Award-winning art photographer Marlene Neumann has learnt to coo and think like a bird, all for the sake of her beloved companion and life mate – a dove called Sophie.Neumann is so close to the little bird that she has been known to cut short her business trips to Johannesburg in order to be present when Sophie lays an egg – a function she refuses to perform without her.
“She will hold that egg in until I am there and if I’m not she stresses and pulls out her feathers.
“She considers me to be her mate,” said Neumann, who divides her time between her Vincent and Chintsa West studios and always takes Sophie with her.
The little bird has become a social media sensation with a worldwide following, and makes regular appearances on Neumann’s professional Facebook page.
In the latest video posted last Friday on Marlene Neumann Fine Art Photography, Neumann is seen driving her car while chatting to her feathered friend settled in a nest in the passenger seat.
By yesterday afternoon the clip had received close to 2900 views.
“Sophie is a little celebrity. She gets more hits than me,” laughed Neumann. “She has followers in Texas, the UK, Australia and India. They always ask about her.”
Neumann’s extraordinary relationship with the little bird began three years ago when she rescued what she described as nothing more than “skin and a beak” just as a cat was readying itself to pounce.
“I scooped her up and ended up feeding her mushy cat pellets from my mouth which she ate frantically – every four hours.
“I taught her to eat and to fly and when I want her to come, I tap with my finger on the ground because that is what a dove mother does. I talk to her too,” said Neumann who has learnt to coo convincingly.
“There are different coos. One means everything is okay, another means I am going out and Sophie also tells me when she will lay an egg. That is a very deep, throaty coo.”
Sophie’s eggs are unfertilised and fill many Tupperwares, but a year ago Neumann felt her friend needed to experience motherhood. She sourced two eggs, one of which produced a diamond dove called Lou.
“Sophie fed him for six days before I had to take over and I ended up with two birds on my shoulder.”
Lou now lives in a friend’s aviary, while Neumann continues her tight-knit friendship with Sophie.
“She is quite the glamour girl and sleeps in a make-up bag above the bed and when I have a nap, she snuggles under my chin. She also flies into the bathroom and bathes with me sometimes.”
If Neumann's human partner, Daily Dispatch cartoonist Cuan Miles, feels any pangs of jealousy he hides them well.
“Cuan also loves Sophie,” said the art photographer.
“Sophie always comes first,” said Neumann. “Before everyone else and the dogs. She is the most profound partner I’ve ever had.
“We have a divine connection and she means everything to me.” — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
Sophie the rescued dove is now social media sensation
Neumann is so close to the little bird that she has been known to cut short her business trips to Johannesburg in order to be present when Sophie lays an egg – a function she refuses to perform without her.
“She will hold that egg in until I am there and if I’m not she stresses and pulls out her feathers.
“She considers me to be her mate,” said Neumann, who divides her time between her Vincent and Chintsa West studios and always takes Sophie with her.
The little bird has become a social media sensation with a worldwide following, and makes regular appearances on Neumann’s professional Facebook page.
In the latest video posted last Friday on Marlene Neumann Fine Art Photography, Neumann is seen driving her car while chatting to her feathered friend settled in a nest in the passenger seat.
By yesterday afternoon the clip had received close to 2900 views.
“Sophie is a little celebrity. She gets more hits than me,” laughed Neumann. “She has followers in Texas, the UK, Australia and India. They always ask about her.”
Neumann’s extraordinary relationship with the little bird began three years ago when she rescued what she described as nothing more than “skin and a beak” just as a cat was readying itself to pounce.
“I scooped her up and ended up feeding her mushy cat pellets from my mouth which she ate frantically – every four hours.
“I taught her to eat and to fly and when I want her to come, I tap with my finger on the ground because that is what a dove mother does. I talk to her too,” said Neumann who has learnt to coo convincingly.
“There are different coos. One means everything is okay, another means I am going out and Sophie also tells me when she will lay an egg. That is a very deep, throaty coo.”
Sophie’s eggs are unfertilised and fill many Tupperwares, but a year ago Neumann felt her friend needed to experience motherhood. She sourced two eggs, one of which produced a diamond dove called Lou.
“Sophie fed him for six days before I had to take over and I ended up with two birds on my shoulder.”
Lou now lives in a friend’s aviary, while Neumann continues her tight-knit friendship with Sophie.
“She is quite the glamour girl and sleeps in a make-up bag above the bed and when I have a nap, she snuggles under my chin. She also flies into the bathroom and bathes with me sometimes.”
If Neumann's human partner, Daily Dispatch cartoonist Cuan Miles, feels any pangs of jealousy he hides them well.
“Cuan also loves Sophie,” said the art photographer.
“Sophie always comes first,” said Neumann. “Before everyone else and the dogs. She is the most profound partner I’ve ever had.
“We have a divine connection and she means everything to me.” — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
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