Birds are people too, just smaller. 2008

I have learned that all animals have deep feelings and emotions, the exact same feelings as humans. I have seen them get upset, they love, they have joy, sadness, anxiety, fear, jealousy, frustration , anger, rejection, lust, urges, maternal instincts, fairness, manners, depression, compassion, etc, all the emotions that we have. They are just little people.

                           Lizard (dark) and 2.5 (white)

When Lizard (2.5’s husband) got killed by a hawk a few weeks ago(Video link Lizard and 2.5 in love), 2.5 became very despondent, lethargic, and was in deep depression. She just sat around grieving with no expression, no movement, just staring straight ahead not noticing anything around her… so sad, you could almost see the tears in her eyes. She lost weight. So Ace felt sorry for her and went out and bought two more pigeons, a male Arch Angel (Archie),

 
and a female Arabian Trumpeter (Edith).

Archie has iridescent feathers that have all the colors of the rainbow when in the sun. Edith also has iridescent feathers. They are beautiful birds.

Then 2.5 came back to life again, but she was not happy with the "intruders", Archie and Edith.  She wanted Lizard back again, she was bitter. 2.5 did not get along very well with Archie and Edith. So 2.5 tolerated the intruders for a week or so, but then one day I watched 2.5 fly away as usual, but her flight was UNusual in that she stayed very low, weaving thru the trees as she left as if she was hiding her exit.
I knew it was a bad sign. Her life had been shattered. I knew I’d never see her again, she was leaving forever and would not return. Tame pigeons are not very good at surviving in the wild so I knew it was the end for her.  I waited for days, but she did not return.

But then, a miracle, on the 4th day and never expecting to see her again, 2.5 finally came back home. When I saw her this morning I ran out on the deck. She saw me and instantly flew to me and landed on the railing next to me.

She walked right up to me expecting breakfast, which I happened to have in my hand. She seemed so happy to be back, she was excited… I think she was smiling? We sat and talked to each other for a while until I froze in my bathrobe and went inside. She finished eating and taking a bath, then flew to the coop where she is now resting…. back home again. It’s so nice to see her back, I missed her. I hope the three will now become a family, even though each is from a different ethnic background.

UPDATE: Archie and Edith were both killed by a neighborhood cat several weeks later. 2.5 managed to survive by hiding in the rafters. Again 2.5 became depressed and motionless.  So I got her yet another partner, then she was very active and happy once again.
But then... more tragedy in her life.  With her new partner, Ringo the Dove (Spot Dove's ex-husband)... 2.5 was again madly in love now with her tiny husband Ringo.  See link below for the rest of the story.
(Link disabled ) = I heard a loud thud as a bird hit hard on the window.
BUT, ... (update)
that's not the end of the story... there was more intense love, another new partner for 2.5 and again she fell madly in love with her new female partner, Velcro. For 8 years they were inseparable, hugging and kissing constantly ... SOooo madly in love.

Then, tragedy again. While flying to the deck to visit me, Velcro got killed by a hawk. 2.5 went into withdrawal.. for a whole year she just stood in her aviary window gazing out hoping Velcro would return.  2.5 would come in the house and call to Velcro over and over, hoping Velcro was in the house, where they had spent many days together. It was painful to watch...
 
(update)  . . . Eventually yet another partner, Newbie. It took many many months but eventually 2.5 accepted Newbie, but.... It's just not the same. They are partners, but none of the intense emotional love, hugging and kissing. It's not hard to see that 2.5 still wants Velcro back ~:<( ... ... (me too).