Mourning Doves

blueangel

11 years ago

Mourning Doves beautiful birds

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Comments (6)

eric580
11 years ago
I know:) I have three in my yard that chase each other and splash in the birdbath.
vieja_gw
11 years ago
aren't they pretty!! True that they are they only birds that can swallow water without tipping their heads back? I had heard it true awhile back & it appears that way when I watch them in the bird baths.

Having dove hunting season here right now ... what do the hunters do with them ,,, eat them?
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Mourning a Mourning Dove
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Comments (10)
I hope your Dove is ok, Brad. I know that these things happen in the great "circle of life", but I always hate it when I have to see the down side of it. Unlike most people, I love bunnies and don't mind them in my yard at all. However, I also have a 100 lb German Shepherd, so you'd think they'd steer clear (neighbors on either side and back all are dogless...), but for some reason, they end up in my yard. Which is fine, because Lucy isn't that fast and has never caught one. However, some dumb-bunny put her nest right in my yard (a foot west and it would have been safely in the neighbor's yard.) Lucy found it, could smell the baby bunnies and pawed at it. I covered it (with access for mama) to keep her away from it, but she must have pawed enough to injure the babies and they died. I feel so terrible about it... I was just heartbroken to see those itty-bitty bodies. **sigh** Now I think mama has a new nest under our deck (not accessible by Lucy.) I hope to see these bunnies grow up! Denise in Omaha
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Mourning Dove
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Comments (5)
Beautiful pictures everyone !!! My Mourning Dove arrived yesterday from Hallson. It had been on my Wishlist for some time, but it was one of those I wanted to see in person before I sealed the deal. Well . . . I saw it alright . . . and it ended up on an Invoice. :) The soft tones blend nicely together. Putting this sort of variegation on a longer more cascading leaf only adds to the overall appeal. Vanessa . you donÃ¢ÂÂt post very often, but when you do I am floored every time by your immaculate specimens. You grow some of the healthiest hostas I have ever seen. Wish youÃ¢ÂÂd share more. :( Ludi
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Mourning Doves...population growing!
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Comments (59)
Our doves did try to eat some of the rice I threw out for them as I had read that someone had said they liked rice. Yesterday I noticed that our baby doves were sitting alone but we were also aware that the Mom and Dad were close by watching over them. Late in the day a Blue Jay was after the two little ones sitting in thier nest. Both parents decended on the Blue Jay until he flew away. Neither of the parents went back to the nest; we were concerned that they wouldn't make it to the next day. To our joy we found the Mom sitting on the nest early in the morning. However later both parents were away from the baby doves. Late this afternoon I was thrilled to witness both the Mom and Dad at the nest; Mom was feeding the little ones. And later - no parents, no baby doves. They had left the nest. My previous witness of all four of them together must have been the LAST family gathering. My question is: Do the parents stay with thier young long enough to teach them full flying lessons or do they kick them out of the nest and expect them to survive on thier own?
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Mourning Doves Up Close
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Comments (7)
According to this reference from the Washington Post: Mourning doves: Gluttons of the bird feeder "Mourning doves eat seeds: grass seeds, weed seeds, flower seeds, pine nuts and their favorite, corn and other grains, which they will eagerly stuff into their crop. The crop is a digestive storage organ that slowly releases food into the gizzard, where seeds are ground into an easily digestible mash. To aid the grinding, the birds consume small stones — and even tiny glass fragments — that collect in the gizzard." I've always envied birds their wings; now I also envy them their gizzards. Claire
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eric580
11 years ago
I read that they drink by using suction (like hummingbirds) and that they feed their young a chewed up paste called crop milk. I never knew there was a dove hunting season. I guess they are eaten. I can only imagine how people cook them. Maybe like pheasants?
donald lucius
11 years ago
most of the meat on a dove is the breast. they cut off the breast and throw the rest out. then its either sauted in a sauce or fried or breaded and baked Dad would tell us kids if you are going to hunt doves make sure you shoot them in the head or neck or you will just waste the meat.
bob414
11 years ago
A point about drinking. I haven't watched doves close up like I can the hummingbirds drinking from the hummzinger feeder outside my kitchen window. They do not use suction but lap up the nectar. It looks like a dog's tongue in action. Here's a link to video that will show you what I mean: High-Speed Video Shows How Hummingbirds Really Drink
Lexarose
11 years ago
Holy cow I didn't know their tongues were that long! I guess I don't have to worry about them getting the last bit of fluid in the feeders. Thanks for the info

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Mourning Doves

Comments (6)

eric580

vieja_gw

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eric580

donald lucius

bob414

Lexarose

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