A sad event

Spotted Turtle-Dove

We have two couples living here. The first pair arrived about two years ago and were joined not long after by another couple.

Early this year they were joined by a lone Crested Pigeon who no longer seems to be with them. Crested Pigeons are not expected to be seen in southern Victoria but cover a large portion of Australia, this would make you think that maybe he was an escapee from an aviary.

Two days ago there was an almighty crash at the window of the sunroom, I looked out onto the veranda and one of the Doves was on its back slowly moving its wings and then there was a trickle of blood appearing from his nostrils and beak. It was so sad. I took the body and lay it under the bird feeder thinking that I would give its partner the possibility to grieve. The partner moved around and finally stood by the still body for an hour or so. Yesterday I took the body away and there was a lot of coming and going by the three birds. This morning I put out some more feed and would you believe there were seven birds out there, I wonder where they have come from and what will happen next