Chronicling The Coming Of Age Of Two Turtledoves On Instagram

"Each day is a little life; every waking and rising a little birth; every fresh morning a little youth" - Arthur Schopenhauer.

A new life is a wonderful thing. Even more fascinating is observing that new life flourish.

Two years ago, a turtledove pair chose to build a nest onto a tree an arm's length from my room, at home in Mauritius. A peculiar location perhaps but very much camouflaged by foliage when examined from the foot of the tree and unattainable by predators such as cats. The trade off was us, humans.

We, humans, did our best not to disturb the pair. We observed but did not trouble. And as time went by, the birds gradually accepted our presence until we became part of their background. And then they let us witness something extraordinary: the birth and coming of age of their two baby turtledoves.

Now, I'm chronicling the first few weeks of the lives of these two baby turtledoves on Instagram. I am posting one picture a day, everyday, to share the experience. This #turtledoves chronicle will showcase the marvellous bond which exists between a mother and her fledglings, the solidarity of the family, the playfulness of the little devils and their eventual coming of age.

To experience the #turtledoves chronicle, you can follow me on Instagram at @notscientific. If you don't have Instagram on your mobile device (note: you can download the app here), you can still see the pictures on your PC here. Also, all photos will also be posted on Twitter using the hashtag #turtledoves.

By the way, all pictures in this chronicle were taken by my dad so all credit goes to him.