Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura, or the Mourning Dove is a well known visitor to many, many feeders.  Being mostly a ground feeder the Mourning Dove relishes picking up seeds that have fallen to the ground.  For this, the Mourning Dove is loved, as no food goes to waste and while the feeder is being attended to, the fallen seeds are also.  However, if you are like us, you have platform feeders and then you are privy to a different Mourning Dove behavior, one that could cause you to become 'not so thrilled' with the Mourning Dove.  The behavior I speak about is actually a very common behavior among birds, especially one's in large flocks.  If one or more birds is on the feeder and another approaches, the first bird will attempt to drive the other away by either doing a flashy display of wings, the opening of the beak or the charging at the intruder, as so to drive him away.  Red Winged Blackbirds and Grackles are known for this, as are Red Bellied Woodpeckers.  The Mourning Dove however takes the behavior to an all time new level!


If the intruder doesn't submit right away, then the attacker feels the need to keep the attack going until the message is delivered.  This usually includes the flapping of wings and the chasing of the intruder all around, over and through the birdseed, causing it to fall to the ground.  Now the question remains; is this a random act of territorial behavior or a deliberate attempt to push the food over the edge of the feeder so to assure something to eat later?  I've watched numerous Mourning Doves display this behavior and frankly, I can't tell if it's deliberate or not.  What I do know is that it's costing me more and rmore monthly for birdseed, because I find myself restocking the feeders later in the day to assure the birds that don't eat on the ground, get something to eat before nightfall.


You know, the more I think about it, this could be a diabolical plot by the Mourning Dove to assure it's survival.  Let's face it, it's not the brightest bird around.  After all, it makes its nest on a branch of a tree then lays one or two eggs.  The nest is not only very hastily made, but it's made very flat and more often than not the eggs roll off to their doom. 


Regardless of the intelligence in nesting by the Mourning Dove, one thing is certain,  I have been 're-trained' to put out more food in the afternoon by a bird that I think isn't that bright.  Yet, who's changed his behavior?  


It makes you think....