When Wednesdays come around I always wonder if it’s been long enough since our last bird for me to post another one. And today I decided it has, so I can finally share this one with you.
He was on the water in the aviary section of the Maharaja Jungle Trek, and, between the bird identification guides there and my after-the-fact research, I’m relatively certain he’s an Emerald Dove—the national bird of Fiji and, appropriately since he’s on the Trek, found throughout Southeast Asia and parts of Australia.
He was sitting in the sun and his plumage and the water beneath him were all but glowing in the early morning light. I’ve read that they’re known for being quite shy and peaceful, and that they often prefer to just walk rather than fly.
Doves generally symbolize peace, renewal, and spiritual growth—a list of things I can always use more of.
Captured at 400mm, 1/800 second, f/6.3, ISO 6400. I could have lowered my shutter speed a ton given how still he was but it was leftover from shooting elsewhere in the aviary and ISO compensated well enough for the reduced light.