Mourning Doves vs Pigeons
June 18, 2012 | Filed Under Birds, Mourning Doves, Pigeons
One morning, I was pleasantly surprised to hear the distinctive sounds of a mourning dove cooing in the back of my building, near my bedroom window. For a long time, their appearance remained a mystery to me. Weeks later, for a fleeting moment, I caught sight of a dove resting on the fire escape, also located in the back of my building. Alerted to my presence, it flew away before I could admire it.
I first learned about the mourning dove from Abe Lincoln’s blog. However, I’d never seen a mourning dove in the city, much less near my apartment building. I was excited! Interestingly enough, no other birds hang out in the back of my building. It’s normally very quiet with the exception of the punctuated sounds of the mourning doves.
I normally feed pigeons, sparrows, starlings on the sidewalks and at the park. Now, I wanted to feed the mourning doves. I got a bird feeder and placed it on my window sill.
For an entire year, the doves did not approach it. A whole year! Under the change of climate, soon, the roof fell off the feeder, as did the sides. The food turned rotten. I decided to give up. I removed the food and decided to remove the feeder from the window sill. That’s when I noticed two doves tentatively pecking at the remains in the feeder. When I moved closer to the window, they stopped eating, looked into my room and took off!
The next day, I bought more food and filled the broken feeder. The next day, the doves returned. They were very careful and would always fly away at the slightest sound that came from my room. I had to tip toe around my own bedroom, for Pete’s sake! Tip toe!
After that, the doves would come and go. They’d sit on the fire escape of the building across from mine and watched the feeder on my window sill. They’d watch. Then they started to visit the feeder more frequently. They never really hung around. They’d come, eat, fly away. Few hours later, they’d return. Do the same. Morning, afternoon and evening.
This lasted for a month. Soon they got used to the sounds in my room. They still flew away when I approached the window. However they stopped getting so spooked when they heard sounds coming from my bedroom, like the telephone ringing, the T.V., or my voice. Progress!
I enjoyed watching the doves. I started to distinguish the adults from the babies. It was much more fun than watching my fave reality T.V. shows. I enjoyed watching them court each other. I enjoyed watching them bop their heads as they fed; I enjoyed watching the play around the feeder; I enjoyed watching them fly back and forth. I enjoyed watching them feed, take a break, take off and return. I got used to hearing the whistling/whirling sound their flapping wings made. They never finished the food in the feeder. I enjoyed watching them play with each other. I was having fun.
Then one day, I noticed a pigeon sitting on the rooftop of the building across from my window. It sat there and watched the activities at my window for about a week. It didn’t make a move. It watched the empty feeder, it watched the doves come and go from the feeder; it watched me open and close my window. It watched. It didn’t make a move – until a week later. Yikes! The pigeon decided to come for a closer look and flew over to my window sill.
It’s one thing to feed the doves – they’re quiet, cleaner, don’t hang around and don’t leave a mess. The pigeons on the other hand are another story. I don’t mind feeding the pigeons and I do so on the sidewalks and at the park. I used to feed them at work, too. However, I knew I couldn’t feed them from my window sill. They’d make a mess and soon the neighbors would complain, they’d destroy the building façade and I’d hear from the landlord. Something I didn’t want to happen.
I tried to drive the pigeon away to no avail. It kept returning. I got tired and watched it eat ALL the food in the feeder. It didn’t leave a speck of food. Only then did it leave. Another time, I saw the pigeon attack the dove at the feeder. It actually tore feathers from the dove’s breasts. I was mortified!
Soon the pigeon scout brought a date to the feeder and later some friends. When the pigeons were around the doves would disappear. This was getting ridiculous. Disappointed and frustrated, I finally decided to remove the feeder.
It broke my heart to see the mourning doves returning day after day for food, just to find nothing. After a week, when I didn’t see any more pigeons, I broke down and decided to put a little food out for the doves. As soon as I did that, the pigeons appeared on my window sill. Aggh!!!
