Not exactly on-topic, I guess, but it IS happening above my lawn and
garden...

I was working this morning in my office, which faces out to my back
yard, over my wooden deck, which has overhanging maple trees. I heard a
commotion in the tree, then a thump. When I went downstairs to look in
the deck, there was maybe three birds there, two of which flew away,
leaving a dazed-looking one just sitting there. After a while, I went
out, and the thing kinda staggered to the edge, then just sat there,
unable or unwilling to fly. Later, I found it had managed to get to the
railing, about 4 feet higher by jumping or flying. Now, about 4 hours
later, it has moved around on the railing a few times and was preening
itself a little, but it continues just sitting there... and now there
is another bird (similar in size and appearance) sitting right next to
it, both alive but quite still.

I don't know what kind of birds these are, maybe doves? They look a bit
like small pigeons, but with rounder, smooth heads and smaller pointy
beaks. Grayish-brown, not colorful. Maybe they're young-uns? I think I
saw a pair of these a couple of days ago chasing each other around
above my neighbor's house in what seemed to be a territorial dispute.

Can anyone guess what transpired? Did it maybe get attacked and knocked
out of the tree or sky onto my deck? Maybe it's young and can't fly yet
(it looks big enough to, though.) Could it be sick? Injured? Isn't it
unusual for another bird to cuddle up like this second one has? And
with all the alarmist stories in the news, should I be concerned about
West Nile Virus?

They're ba-aaak.

Late yesterday afternoon it started raining hard. Instead of moving
over under the tree, the birds stupidly moved to a more exposed section
of the railing and huddled together getting soaked. I felt bad for
them, so I went out and tried to give them some shelter by laying a
board atop a flowerbox. However this startled them, and I was surprised
when they both flew away. I thought maybe the one couldn't fly, but it
can.

Then, a couple of hours later, they returned! After dark, it seemed
they may have left, though it was hard to see for sure. But this
morning they are back, and have been just sitting there for hours, not
moving much, but huddling together and preening themselves and each
other. It's dry and windy, but not cold, but they're puffed up and
climbing under each other as if for warmth.

Seems strange that they would be stationary for so long - I thought
birds needed to keep foraging to find enough to eat. I have a new
theory that they are young robins, and they either fell or were thrown
out of their nest (somewhere up the tree where I can't see) and they
don't know where else to go and don't know how to forage. Maybe another
species hijacked the nest?

Here they are - can anyone identify the bird?

http://home.comcast.net/~esionder/temp/birds/birds1.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~esionder/temp/birds/birds2.jpg



On 23 Jul 2008, Nil wrote in
alt.home.lawn.garden:

Not exactly on-topic, I guess, but it IS happening above my lawn
and garden...

I was working this morning in my office, which faces out to my
back yard, over my wooden deck, which has overhanging maple trees.
I heard a commotion in the tree, then a thump. When I went
downstairs to look in the deck, there was maybe three birds there,
two of which flew away, leaving a dazed-looking one just sitting
there. After a while, I went out, and the thing kinda staggered to
the edge, then just sat there, unable or unwilling to fly. Later,
I found it had managed to get to the railing, about 4 feet higher
by jumping or flying. Now, about 4 hours later, it has moved
around on the railing a few times and was preening itself a
little, but it continues just sitting there... and now there is
another bird (similar in size and appearance) sitting right next
to it, both alive but quite still.

I don't know what kind of birds these are, maybe doves? They look
a bit like small pigeons, but with rounder, smooth heads and
smaller pointy beaks. Grayish-brown, not colorful. Maybe they're
young-uns? I think I saw a pair of these a couple of days ago
chasing each other around above my neighbor's house in what seemed
to be a territorial dispute.

Can anyone guess what transpired? Did it maybe get attacked and
knocked out of the tree or sky onto my deck? Maybe it's young and
can't fly yet (it looks big enough to, though.) Could it be sick?
Injured? Isn't it unusual for another bird to cuddle up like this
second one has? And with all the alarmist stories in the news,
should I be concerned about West Nile Virus?

on 7/24/2008 10:10 AM Nil said the following:
They're ba-aaak.

