WINTERING DOVES AND ROBINS

      Every winter, for many years, I have enjoyed seeing flocks of mourning doves hunched and dozing in tall, planted Norway spruce trees in our back lawn, sometimes during snow falls.  And I am thrilled to see gatherings of American robins flying in and out of planted crab apple trees where they consume the lovely, red fruits of those trees.  Both these kinds of attractive birds annually winter in suburban areas, close to home, in southeastern Pennsylvania.  

     Some doves and robins go south for the winter, but others of both species stay north, feeding and sheltering in suburbs, and adding their beauties and intrigues to those human-made habitats.  Groups of these adaptable, abundant birds are large enough and bold enough to be noticed feeding in the open almost everywhere in many suburbs through winter.  And, between feeding forays, groups of doves and robins perch in bare, deciduous trees, roadside wires and roof tops in suburbs, where those daily gatherings of handsome doves and robins are obvious and help liven those built habitats with their presence, cheering many people who see them in winter. 

     The beautiful and interesting mourning doves and American robins are abundant across most of the Lower 48 States.  And civilization has done well by them.  European-style farming opened large sections of eastern forests for cultivation of crops, and towns.  Judging by how they nest today, doves and robins probably traditionally nested in forest clearings and edges.  Opening those woods for fields, made an ever-expanding world for nesting doves and robins.  

     Groups of doves and robins shelter in coniferous trees on suburban lawns during winter nights, and foul weather.  There they avoid precipitation, cold wind and predators, for the most part.  Doves on whistling wings zip wildly into those evergreens while robins sweep in silently, except for an occasional chirping note.  

     Doves are regular guests at bird feeders, and on the ground under those feeders, the year around because they are nearly one hundred percent seed eaters.  They also ingest weed and grass seeds, and grain, in harvested fields, adding a bit of beauty, interest and wildness to those human-made habitats.  

     Flocks of wintering robins are exciting to see swarming through crab apple, hawthorn and holly trees, and a variety of shrubs and vines, to consume their berries.  Those berry-eating robins add a bit of beauty and wildness to suburbs through winter.       

     The adaptable and abundant mourning doves and American robins add much beauty, intrigue and wildness to many suburban areas throughout much of the Lower 48.  Each individual and their flocks are large enough to be seen and enjoyed by birders and nonbirders alike.  These kinds of obvious birds at bird feeders and berry-producing plants add much joy to the lives of suburban people during winter.    

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