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Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Mourning Doves

mourning dove030211 (2)Mourning Doves are beautiful, gentle birds that often visit our backyard feeders. They usually perch on the utility wires or the back patio. Most times, they forage for dropped seeds on the ground below the feeders.

This couple was hanging out around the feeders today. They had been freshly filled with a mix that included safflower and sunflower seed, two of their favorite food groups.

mourning doves collageThe Mourning Dove is monogamous and forms strong pair bonds and often remain together. More information can be found at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

mourning dove030211 (3)

20 comments:

Lois Evensen said...

What a sweet couple. The silhouette image is quite nice, as are all the images.

Anvilcloud said...

Until late in life, I thought they were called Morning Doves. So did my mother until I revealed the truth to her in her eighties.

grammie g said...

Hi Beatrice...Love the last photo..so cute.
They are so lovely when the sun shines on there iridescent feathers.
Good post!!

Christine said...

The dove is such a beautiful bird, I love to hear them early in the morning.

Montanagirl said...

Nice Collage and I love the silhouette shot.

Unknown said...

Great captures of the beautiful birds.
Costas

Connie said...

Lovely photos. I like to listen to them cooing back and forth.

MadSnapper said...

they are so precious, i love doves and the sound is so peaceful. ours have been cooing like crazy the past week, i like to sit in the swing and listen to them talk

The Retired One said...

I love them too. We have 9 who come to our feeders every morning and late afternoon. When I woke up this morning, there were 4 right on the picnic table on our deck next to our window eating sunflower seeds.

Out on the prairie said...

I like to call at them and get a return.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Hi Folks, these peaceful birds seem popular with most of you. I learned that they are among the most widespread of all North American birds and the leading gamebird, with nearly 70 million birds shot in the U.S.annually for sport and for meat. Glad there are no hunters in our neighborhood.

This was a sweet couple, Lois, and they flew off together after eating. AC, I used to get the name wrong as well. Thanks Grammie and Christine (Mama-Bug)and Daisy they are beautiful birds and welcome anytime at out feeders. Thanks Mona and Costas for the compliments! Sandra and Steve, I enjoy hearing their sounds and admit to having tried to mimic them as well. You have a few more than we do, Retired One.

Unknown said...

At first I thought the photo at the feeder had caught them laying down! :) We had a dove mama who made her nest atop a wreath outside our front door for 4 years, the 5th year no return of mama dove. It was neat to watch her nest and the babies that hatched, we could peek through the curtains in the front bedroom. We have many doves around here but not over winter. Nice photos.

DeniseinVA said...

Mourning Doves are one of my favorite birds. I love to hear them cooing early in the morning. It's a sweet little alarm clock.

Desiree said...

Super pictures! I, too, love doves and their wistful call.

Unknown said...

These are such beautiful photos, I especially like the silhouette.

The cottage by the Crane Lake said...

Beautiful photographs of a beautiful dove!
We have a similar looking dove here called Collared dove (we call it turkish dove), unfortunately not around my cottage though. I love the sound of that dove and every year I hope for it to move to my village :-)

Have a great day now!
Christer.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Thanks PAT (in MN) and I bet you are still dealing with winter. We thought we were into spring when the temp reached 70 degrees last week. Today is bearly reached 40 so no bird watching on the back porch for a couple of days.
DENISE, the ones at our feeders seem to prefer late afternoons which is OK with us cause it's warmer to sit outside and watch the activity.
DESIREE, seems their calls are enjoyable to so many folks. Thanks.
SNAPPER II and CHRISTER, thanks for the comments and visit today. Maybe one day you can post a photo of the Collared Dove, Christer.

Elaine said...

Beautiful photos! I imagine while they were hogging the feeder no other birds were able to partake.

Far Side of Fifty said...

I Love them and the gentle sounds they make..we won't see them until late May..so you are lucky! :)

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Yes, Elaine, the doves DO hog the feeder especially when a pair get in together. But they are such gentle birds that I don't shoo them off like I do for the MOST unwelcome grackles, starlings and blackbirds.

Hi Connie (Far Side) the doves seem to stay around the VA eastern shore year-round.