Late yesterday afternoon it started raining hard. Instead of moving
over under the tree, the birds stupidly moved to a more exposed section
of the railing and huddled together getting soaked. I felt bad for
them, so I went out and tried to give them some shelter by laying a
board atop a flowerbox. However this startled them, and I was surprised
when they both flew away. I thought maybe the one couldn't fly, but it
can.

Then, a couple of hours later, they returned! After dark, it seemed
they may have left, though it was hard to see for sure. But this
morning they are back, and have been just sitting there for hours, not
moving much, but huddling together and preening themselves and each
other. It's dry and windy, but not cold, but they're puffed up and
climbing under each other as if for warmth.

Seems strange that they would be stationary for so long - I thought
birds needed to keep foraging to find enough to eat. I have a new
theory that they are young robins, and they either fell or were thrown
out of their nest (somewhere up the tree where I can't see) and they
don't know where else to go and don't know how to forage. Maybe another
species hijacked the nest?

Here they are - can anyone identify the bird?

http://home.comcast.net/~esionder/temp/birds/birds1.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~esionder/temp/birds/birds2.jpg



They are Mourning Doves. Mourning because they some like someone
mourning a loss.
They mate for life and always travel together.




On 23 Jul 2008, Nil wrote in
alt.home.lawn.garden:


Not exactly on-topic, I guess, but it IS happening above my lawn
and garden...

I was working this morning in my office, which faces out to my
back yard, over my wooden deck, which has overhanging maple trees.
I heard a commotion in the tree, then a thump. When I went
downstairs to look in the deck, there was maybe three birds there,
two of which flew away, leaving a dazed-looking one just sitting
there. After a while, I went out, and the thing kinda staggered to
the edge, then just sat there, unable or unwilling to fly. Later,
I found it had managed to get to the railing, about 4 feet higher
by jumping or flying. Now, about 4 hours later, it has moved
around on the railing a few times and was preening itself a
little, but it continues just sitting there... and now there is
another bird (similar in size and appearance) sitting right next
to it, both alive but quite still.

I don't know what kind of birds these are, maybe doves? They look
a bit like small pigeons, but with rounder, smooth heads and
smaller pointy beaks. Grayish-brown, not colorful. Maybe they're
young-uns? I think I saw a pair of these a couple of days ago
chasing each other around above my neighbor's house in what seemed
to be a territorial dispute.

Can anyone guess what transpired? Did it maybe get attacked and
knocked out of the tree or sky onto my deck? Maybe it's young and
can't fly yet (it looks big enough to, though.) Could it be sick?
Injured? Isn't it unusual for another bird to cuddle up like this
second one has? And with all the alarmist stories in the news,
should I be concerned about West Nile Virus?



--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
in the original Orange County
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

on 7/24/2008 12:08 PM willshak said the following:
on 7/24/2008 10:10 AM Nil said the following:
They're ba-aaak.

Late yesterday afternoon it started raining hard. Instead of moving
over under the tree, the birds stupidly moved to a more exposed
section of the railing and huddled together getting soaked. I felt
bad for them, so I went out and tried to give them some shelter by
laying a board atop a flowerbox. However this startled them, and I
was surprised when they both flew away. I thought maybe the one
couldn't fly, but it can.

Then, a couple of hours later, they returned! After dark, it seemed
they may have left, though it was hard to see for sure. But this
morning they are back, and have been just sitting there for hours,
not moving much, but huddling together and preening themselves and
each other. It's dry and windy, but not cold, but they're puffed up
and climbing under each other as if for warmth.

Seems strange that they would be stationary for so long - I thought
birds needed to keep foraging to find enough to eat. I have a new
theory that they are young robins, and they either fell or were
thrown out of their nest (somewhere up the tree where I can't see)
and they don't know where else to go and don't know how to forage.
Maybe another species hijacked the nest?

