Because I'm trying to establish natural habitat at our place it was disappointing this morning to see a pair of spotted turtle doves wandering around our north verandah. I doubt that they'll stay long as on the 2 previous occasions when a spotted turtle dove has invaded our property it has only stayed a few hours. Hopefully, this pair won't find the environment to their liking & will depart for somewhere else.
Woko, sometimes we don't understand why birds do what they do! Last year, (you might have seen some of the many photos I posted of Bronze Wings), But so far there is ONE, just one very lonely female waking around, looking for a mate. Neither her, nor I have any idea, where the others are??? We hope they will turn up. She is calling this sad mooo mooo, most of the day. Should she call louder??
( please no Moo-Birds jokes! LOL)
M-L
Calling louder might help for mooost of the day, I suppose, Araminta. It seems a shame to us that just one, lonely female bronzewing should be about your place after so many being there last year. On the upside, I find the unpredictability of bird movements one of many things that attracts me to birdwatching.
No, I wasn't a member of the group last year so I missed your bronzewing photos. No doubt they were the usual high quality. We've had common bronzewings here a couple of times. One was skittled by a car on the road not long after its arrival. The others didn't re-appear after a brief appearance. I did wonder if that was because a farmer a couple of kilometres away illegaly skittled an area of bushland that would have been fine habitat for them. Needless to say, he was given a good talking to by the authorities for his habitatcide.
Aaaaaaaaaaaanyway, one of the reasons I discourage spotted turtle doves is because I want to encourage bronzewings & peaceful doves. I'm hoping that local landowners' revegetation efforts & the wildlife corridor affect they're producing will see the arrival of bronzewings & peaceful doves from their strongholds about 10 km away.
I'm delighted to report that there's been no re-appearance of the 2 spotted turtle doves. This means, I hope, that the chances of the appearance of peaceful doves & even bronzewings have been enhanced.
And I'm delighted to report,my bronzewing's Mooing has been heard, her calls were answered! Yesterday her man turned up! I hope more will follow.Lots of flirting going on, nothing else yet! It'll happen!
Isn't he beautiful?
....hey girl, let's make babies!
M-L
Now that's what I'm looking for, Araminta!
By the way, isn't it time you started producing your 2012 bird calendar?
I'm pleased there has been no further sign of the spotted turtle doves.
I'm not so pleased that there has been no sign of peaceful doves or bronzewings.