Wednesday, April 19, 2017

La Paloma: Doves Nest In Singapore Home

The dove with twigs between its beak, eyeing me suspiciously during photography.

It's April; springtime is here as birds start to nest. In Singapore it's no exception as a pair of lovely zebra doves (Malay: burung tekukor) has found a nesting place for their Easter eggs. It's a cosy little niche between our home balcony wall and a huge air-conditioner.

The lovely paloma (Spanish: dove) couple started their home building the week before Palm Sunday on 9 April as we were listening to Donald Trump on TV, after his successful meet with China's President Xi. 

We could hear the bird calls at the balcony with one dove picking twigs and flitting, possibly looking for water and fluttering up to the air-conditioner to help the mate build the nest.
The doves were starting to build their nest when we frightened them away for a few days.

When I started using my mobile phone video and camera to take shots, they seemed displeased, left their nest dangling and incomplete. They never returned.

We had forgotten about the whole incident,  On the morning of Easter Sun, when we heard the calls again we were glad to see the nest much bigger with more twigs and dry grass. Huge relief.  Today (19/4/17) one of the birds sits perched on its nest, waiting to lay her eggs.

The pair keeps busy during nesting and we love to hear the vocalization as they go: Kroo-kook-koo. Kroo-kook-koo. The sound is music to my ears.
The children waited patiently, watching the dove in its nest. They were told not to make a sound.

The birds were also keeping two children busy as they loved the presence of the doves. The kids peered through the curtains because the nest was about four feet away from where they stood (image). Our family either took turns to observe the doves nesting or we would crowd at the entrance. But we made sure that we spoke quietly and in hushed tones. 

"Or," as I told them, "the birds will just fly away..."  

I hope to be able to document what happens next.

We've had wild things coming to our balcony. Blessings indeed.

Check out these connections below and read about the monkey, the hornbill and Josh's elephant:

http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/search/label/Bird%20Songs

http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/search/label/Wild%20Life
The nest in its final stage of becoming a cosy nursery for the doves. Meanwhile strong winds blew.

This Spanish song La Paloma, a favourite for thousands of Singapore seniors, has been in existence for more than 140 years and written around the 1850's. Easily recognizable and like many in its genre has a tune with a flamenco beat, popular in Spain but later exported to Mexico and to English speaking countries. 

There are about 1,000+ versions of this song and it is one of the most recorded in the history of music. Elvis Presley and Dean Martin sang the English version as, No More

Connie Francis, Nana Mouskouri, Julio Iglesias, Engelbert Humperdinck, Placido Domingo and big bands like Harry James, James Last, Ray Coniff, Acker Bilk, etc. had recorded it in the 1950's and 60's. 
Julio Iglesias - La Paloma is one of the most popular versions available. The English version is 'No More' by Elvis Presley.

Images: A Private Collection using iPhone 6+
Video: You Tube.

14 comments:

HORACE WEE (PROFESSIONAL GUITARIST said...

Una paloma blanca, you're just a bird in the sky
Dos paloma blanca, now you're nesting in Singapore.

Thought they were white. Birds seem to like building their nests round the air conditioning units. Think the warm exit pipes are to their liking.

Seen so many fotos of birds lately because of a couple of FB bird men. Started to notice there are many varieties of birds flying around. Didn't even realise there were wild ducks here until I saw shots of them at Marina Bay. Very common in Europe.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanks Horace for first comment and support. Yes, it was my first song to connect too.

Sharing with Ms Lai, she said it could be either a SPOTTED DOVE or a ZEBRA DOVE. In Malay it's MERBOK or BURUNG TEKUKUR. Anyone?

PETER LIM said...

Great idea, Penny!!!... the lovey doves sure know how to pick Andy's house for its prestine location on higher ground!!! ...the view should be spectacular as such😆😆😆😃😄

PENNY KOH said...

Lovely view from where you are Andy.

Yes , I love houses high up that's quiet and only hear the chirping of birds .,You are blessed the bird picked your house to build her nest ...Andy Young , Thank you for sharing with us .

We too at one time had our neighbours missing turtle found in our fish pond 😀😀😀

We knew good luck was just around the corner lol Peter Lim !!
Nice to set free a few turtles and Doves around the neighbourhood lol 🤡🤡🤡

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thank you Penny and Peter for the interest. I've just completed the posting for what happened. Hope you and other FB friends will read it and listen to a song intact. It's LA PALOMA

PENNY KOH said...

Thank you Andy for sharing with us . Yes , I used to play this in Grade 5 on the piano ., Lovely song . Also thanks for the update of the doves that finally came back to build her nests! They just knew which house would allow them to !!

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Penny please if you can play and You Tube the song and I will put it on the blog.

PENNY KOH said...

Aww , Andy I will try . as I am more of a teacher rather than a performer .

Jackie said...

Hi Andy,

I've heard this song when I was a kid but has no idea what it's about this I read your blog.
It always interesting to see your view or blog on songs/singers that I got to know when my dad or mum listens to them.
Keep it up!

Cheers,
Jackie
(We met @ Retrolicious)

CYLIN (BLOG CONTRIBUTING WRITER) said...

On the wings of a snow white dove, He sends His pure sweet love

A sign from above, on the wings of a dove.

When troubles surround us, when evils come

The body grows weak, the spirit grows numb

When these things beset us. He doesn't forget us

He sends down His love, on the wings of a dove:-):-):-)

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanks Lin,

I wanted to put up this song too but thought it too religious especially after Easter (confusing huh). There was a choice of three: Una Paloma Blanca, Wings of A Dove, La Paloma. I decided on the third because of Julio Iglesias' version that I published.

Appreciate your thought and support for this posting which has been altered to suit a wider audience.

FACEBOOK ANDY said...

Thank you all for liking the post and for your comments on Facebook
Fred Ching
Ann Rowena Lim
Roy Ablin
Peter Lim
Priscilla George
Irene Hoe
James Seah
Mohammed Ali
Penny Koh
David Lim
Kwandy Yao
John Cher
Malvin Chua
Stef Sim
Joseph Goh
Sam Quah
Akiyo Tanaka
Charles Ting

DR A. KHOO said...

Thanks Andy,
Didn't know paloma = dove. How interesting! How sweet that they chose to nest so close to you.

chakap chakap said...

This is another successful posting with nearly 200 readers within 8 hours of publication.