Collared doves move to Naicam

Eurasian Collared Doves in our Naicam yard. Photo by Margaret Madsen 

Last week John and I were enjoying our morning coffee and the StarPhoenix at the kitchen table when he suddenly asked, "Hear that dove?"

I raced (well, actually lumbered) to the front step to hear better. Cuc coooo coo. Cuc cooo coo. I'd heard that before in Delisle - Eurasian Collared Doves. Unfortunately, we had to head off to Melfort that morning so we couldn't go searching for the birds. When we came back, we drove up and down a few back alleys checking for sight or sound but nothing. Next morning (April 9) I was again working on the crossword puzzle at the kitchen table, when I glanced up to notice a pair of collared doves pecking around in spilled seeds beneath the feeder, joining the crowd of Dark-eyed Juncoes, American Tree Sparrows and House Sparrows seeking breakfast. Since then, they have been back every morning checking out the diner. Because our kitchen window faces east, there is glare on the glass but this morning I managed to get a photo that's not too bad.

I contacted Dr. Stuart Houston and he said, yes, Naicam is a new town for the doves. Since their introduction to the Bahamas in 1974, they have slowly but surely been making their way up and across the continent.  One wonders about a species of bird that takes less that 40 years to colonize this much of the continent - will it one day be an unwelcome pest like the House Sparrow?

In 2003, I spotted the first of the species to reach Delisle - the Saskatoon area. The first pair took to hanging out in the back alley adjacent to the seniors' lodge and in short order, the doves' early morning cooing roused the ire of the residents who wanted to sleep late. John and I could hear their calls from at least a block away while inside our house with the windows closed.

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And that reminds me of story about Buzzy. Remember Buzzy, the mayor of Hungry Hollow and the world's greatest jokester? According to the Moccasin Telegraph, Buzzy is in the dog house again. It seems our hero considers magpies to be varmints and hates them with a passion. Grace had the kitchen window open to let in some spring air but unfortunately it also let in the raucous noise of a magpie stomping around in their front yard.

Finally, Buzzy had enough. He was going to get that bird. He marched to the porch, loaded his gun, marched back to the kitchen, aimed through the window, fired - and shot through the glass. He hadn't noticed Grace had closed the window.