Well put Bob. I have added several posts over the past few years about how
the Eurasian Collared-Doves had overrun the Canon City area. From the posts
of those who were excited when they saw this species in their area, I
suspect a number of people (birders and backyard bird feeders alike and
likely a number of the Johnston folks who are complaining about them now)
have encouraged them by putting out food they like and providing it in
platform feeders and on the ground.
I stopped putting out mixed seed (the cheap junk that doves like) white
proso millet (they like that too) and rarely use a platform feeder (then put
it under some branches as the Eurasian Collared-Doves don't like to mess
their feathers or something). If I want to feed sparrows (winter only), I
put the cheap mixed seed where there is a lot of vegetation which they also
don't like. I also asked a neighbor who was intentionally feeding them to
not do so as they were getting out of hand and he cooperated. This has
reduced--but not eliminated--the numbers of Eurasian Collared-Doves coming
to my yard.
So changing your bird feeding habits can help but it is best done by
neigborhoods. Be aware you cannot feed Mourning Doves without also feeding
Eurasian Collared-Doves--that's a trade-off.
Actually I mostly feed thistle seed now. The squirrels like the sunflower
seed too much. I mostly restrict putting out bird seed to winter to avoid
causing problems with and for bears ("Some studies show that over 80% of
human-bear conflicts can be traced back to the bear’s first encounter with a
bird feeder"--great info on responsible bird feeding at
http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/FC837577-0B46-4D7F-AD6E-7DBFC475FBE2/0/BearFactSheetBirds.pdf)
I hope that any one that wants to reduce the populations by hunting will get
a hunter who not only knows the laws and has the proper licenses but how to
shoot (ie, knows what size and type of shot that doesn't go through your
neighbor's walls) without endangering people, other animals and property. I
certainly would not want one of my non-hunter neighbors shooting doves or
starlings or whatever near my house.
Please be aware that they are not "Eco" doves"--that's not the abbreviation
and there is nothing eco about them. I want to add that it has been nice
having a serious discussion in which almost everyone participated in a
productive and civil manner.
SeEtta Moss
Canon City
http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com
On Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 10:19 AM, Bob Spencer <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Hi cobirders Eurasian Collared Doves are the "poster bird of the
> week" They got lots of posts.
> I remember well to add them to my annual list going down to Rocky
> Ford where they hung out for years.
> When I couldn't go one showed up in Arvada and the birder invited
> Shirley and I to come and see it.
> She moved away and I wished one would come my feeders. In 2007 one
> or two came in the spring.
> By the fall of 2008 25 came to my yard.
> Several years ago I heard in bed the distinctive call of Arizona's
> White-winged Dove. When I got up
> there it was on a wire only it was all white. A neighbor on the
> next street kept homing pigeons and
> also had other birds from time to time like peacock and guinea fowl.
> Recently birders up this way have been getting White-winged Doves in
> their yard. On the Jan. 29
> DFO trip we counted about 30 White-wing Doves hanging out in one area
> of a subdivision in Pueblo.
> I thought it would be nice to get one in my yard. On second thought
> NO! Got to be careful what
> you wish for.
> Bob Spencer N.E. of Golden
>
>
> >
>
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected]
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
[email protected]
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.as/group/cobirds?hl=en
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
