Recently, I put up a new bird feeder on our deck railing. The deck is off the kitchen and I thought it would be nice to see the chickadees and nuthatches dart in and out from close range. My intention was to provide a feeder for these small birds that the bigger ones and the squirrels wouldn’t use, ensuring the bitty birds always had access to food.
At least that was the plan.
The day after I put the feeder out I had house sparrows, house finches, blue jays, grackles, mourning doves and yes, squirrels on the deck. Then I had to fasten the feeder to the railing so the squirrels wouldn’t dump it over the edge. Again.
This morning when I got up I was greeted by two mourning doves on the railing.
As doves are wont to do, they soon began preening, billing & cooing & snuzzling.
Preening
Billing and cooing
Snuzzles
The dove on the right is the female. I know this because the male got a little over excited by all the preening, billing and cooing, and climbed on her back. She gave him short shrift so fast I didn’t even get a picture. I snapped this one right afterward though, and yes, her bill is moving.
They soon settled down to do what doves do best – nap in the sun.
Now, of course, I can’t use the deck. And I just caught my husband moving around the kitchen very, very quietly. Doves rule, obviously.
It has belatedly occurred to me that I will now have to keep my kitchen windows clean. Another unforeseen problem with having a bird feeder on your deck. Darn.
Hi Pat:
Thank you for the info. I tried leaving seed on my deck but the number of squirrels that came several times a day left no seed for the birds, hence, the platforms. Do you know where the Doves go in the winter? They seem too fragile to go too far south.
Barbara
Hi Barbara
The mourning doves are migratory species, but they seem to hang around longer if the weather is good. In this area, the books say they migrate in September, but I guess all the doves still in my yard haven’t read the same book! Doves are ground feeders, so you don’t need to give them a platform. They prefer to peck away at the ground under the feeders or trees, and never visit my feeders. Yet another good reason to Keep Your Cats Indoors!
Wonderful pictures – thank you.
I live Ontario, just outside of Ottawa, and have had (and still have) six morning doves on my deck.
I have a question perhaps someone out there can answer. Do the doves stay around all winter? No one here seems to know about the doves, they did say the Blue Jays & Finch stick around.
I have also had to afixed a large platform to the bottom of my feeders for the doves. I have not found feeders anywhere, that are suitable.
I, too, tiptoe around my living room but the doves are quite calm. They don’t fly away even with my 5 cats sitting at the glass door drooling, pawing the glass and making little noises. I don’t allow my cats outside – ever, so the birds are safe from them anyway.
Please pass the word to keep a bowl of water on your property all summer for the wildlife and stray cats. I am in cat & dog rescue and have had 2 stray kittens rescued that were dehydrated. Vet said if people would just think to keep a bowl of water in their yard it would save lives. In Canada, keeping water on the deck is a challenge as it freezes often.
Cheers Barbara
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I got to know about this post through Twitter. I love nature, so I had to be here 🙂
The post is amazing. I can relate with what you are experiencing 🙂
I enjoyed reading it and looking at the beautiful pictures you took
Thanks 🙂
What a wonderful series of shots. I adore doves and I cringe when I hear about open season for hunting them. It happens here. What is WRONG with people. Splendid job with this post. Thank you!