Oh, for the wings of a dove!

Its occupants were once thought fit for a feast, but the sight of a dovecote encircled by a halo of fluttering life is becoming a rarity, sighs bird fancier

- Christopher Sykes

DOVES are the captivating white angels that lift the soul of my garden, symbols of love, peace and joy that bring pleasure to young and old alike. They somehow manage to represent a sense of freedom alongside the burning desire to return to the homestead—they are the only wild birds, along with pigeons, that, once domesticated, are free to fly the skies, yet are always guaranteed to return to your side. Related in much the same way as are collies and pugs, pigeons are mainly kept for racing and doves for pure pleasure.

As we know, the elegant white bird is popular for release at both weddings and funerals, flying heavenwards and gilding the event with a sense of blessing. The reality, however, is that, once released, the homing instinct kicks in and they rapidly jet back to their owner’s loft.

Why would you want to have doves? Perhaps because you like the idea of being the latest in an endless line of keepers that stretches back thousands of years to the Romans and beyond. Perhaps the idea takes you back to your school days and the biblical stories of Noah’s homing dove, returning with a sprig of olive from Mount Arafat. You may adore that high, treble voice singing Mendelssohn’s evocative O for the wings of a dove. Certainly, you will be aware of the everyday political bickering between the doves and the hawks.