Doves Sorting Themselves Out

In my view, the most successful breeders last summer were the Mourning Doves.  The ones around here generated a veritable bumper crop of these slow-moving characters.  I was easily seeing seven or more of them over the fall and winter.  But I think Nature has taken its course, either in the form of birds driven into their own territories or predators nailing one or more.  I see fewer doves at the feeders: either one or two pairs depending on how extensively the birds have arranged "north" and "south" territories. They're still doing a number on the safflower seed stock, but I don't feel smothered by doves either.  Will they produce another big next generation?  We shall see.

Abundant Doves

One of the most abundant of my winter species this year are Mourning Doves.  We certainly have a lot of them!  Last spring saw a super-harvest of these characters and they're all fat and happy grazing mainly on safflower seed.  Truth be told there are so many of them hanging around I am beginning to perceive them as "Gray Crows" or some such: practical pests.  But the doves are harmless, sort of like the coffee heads at the local cafe.  I wonder what spring will bring.  Can the property support more of them or does a territorial imperative take over?

Birds of December: Mourning Doves

Another December regular at Cary BirdCam are those goofy Mourning Doves.  We have quite a collection this year: perhaps six or seven birds.  They're addicted to safflower seed and lurk at the feeders for long periods of time.  And I wonder if they are getting the word out that there is a lot more seed at this address.  Over the winters I see more doves.  They can't be breeding at that rate, so the suspicion is that the birds have identified the best resources.  Well, what the heck.  They're lovable dull, and they don't actually eat me out of house and home.  But I do have a better idea what massed Passenger Pigeons must have looked like!  I may find out in a few more years...

Invasion

Doves.  I am seeing Mourning Doves.  Many, many doves.  Greeting me in the front yard were a dozen of these slow-moving, heavy-eating specimens.  And I recalled the great invasions of birds we've seen here at Cary BirdCam: Red Winged Blackbirds, Pine Siskins, and Common Grackles.  Am I in the beginnings of a Dove Invasion?  For all I know, every dove in every direction has found our easy pickings, especially of sunflower and safflower seed.  I tremble.  It could get worse before it gets better. 

Dove Update

No matter how many times I see it, I still get a chuckle at the sight of Mourning Doves at the platform feeder where I spread safflower seed.  It looks all the world like a coffee shop in late afternoon where the denizens sit in a daze, staring at whatever.  Same with the doves!  I am not sure if it's the seed that does this, or just dove nature.  They are, after all, plodding creatures with no real desire to move hurriedly.  And so, day after day, two or three take a seed break...and sit...and sit...and stare... It's hilarious.

Happy Place

The bird baths continue to be a prime "happy place" for many of our avians.  The water is freshened daily and I've replaced the dying "Water Wiggler" so the water is advertised and churned up a little bit.  And in a shady section of the property, it never gets too hot.  What bird can resist this?  Even the stodgy Mourning Doves find the pedestal bath a congenial stopping place in their, um, busy days.  I've placed BirdCam to watch the bath for a time.  I'm eager to see how many species are getting use of this marvelous amenity.  More on that later this summer.

Addled Doves

I believe my past posts on Mourning Doves have left the impression that these birds are a breed apart.  Far apart.  We most often experienced the "Cup-A-Joe" effect as stupefied Doves sit at the safflower feeder like coffee house junkies.  This spring I have even seen evidence that the Addled Ones can't get their act together on reproduction.  We've seen a pair billing and attempting...something for an awful lot of days in April and May.  They're not there yet.  Is it the safflower? or is it Dove-nature to be the dimmest bulb in the barn?

Feeder #5: Platform Seed Bar

Experts say platform feeders are a must-do in every serious birdfeeder plan.  I couldn't agree more.  There are species that prefer to deal with a flat surface (Cardinals and Mourning Doves come to mind) and it's an easy place to mix different food products without birds tossing out what they don't want.  They're also highly entertaining, for our main platform feeder, hanging at the #1 station, is our "coffee bar".  The safflower seed there attracts slow moving, almost glassy eyed doves who can hang out for long periods of time.  And at the same time little guys like nuthatches race in to grab a quick "cup a Joe" in the form of suet nuggets.  The only additional advice I'd give: find a good weather dome to cover the feeder.  Contents can easily get soaked and mold.  Then watch the fun!

Coffee Shop Doves

There is a real temptation to imagine that our Mourning Doves are regulars at a Coffee Shop, when they visit the safflower seed tray.  They lounge a good deal, peck at a seed or two, and look rather motionless and dazed for long periods of time.  It's quite funny to watch.  But of course the doves tend towards slow movement, periods of stillness, and don't get any reaction from the seeds.  Too bad.  I need to find a catnip for the birds to complete the image!

A Good Year for Doves

If I were to characterize a year in terms of only one species, this year it would have to be "Mourning Dove."  For whatever reasons, these birds had a simply spectacular year here.  I have never seen so many doves!  Clearly they were either so well fed and resourced that they experienced uncommon breeding success, or I have fed doves so well that birds have congregated here.  And what's more remarkable is that in the relatively few years here when feeders were established that we've gotten there from nearly zero.  That is, doves took their time adjusting to the cafe.  Of course this upward trend won't continue.  Predators like Coopers Hawks will take notice of well fed, slow moving Mourning Doves and profit accordingly.  For now, I get to marvel at the herd.

Doves and More Doves

Seems like it has been a very good year for Mourning Doves.  They are everywhere here.  On the north side they are nearly round the clock scratchers below that feeder station.  I see them on the ground at the southwest station, and they love perching for long periods of time near the hanging platform feeder.  In fact, that platform (stocked with safflower seed) might as well be the dove's version of a coffee shop.  They eat, and hang out, and linger some more.  But their numbers are amazing.  I am sure there are upwards of six to eight on the property, if not more.  And I see them all over the neighborhood, especially on rooftops.  Good year for Dove!

A Lighter Shade of Pale

Over the years I have been acquiring better skills at identifying juveniles of the harder backyard species.  Oh sure, there is begging behavior that gives things away.  But a pro would know the field marks.  Some, like Titmice and Chickadees, continue to escape me.  I will eventually get the hang of it.  One that's almost there for me is the Mourning Dove.  And this evening I studied this group of four doves to see if I could puzzle out a juvenile, if one was present.  I am fairly certain there's at least one younger bird here.  But golly, it's a tricky problem.  One advisor tell me to look for birds that are mpore buff than gray.  One manual, in contrast, advises to look for darker, scalier birds. (!)  Well, there's no clearly darker, scalier bird here.  And maybe the second bird from left is lighter in breast, but that seems like a wishful think for me.  Conclusion.  I have more to learn: these four all look pretty much alike.  Good thing to have more yet to learn even of common birds.