Here they are - can anyone identify the bird?

http://home.comcast.net/~esionder/temp/birds/birds1.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~esionder/temp/birds/birds2.jpg



They are Mourning Doves. Mourning because they some like someone
mourning a loss.
.... they 'sound' like someone mourning a loss.
They mate for life and always travel together.




On 23 Jul 2008, Nil wrote in
alt.home.lawn.garden:

Not exactly on-topic, I guess, but it IS happening above my lawn
and garden...

I was working this morning in my office, which faces out to my
back yard, over my wooden deck, which has overhanging maple trees.
I heard a commotion in the tree, then a thump. When I went
downstairs to look in the deck, there was maybe three birds there,
two of which flew away, leaving a dazed-looking one just sitting
there. After a while, I went out, and the thing kinda staggered to
the edge, then just sat there, unable or unwilling to fly. Later,
I found it had managed to get to the railing, about 4 feet higher
by jumping or flying. Now, about 4 hours later, it has moved
around on the railing a few times and was preening itself a
little, but it continues just sitting there... and now there is
another bird (similar in size and appearance) sitting right next
to it, both alive but quite still.

I don't know what kind of birds these are, maybe doves? They look
a bit like small pigeons, but with rounder, smooth heads and
smaller pointy beaks. Grayish-brown, not colorful. Maybe they're
young-uns? I think I saw a pair of these a couple of days ago
chasing each other around above my neighbor's house in what seemed
to be a territorial dispute.
Can anyone guess what transpired? Did it maybe get attacked and
knocked out of the tree or sky onto my deck? Maybe it's young and
can't fly yet (it looks big enough to, though.) Could it be sick?
Injured? Isn't it unusual for another bird to cuddle up like this
second one has? And with all the alarmist stories in the news,
should I be concerned about West Nile Virus?




--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
in the original Orange County
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

On 24 Jul 2008, willshak wrote in
alt.home.lawn.garden:

http://home.comcast.net/~esionder/temp/birds/birds1.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~esionder/temp/birds/birds2.jpg

They are Mourning Doves. Mourning because they (sound) like someone
mourning a loss.
They mate for life and always travel together.

Thanks for the clue. I'm sure you're right. I found a description and
pictures here

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAbou...ning_Dove.html

and here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourning_Dove

These two are juveniles, and a little while ago an adult came over and
seemed to be harassing them. I thought it was trying to hurt them, but
perhaps it was trying to shoo them back to the nest or encourage them
to forage. And yesterday when this all started, two adults were fussing
with them in an agitated manner. I'm guessing the young ones fell out
of the nest (or maybe the adults pushed them?) and the one was stunned
from the impact. I find it interesting that the siblings are so close
to each other.

I frightened them away, but I won't be surprised to see them back
again. They're kinda cute, but they're crapping all over my deck.

Nil said:

Seems strange that they would be stationary for so long - I thought
birds needed to keep foraging to find enough to eat. I have a new
theory that they are young robins, and they either fell or were thrown
out of their nest (somewhere up the tree where I can't see) and they
don't know where else to go and don't know how to forage. Maybe
another
species hijacked the nest?

Here they are - can anyone identify the bird?

http://home.comcast.net/~esionder/temp/birds/birds1.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~esionder/temp/birds/birds2.jpg

These are young mourning doves. Mourning doves make rather
flimsy nests and the young leave it as soon as they are able to
(barely) fly. They then must rely on camouflage -- their mottled
coloration and complete stillness -- for protection while their
parents feed them at intervals, on crop milk, by regurgitation.
(The parent and baby will lock beaks and there will be some
of what looks like thrashing about during this process.)

Very often the young mourning doves will rest all day right on
the ground, where they blend in quite well with leaf-litter or mulch.
And they will continue to do so for some time (even though they
can fly reasonably well). Eventually they will no longer be fed and
will join the adults in foraging for food.

Adult mourning doves also will spend much of the day resting
on the ground, especially in protected or somewhat sheltered
areas. My fenced vegetable garden is a favorite hang-out. It's
quite startling when a dozen or more doves rocket up when
the garden gate is opened.
--
Pat in Plymouth MI ('someplace.net' is comcast)

After enlightenment, the laundry.