NECCO'S STORY
Necco hatched on May 17, 2012 in an incubator and was raised by humans, who did a wonderful job of bringing him into the world. He was three weeks old when I got him but already imprinted strongly on humans and couldn't be released into the wild. I took him to a wildlife rehab center, hoping he could integrate with other birds, but repeated attempts were unsuccessful.
He was legally permitted as an educational bird, teaching people the importance of not letting a bird imprint on humans. When he retired, he came back to live with us, as he formed an extremely strong bond with me and my partner Frank.
There isn't much info on Inca doves in captivity. The oldest Inca recorded in the wild was 8 years old, but the lifespan of a wild bird is much shorter due to all the dangers of living in the wild. Other small species of doves have lived up to twenty years in captivity, so we hope to have him around for a long time. Every day with Necco is a gift.