On a trip to California last week I counted over 2000 Mourning Doves and a
single White-winged Dove on wires and the ground near a cattle watering tank
on Hwy 41 between Fresno and Yosemite. They were feeding on dropped cattle
feed, weed seeds, and even grasshoppers which were in incredible abundance.

Rob



Rob Conway
Newcastle and Preston WA

robin_birder at hotmail.com





>From: "hrudkaj mary" <hrudkajm at hotmail.com>
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: [Tweeters] Masses of Mourning Doves
>Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2006 13:52:07 +0000
>
>Yesterday evening, just before six, I looked out to see what birds had come
>out with the cooling of the day. I was amazed to see a flock of 22
>mourning doves feeding in the yard. Upon checking them with the binos I
>found at least were this year's juveniles still showing the facial markings
>and crowding adults hoping for a handout. I've never seen so many mourning
>doves in one place.
>
>I've had five adult mourning doves in the yard since early spring. I've
>not witnessed them mating but either they or their friends passing through
>have been very successful in raising young. The flock reminded me of a
>scene early in Jurassic Park in which heards of grazing dinosaurs meandered
>on a grassy plain.
>
>Enjoy the cooler weather, I'm sure the birds will.
>
>Mary Hrudkaj
>Belfair/N. Mason County
>
>
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