Sunday, March 14, 2010

Mourning Doves and Tulips

Our first tulip is blooming! I am anxious to see how many of the 90 or so bulbs that Martin planted in the fall will actually make it. A sure sign that spring is here in spite of the chilly east winds coming from the gorge.
We have a pair of Mourning doves that are hanging out in our yard every day. I have been trying to get a good shot of the two of them. Sometimes they just sit on the fence or sit on the ground by one of the bushes like the picture above. They are probably nesting near by, I looked them up and found out they usually don't nest in the same place they feed. They love my ground feeder and brave the hanging sunflower feeder as seen in the picture below. I am fascinated by them and love that they have chosen our backyard as a place to be.

I think this one is the female, the males have some black stripes on their wings. Apparently, both of them will sit on the nest and can have as many as three broods in one early spring mating period. The daylight savings time spring ahead slowed us down this morning. This was the Sunday of the St. Patrick's Day parade in NE Portland. I hate to admit it, but we got up too late to make it to the meeting of the Wolfhound Club. We always get to march right behind the bagpipers and it is a fun time. Maybe next year!


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