My back garden Collard Dove 'flock' has increased suddenly from the 4 or 5 I've had for a few years, to 16 minimum. Do they follow the food like feral pigeons? Have we had a population explosion? Is it a lack of female Sparrowhawks? If it's the latter, can I have my Sparrowhawk back please Brian, I'm being eaten out of house and home!!!
As an after thought, is there a collective noun for Collard Doves? How about a tie?
-- Edited by Ina on Thursday 22nd of October 2009 08:08:49 AM
It's like feeding an army at least. Funny Ina as at first in our garden 5 or 6 years ago we used to get a lot more but now like you norm it's about 4-5.
__________________
www.wildrossendale.blogspot.co.uk/ Go On...Go Wild!!
Collective noun for Doves in general is Dole or Dule. My female Sparrowhawk has usually turned up by now for the winter, but unfortunately no sign yet, i dont have any Collard Doves down here at all.
A few years ago we used to get up to 40 collared doves coming to roost in trees near our house and many of these would come and feed on scattered seed. Since the trees that the birds roosted in were cut down we hardly ever get collared doves now, so it may be worth checking to see if there is a roost somewhere locally.
Thanks Kevin, They have been in my birch tree in recent years, but since numbers have increased they only seem to feed here then clear off. Larger numbers mean they need a bigger tree or more than one tree maybe?
