Recently, all of my platform-type bird feeders were being emptied by mid-afternoon. That’s unusual. Perhaps a hungry flock of European Starlings had finally arrived for the winter? I’ve seen them out in the farm fields everywhere.
As I sat in front of my bay window watching the snowflakes fall one afternoon, three Mourning Doves landed on a feeder.
And then a few more arrived. I counted 7 and then 16 and then 21.
That was getting close to the highest number I’ve ever seen in my yard at one time, so I was expecting the arrivals to slow. But more and more Mourning Doves kept flying down into our yard from the surrounding oak trees.
Soon every feeder was covered in Mourning Doves. I tallied 42 in all with more arriving. I gave up counting!
As the snow picked up in intensity, they all flew back into the oak trees and let the other birds have a turn at the feeders.
