Juvenile Zebra Dove remained in my garden for 28 days

Earlier posts:
1. Adult Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata) feeding newly fledged chick LINK.
2. Adult Zebra Dove returned to the garden to feed the juvenile LINK.

An adult had been flying in three times a day since then, always announcing its arrival with its calls. Each time the juvenile would emerge from somewhere to meet the adult for a feeding session (image above, video below).

In between feeding sessions, the juvenile would forage in the garden, pecking on the ground, probably for grass seeds and whatever bits that were edible. When resting it indulged in preening, scratching and stretching its legs and wings (video below). During heavy showers it took shelter under a bush.

By day 17 (days after fledging) the juvenile was strong enough to fly to a nearby tree to meet an adult for feeding. By then the feeding was not as prolonged as before. The adult would cut short the feeding and fly off, with the juvenile protesting. Obviously, this was to encourage the juvenile to fly off with the adult. But the juvenile stayed put.

The juvenile always returned to forage and maybe spent the night in the garden. Except for the first night, I was unable to locate exactly where it was at night. However, on the evening of day 19, the juvenile was seen under a potted plant resting and indulging in its usual comfort behaviour (see video below) – preening its feathers, scratching and stretching its wings and feet. At 6.22 pm it suddenly flew off. Unfortunately, I was behind a pillar and was not able to see its destination. It may well had flown to a nearby tree to spend the night.

From then onwards if was not seen in the garden. But the calls of the adults were regularly heard.

YC Wee
Singapore
15th April 2018