So, now I’m unsure of what to do. I finally see the elusive doves and I can’t feed them without attracting the pigeons. Pigeons, I love ya, but not on my window sill. Go back to the sidewalks. I’ll gladly feed you there!
Paz
Comments
16 Responses to “Mourning Doves vs Pigeons”
Leave a Reply
Mourning doves are such pretty birds, and their “mournful” song is lovely, I think… Where I grew up there were lots of them. I recall most morning waking
to hearing their song. And yes, less mess than pigeons. ;o) I like how the dove couples look after each other… very sweet. Happy Days, Paz ((HUGS))
Hi Tracy: I enjoy hearing their song. I also enjoyed the dove couples. Happy Days to you, too!
Paz xoxo
I’m sorry the pigeons scared away your beautiful doves, but I am glad you got these wonderful photos. I love the one where it looks like they’re kissing.
Maybe one of your readers here will have an idea of how to keep the pigeons away. Your photos of them at the end made me smile because I could almost
hear the “Darth Vader” music to go along with.
Ande: ROFLOL! I almost wrote: “Cue Darth Vader Music* when I started writing about the pigeon scout. So funny that you
mention that. Yes, if someone can tell me about a miracle solution, I’d be happy.
Paz
These photos are so wonderful, Paz, and they may just have to be your consolation if you don’t want pigeons on your window sill. In my experience, once
the pigeons find a feed source, they will always come back. And as you have experienced already, they are not nice about it. I’m so sorry that your sweet
doves, and you, have to be the ones to suffer for it.
Christine: *sigh* You’re right: The pigeons AND the doves still pay a visit to my window sill. I couldn’t help but put a little food
out for the doves, which means that the pigeons will not go away. *deep sigh*
Paz
Love the photos and I love the sounds of the mourning doves.
Who knew that pigeons were such predators?
Hi Mary: Yeah, who knew. I suppose, they’re just trying to survive, too.
Paz
Gosh, what a New york story.
Wish the damn pigeons could read.
You could put up a notice.”MOURNING DOVE FEEDING STATION”
Pigeons are greedy and pesky and quite fun
doves are prettier.
You got some super photos.
hope to see you soon
ox
Hi Elizabeth: Yeah, I wish those damn pigeons could read. *sigh*
See you soon!
Paz xox
Wow great shots! I’m a little late in commenting, sorry! Thanks so much, your pictures ease my homesickness so much. I can never thank you enough for keeping me connected with my home.
Hi Joann! Thanks, always, for stopping by!
Paz
Thanks for the link, Paz.
Loved your photos and the story about your winged friends. I have five bird feeders here in Texas and love the doves, too. Wish I could attract some Inca doves. They’re about half the size of the mourning variety. We had them at Crooked Pine Ranch. Thankfully, no pidgeons, except for an occasional homing type that needs to rest for a few hours before continuing on its trek.
You’re a good soul!
Helen
Hi Helen: Five bird feeders! I’d love to have that! I would also love to see some Inca doves visit my window sill!
Thanks for stopping by, Helen.
And I think it’s nice that your feeders are there for the homing pigeons. That’s a good thing.
Paz xoxo
Oh, Paz I don’t know how to break it to you but once you feed pigeons, they NEVER leave. I started out feeding one mourning dove a few years ago. Other mourning doves joined him and soon pigeons take over. The other day, a red tailed hawk grabbed a big pigeon – here’s the video to prove it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrGyKjnf14M
My point is, after the hawk let him go, that pigeon STILL comes here looking for food!!! If I were him and got away from a red tail hawk, I would avoid the place I got caught like the plague!!
Hi Maria: Welcome. Yes, I’ve learned that the pigeons won’t leave. They come every day. Ugh! But so do the mourning doves. The other day, I could have sworn I saw a hawk on the building across. Perhaps that’s why all the other birds had disappeared? Thanks for the video link. Incredible to see that hawk at the window. Even more incredible to see the fate of the pigeon at the end. Awesome ending! It’s an experience watching nature outside my window in the city.
Paz