Evening star., 1945-08-09
This and. That
By Churles.E. Trace,DelI.

DE IhESDA,s Mo.
Dear Sir:
II have been much interested recently
in a lone turtle dove which has come
to my premises and Is making itself at
home at the bird feeding station. 1t
gets along all right with the smaller
ones, but at times will chase jays and
others. do not understand why 1t ever
got the reputation for being gentle, at
least this one have, and I have been
much interested in watching 1t.
Il have seen M mate, but hear cooling
from time to time someplace in the
distance. Is there any way to attract
them? have wondered why, II there
Is pair in the neighborhood, the other
one does not come to eat?
rs 1t possible for them to nest on the
ground? have looked the neighbor-
hood over closely, rs carefully as I can,
and I have seen no nests In shrubs or
trees.
Sincerely, P. ]. Mem"
Our dove is q most interesting bird.
Turtle or mourning doye, it has been
called the first from its coloration and
pattern on the back, and the second
from its low notes. -.
Being larger than most of the species
which visit feeding places, the dove
will stand for no foolishness from any
of the others.
1t knows what it wants, and gets it.
If in the furtherance of this aim it
must drive blue jay away, or even
a mockingbird, it does not hesitate, but
rushes straight at the offender.
iS coldorvo howAyAr fhat II oefuo IIy
comes in contact with its opponent
Just what would happen, if it did, is hard
to say, for 1t Is not equipped for fighting
The nest Is sometimes placed on the
ground, but more often in trees or
shrubs. Thickets suit it perfectly. The
nest Is mostly low, and Is merely q nat
platform, made of few small branches.
Sometimes the eggs roll OF and are lost.
The eggs are white, usually not more
than two. There are at least two broods
a season, and sometimes three.
The breeding season extends from May
to September, but In the middle States
the birds incubate in every month except
December and January. In places where
the dove is regarded rs migratory, 1t
flies in with the robins and bluebirds,
but in this vicinity it remains the year
around.
Fresh eggs are laid, occasionally, be-
fore the first nestlings have left the nest.
AS with all pigeons and doves, the young
are fed by the process Of regurgitation,
the young bird sticking its bill down
the throat Of the mother, where he finds
pigeon milk"
A sure Identification of the mourning
dove is the whistling noise made by its
wings when it takes OH. This is sure
Identification, as it is the only bird
which makes this sharp noise hereabout.
Doves are interesting to have around.
and cause no real commotion at bird
feeding station. They can be Gagged, but
it is not good practice, although formerly
1t was common, especially In small coun-
try towns.
The birds head is too small for the
body, and this gives it somewhat stupid
appearance, but Ill in all it has enough
brain for all its practical needs, and its
soft colors and interesting feather pat
terms make it really pretty. especially
in cold weather. when the pinkish tints
underneath are intensified.
This Is an interesting bird because It
resembles the extinct passenger pigeon.
It is the closest thing we h1ye left.
AZ to why just one sometimes calls at
feeder, this may be due to the fact
that the mate Il on the nest.
One winter we had three pair in the
yard al the time. This was the winter
q correspondent notified us that he had
40 Of the birds In his yard, In Arlington
County, Va.
They are nice birds to have around,
giving touch Of domesticity to = bird
feeding place. Maybe this is because
they are sort OF fat and bustling, Ike
cld-time housewtvesf