop, at the same time giving off their famous and melodic coo, but I heard POOP ON YOU! POOP ON YOU!

He made it to his cage a little quicker than I think he planned on, and Velvet followed her man. So now whenever I hear a dove, all I hear is POOP ON YOU! POOP ON YOU!