Not to accuse you of false ID, but are you sure it was a Ringed Turtle-Dove?

European Collared Doves have already reached Montana and possibly
California (confused with escaped populations) from the original
populations in the Carribean. The first Washington records should
be anytime, if not already?

--Jerry <tangren at wsu.edu>

mrm at WILLAPABAY.ORG (Alan Richards & Ann Musche')

said among other things...


>=============================================================
>It was with
>great interest that Ann & I witnessed the concurrence or near
>colliding of all of these threads for a few instants in our own
>Naselle yard, on 7 Sept. We have had a Ringed Turtle-Dove in
>our yard, off and on, since 23 July this year. We thought it would
>not last long, however as of this morning (18 Sept) it is still around
>on almost daily basis. We don't know where it came from -- it does
>not appear to be wearing any bands or other ID. It is very tame --
>we have picked it up on occasion, and it hangs around our garden
>and approaches us closely on many occasions. Ann had not seen
>it for a day or two on 7 Sept due to her work schedule &/or random
>events / schedule of the t-dove. So, while we were having dinner
>out in our yard (this was back during the summer part of this fall),
>Ann heard the t-dove calling. She went over into the garden, while
>I continued to sit and eat (priorities, priorities). Ann went so far as
>to imitate the t-dove's calls, trying to lure it into the garden, where
>we usually have some food set out for it. All of a sudden, I am
>hearing this loud "swoosh" from overhead and behind me. It happens
>so fast that I do not have time to turn my head before .... zoom! a
>Peregrine Falcon screeches to almost a hovering / stall speed over
>our garden. The large body with very pointy wings held close to the
>body, clear whitish breast are visible to me very briefly, and then
>the large bird glides easily into the trees and out of sight. Our five
>ducks saw the falcon slightly before I did -- this bird was not
>called Duck Hawk for just a whim. I am momentarily stunned.
>I start to yell to Ann for confirmation of this stupendous (so
> to speak) event. She is still imitating the t-dove,
>which is still secreted away in the trees -- wisely, it would seem.
>Ann is unable to confirm the sighting -- she was about four feet
>below the bird. Enough excitement for one afternoon.
>

Jerry Tangren <tangren at wsu.edu>
Systems & Programming Professional
Washington State University
Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center
1100 N. Western Ave.
Wenatchee WA 98801

phone: 509-663-8181 x231
fax: 509-662-8714

http://www.tfrec.wsu.edu