The month of June is associated with the DOVE, the bird that is a potent symbol of peace, love and intuition. The ancient Greeks thought of the dove as a messenger of the gods. Poets wrote about them, an example being Emily Dickinson writing about Columba, which is Latin for dove. The dove is mentioned some 47 times in the Bible. The story of Noah and the Ark tells of a dove returning the second time to Noah with an olive branch signifying the end of the flood and a renewed covenant between Our Lord and humanity. When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove. The dove is a key symbol in the New Testament. In Matthew 10:16, Jesus tells his disciples to be 'innocent as doves.'
- Both the Mommas and Papas care for their baby squabs, sitting on the eggs and feeding them crop milk. Crop milk is produced by special cells lining the crop, a pouch-like part of the esophagus. They regurgitate the crop milk into their babies' mouths. The substance is rich in proteins, fats and antibodies.
- Doves are important to the natural balance of the ecosystems through their seed dispersal.
- Doves are closely related to pigeons. In all, there are more than 300 species.
- They are found all over the world, except for the polar regions and a few remote islands. This is because they have adapted to living alongside humans. Doves are hardy and are able to live in desert areas, tropical forests, mountains and woodlands.
- Doves have an incredible sense of direction and can navigate over long distances using the Earth's magnetic field. Scientists have used them in scientific studies to help understand the mechanisms behind this ability.
- They have a distinct cooing call which helps them communicate with other doves and also to establish territory.
- Doves were used during World Wars I and II to carry messages between troops and headquarters.
- For centuries, doves have been popular subjects in religious art---in paintings, sculptures and other forms---as symbols of peace and love.
The dove makes a fitting symbol for the start of summer and the relaxed atmosphere that June brings to us. It is our privilege to listen for their soft cooing calls to calm our frenzied human anxieties.
