Winter birds at the feeder, Mourning Doves

If it weren’t for the chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers, my bird feeders would be awfully quiet and my winter birdwatching would be practically nonexistent. My binoculars and I would like to thank those birds for keeping things lively around here all winter long.

Of course, we do have other birds that stay with us throughout much of the winter. One of these is the Mourning Dove. On the Great Plains, where I spent much of my life, Mourning Doves were migratory. A little cold weather and the birds boogied south in a hurry. I remember a Christmas bird count or two in Nebraska when no Mourning Doves were seen.

Our north woods Mourning Doves, though, seem to be made of hardier stuff. I’ll be able to enjoy seeing them in the birding binoculars all winter long assuming I keep the feeders full. Still, after spending so much of my life on the prairie where it was unusual to a Mourning Dove in the winter, I can’t help but be amazed to still see these birds when the temperatures drop to zero.

Time to fill those feeders. We have some snow in the forecast.