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Speechless Sunday - Triple Tree-o

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Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage

Mourning doves, Jenny Kotulak photo, Stratford real estate, Jenny Kotulak Broker,

Taken from inside my back door.  They may look cold but they don't look hungry.

From Wikipedia:

The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is a member of the dove family (Columbidae). The bird is also called the Western Turtle Dove or the American Mourning Dove or Rain Dove, and formerly was known as the Carolina Pigeon or Carolina Turtledove. It is one of the most abundant and widespread of all North American birds. It is also the leading gamebird, with up to 70 million birds shot annually in the U.S., both for sport and for meat. Its ability to sustain its population under such pressure stems from its prolific breeding: in warm areas, one pair may raise up to six broods a year. Its plaintive woo-oo-oo-oo call gives the bird its name. The wings can make an unusual whistling sound upon take-off and landing, and the bird is a strong flier, capable of speeds up to 88 km/h (55 mph).

Mourning Doves are light grey and brown and generally muted in color. Males and females are similar in appearance. The species is generally monogamous, with two squabs (young) per brood. Both parents incubate and care for the young. Mourning Doves eat almost exclusively seeds, but the young are fed crop milk by their parents.

Comments (14)

Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Your photo makes me want to shiver as it does look c-o-l-d Jenny! I always thought they were called love birds and see them on telephone wires, usually in pairs.

Jan 16, 2011 05:00 AM
Rob Thomas
Prestige Homes of The Tri Cities, Inc. CALL....423-341-6954 - Bristol, TN
Bristol TN-VA & Tri Cities Agent, ABR, GRI, e-Pro

Jenny.....I really like the photo! It looks really cold there.
Hope you have a great day!---Rob

Jan 16, 2011 05:09 AM
Fred Carver Real Estate Consulant
Retired BC Realtor - Victoria, BC
Accredited Real Estate Consultant

Hi Jenny...They look like Chubby Chickens...haaa. I bet they would like you to bring them to Victoria.

 

Jan 16, 2011 05:21 AM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Hi Jenny, Beautiful capture with all  the browns, greys and white of the falling snow- they look cold to me with their feathers all puffed up! Brrrrrrrr

Jan 16, 2011 05:22 AM
Tony & Darcy Cannon
Aubrey and Associates Realty - Layton, UT
The C Team

Jenny, great photo!  They do look cold!

Jan 16, 2011 06:14 AM
Steve Shatsky
Dallas, TX

Hi Jenny... I know they are called "Rain Doves" but from your photo, "Snow Doves" may be more appropriate!

Jan 16, 2011 06:52 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Jenny, they're not fat! They're just fluffed out to keep warm. That's their story and they're sticking to it ;).

We have a hawk in our neighborhood that would love to meet them.

Jan 16, 2011 07:01 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Nice photo. they do look cold, but definitely don't look hungry so somebody has kept the feeders well stocked

Jan 16, 2011 09:30 AM
Jenny Kotulak
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage - Oakville, ON
Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate

Hi Wanda, yes the snow was falling when I took this.  It is minus 11 C today with a wind chill making it minus 22 C.  Coldest day so far.  But it is supposed to rain and go up to plus 2 C on Tuesday.  That's about 34 F.  Relatively balmy lol.

Hey Rob, yes winter has finally arrived here.  Wearing my longjohns for my walks with Lola.

Hey Fred, funny that they stick around here for the winter months.  Lots of chickadees, cardinals and nuthatches looking for food too.

Hi Mary at first when I looked out the window I didn't even think they were doves because they were so chubby.  They must pack on a lot of weight for winter.  Just like me lol.

Thanks Tony and Darcy, it was too cold for me to even go out to take the photo lol.

Hi Steve, you're right.  Snow doves would be a more appropriate name. You could call them the Turtle Creek doves.

Oh no Janice, will the hawk eat them?  I took a photo of a Cooper's hawk in the same tree a couple weeks ago.  Then my hubby found squirrel remains in the front yard.  Not sure if a fox got it or would the hawk go after a squirrel?

Jan 16, 2011 09:33 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Jenny, they blend so well, that you do not even see the third bird right away. Good photo

Jan 16, 2011 10:22 AM
Chris Canfield
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Tucson, AZ
Homes for Sale in Oro Valley and Tucson, Arizona

Hi Jenny - You caught the doves quite well--mine don't photograph too well when they are hanging out in trees attempting to look like vultures.

Jan 16, 2011 02:01 PM
Jenny Kotulak
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage - Oakville, ON
Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate

Hi Ed, I've been putting out bird seed but the squirrels seem to get most of it.

Hi Jon, there was one more but he was on the branch above and I couldn't get him in the photo.

Hi Chris, these guys look a little friendlier than vultures.  I haven't seen any turkey vultures lately so I guess they have all headed south.

Jan 16, 2011 03:09 PM
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Love your picture, Jenny!  They are such wonderful, gentle, and pleasant birds.  I have always liked the Mourning Dove!  (Blue Jays have an attitude!)  I had no idea they were even hunted!  How sad!

ps--WONDERFUL TITLE!!!!  (I missed it the first time)

Jan 17, 2011 10:30 AM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Love the picture.  I have never seen that type of Dove before.  They are so pretty!

Jan 20, 2011 11:03 AM