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Description
Of all the backyard wildlife i've had, this current resident is very, very special.

Meet Gimpy, a female mourning dove who went through what appeared to be a terrible accident.
The first day we saw her, she was on the back patio by the fence with her mate, and she was a mess.
With a broken tail feather sticking up, a left wing ruffed and hanging down and a look of exhaustion, she had little energy, and was unable to fly.
Her left shoulder and right breast feathers were sticking up in all directions, and had a look that made us think she may have been ensnared in something, or was potentially attacked.
Either way, she was fortunate enough to escape in her condition, and was eating.
She hobbled around with a limp, the gimpy left leg earning her the name, "Gimpy."
She would walk a little, then stop to rest for a few minutes, then walk a short distance again.
We considered taking her to a shelter, but with research we learned that many small wild birds that get brought into local care end up having their necks broken.
Seeking to give her a chance, we instead let her be, and continued to put food out on the ground.
As it turns out, injured birds in the wild have surprisingly good odds, and can heal at a fast pace.

We kept an eye on her, and noticed she stayed in and around the yard, hiding in the brush we had once set up for baby rabbits.
By the next day she already walked taller, was more alert, and was no longer limping.
By day three, her wing was tucked back into place, though it still looked a little funny.
However, there was substantial loss; she is now left with only one tail feather, the beaming white band on the end making her stand out in a crowd.
Good news is she can fly, but it requires more visible effort now that her tail is just about gone.
As you can see her feathers are still a little funny, but she's healthy and most importantly, able to get off the ground.
Since she's improved she is more outgoing from the yard, but is never very far from it.
This picture was taken of her around noon today, where she was resting in the front flowerbed, most likely taking a break from the heat.
Both Gimpy and her unnamed male companion seem to recognize that we don't intend harm.
So as long as no one approaches them directly, they'll allow us to take pictures!

Gimpy has a special place in my heart, in a way i can't explain.
I've long been partial to the mourning dove, loving their sad song and, of course, seeing all doves as symbols of God.
Her eyes are always warm, observant and captivating, most likely reflecting her soul.
She's a strong little lady with a natural charm, so much so that even her imperfections are beautiful.
I think half of why i get so emotional when it comes to her is because i'm rooting for her so heavily, and often find myself wondering how she ended up so battered.
Many crossed fingers and good vibes for the beautiful and very special Gimpy, everyone!
More to come on her later, including a video!

---DO NOT STEAL MY CONCEPTS, ART OR IDEAS!!!---

Description
Of all the backyard wildlife i've had, this current resident is very, very special.

Meet Gimpy, a female mourning dove who went through what appeared to be a terrible accident.
The first day we saw her, she was on the back patio by the fence with her mate, and she was a mess.
With a broken tail feather sticking up, a left wing ruffed and hanging down and a look of exhaustion, she had little energy, and was unable to fly.
Her left shoulder and right breast feathers were sticking up in all directions, and had a look that made us think she may have been ensnared in something, or was potentially attacked.
Either way, she was fortunate enough to escape in her condition, and was eating.
She hobbled around with a limp, the gimpy left leg earning her the name, "Gimpy."
She would walk a little, then stop to rest for a few minutes, then walk a short distance again.
We considered taking her to a shelter, but with research we learned that many small wild birds that get brought into local care end up having their necks broken.
Seeking to give her a chance, we instead let her be, and continued to put food out on the ground.
As it turns out, injured birds in the wild have surprisingly good odds, and can heal at a fast pace.

We kept an eye on her, and noticed she stayed in and around the yard, hiding in the brush we had once set up for baby rabbits.
By the next day she already walked taller, was more alert, and was no longer limping.
By day three, her wing was tucked back into place, though it still looked a little funny.
However, there was substantial loss; she is now left with only one tail feather, the beaming white band on the end making her stand out in a crowd.
Good news is she can fly, but it requires more visible effort now that her tail is just about gone.
As you can see her feathers are still a little funny, but she's healthy and most importantly, able to get off the ground.
Since she's improved she is more outgoing from the yard, but is never very far from it.
This picture was taken of her around noon today, where she was resting in the front flowerbed, most likely taking a break from the heat.
Both Gimpy and her unnamed male companion seem to recognize that we don't intend harm.
So as long as no one approaches them directly, they'll allow us to take pictures!

Gimpy has a special place in my heart, in a way i can't explain.
I've long been partial to the mourning dove, loving their sad song and, of course, seeing all doves as symbols of God.
Her eyes are always warm, observant and captivating, most likely reflecting her soul.
She's a strong little lady with a natural charm, so much so that even her imperfections are beautiful.
I think half of why i get so emotional when it comes to her is because i'm rooting for her so heavily, and often find myself wondering how she ended up so battered.
Many crossed fingers and good vibes for the beautiful and very special Gimpy, everyone!
More to come on her later, including a video!

---DO NOT STEAL MY CONCEPTS, ART OR IDEAS!!!---