Enter Mourning Dove

Date: June 23, 2007
Time: 6:20-6:45 a.m.

Weather Report: Partly Sunny, 46°F, 88% Humidity, Winds: From SW @ 4 mph; feels like 46°F.

Location: The backyard of our home in the upstate New York city of Rochester. The hastily prepared pic to the right can also be used as a point of reference. It illustrates the locations of the two primary feeders,1 (Nyjher) and 2 (General seed). (I hope to take a more recent picture and correct spelling errors soon!)

Bird Species/Markings/Features: one male American Robin (Turdus migratorius), one female American Goldfinches (Carduelis tristis), three Purple Finches (Carpodacus purpureus), one male and two females, and our newest documented aviary frined, one female(?) Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura.

Sights/Sounds/Activities: Making coffee early this morning I couldn't help but notice the high level of aviary activity taking place in our backyard, particularly in the area around the two feeders. I had just been wondering to myself yesterday whether or not this summer would be a good one to continue my daily vigil to observe the bird activity in our backyard. If this morning i any indication, the answer is a resounding "YES!."

There was quite a bit of chatter in the tree branches surrounding our yard, but was of most interest this morning was the appearance (I'd seen them in the yard before, but never for such a long period of time) of a Mourning Dove. I noticed her sitting in the dirt just below Feeder 1, the cylindrical feeder filled with Nyjher seed (on which the yellow finch was eating), just sitting there looking around the yard.

Even after our dog, Gracie, made her way out into the near most part of the lawn to go potty, the bird sat there quietly observing. I watched for a moment, suspecting maybe something was wrong with her. I briefly went into the house to get my camera, and when I came back she was still there. The purple finches who had been on the other feeder had dispersed ("tek-tek-tek-tek") when Gracie lumbered in their general direction, but the Mourning Dove remained, that is until I foolishly "tk-tk-tk'd" to call the dog in so she wouldn't upset the bird.

Of course, it was I who blew the pose! Breaking her silence with a loud "Òcoo-OOH, Ooo-Ooo-OooÓ," the dove took off over my head...

Notes: Now that Summer Recess will begin in less than a week and I'm hoping to become reacquainted, and more educated, with my backyard birdwatching. At this point, I need to pick a time and imply "have at it."