What is more soothing in the early morning or late afternoon hours than the cooing of a Mourning Dove (
Zenaida macroura)? Then there are the many references to this bird in the Bible; the dove is used as a symbol of peace and gentleness, and even the Holy Spirit (which makes them especially welcome visitors to my backyard). As you can see in the pictures, I have numerous doves that I feed each day. They prefer to eat the seeds that have fallen to the ground and are seldom seen eating directly from the feeders. I think they are beautiful, sleek birds that are extremely sociable; I have counted over a dozen birds feeding at one time in perfect harmony with each other and with other birds. By the way, these guys have a ravenous appetite eating up to 20% of their own body weight per day. They are the most abundant game bird in the U.S. with annual harvests of 20 million each year. That's right. We hunt and eat doves down here in the South; it was always the first hunting season to open (Sept.). We would fry (of course) only the breast meat, which was dark meat as opposed to a chicken. I personally have not hunted doves since I was a kid; too much effort for too little meat. As a result of clearing forests and lack of hunting, dove numbers have climbed to an estimated 350 million. The oldest dove on record lived to be 31 years old (no spring chicken!).
Dinner line
Dressed for dinner: Red stockings and blue eye-shadow
What is more soothing in the early morning or late afternoon hours than the cooing of a Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)? Then there are the many references to this bird in the Bible; the dove is used as a symbol of peace and gentleness, and even the Holy Spirit (which makes them especially welcome visitors to my backyard). As you can see in the pictures, I have numerous doves that I feed each day. They prefer to eat the seeds that have fallen to the ground and are seldom seen eating directly from the feeders. I think they are beautiful, sleek birds that are extremely sociable; I have counted over a dozen birds feeding at one time in perfect harmony with each other and with other birds. By the way, these guys have a ravenous appetite eating up to 20% of their own body weight per day. They are the most abundant game bird in the U.S. with annual harvests of 20 million each year. That's right. We hunt and eat doves down here in the South; it was always the first hunting season to open (Sept.). We would fry (of course) only the breast meat, which was dark meat as opposed to a chicken. I personally have not hunted doves since I was a kid; too much effort for too little meat. As a result of clearing forests and lack of hunting, dove numbers have climbed to an estimated 350 million. The oldest dove on record lived to be 31 years old (no spring chicken!). 
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