I just saw the saddest thing :((

There's been a pair of mourning dove's hanging around next door. This afternoon one of them got hit by a car, as tends to happen a lot with doves.

His mate refused to leave his side. I went to get the shovel to put him in the lawn so she'd at least be safe but before I could get over there she'd been hit too :((

Dove suicide??

Oh thats awful!!! Romeo and Juliet Doves. :-((((

A very sad, freakish accidence! Did you know suicide is preventible in human? http://www.ulifeline.org/main/page/53/SuicidePrevention

I see the doves sun bathing on the road at this time of year...and it makes me CRAZY as I envision them getting flattened as they are sort of slow. :((

Oh, that is so sad! I've always heard that Dove's mate for life, and will only look for a new mate if their first dies. That sure is True Love staying by his/her side, mourning the loss only to be hit and killed too. :(

I've never see doves or any birds sit in the road here, they probably do land in the roadway for the warmth of the asphalt. You'd think cars would slow down for any creature in the road but maybe they thought they were already road kill. I would go around them just in case! Down in South Fla the wild Parrots will congregate in puddles in the road after a rain. My mom lived in a mobile home park down there and when I'd visit her I'd get such a kick out of watching the flocks of parrots bathing in the puddles. I told her I was worried about some of those old folks hitting them. She said most people looked and would go around them. She had never seen one hit by a car even though it was a senior mobile home park and they drove real slow!

One day while I was driving in our development. I had to completely stop the car for a Dove and still he would not move with me yelling at him. I had to put the car in Park get out of the car and physically shoo the Dove out of the road.

Another one I always worry about is the American Robins that fly so low across the road.

I saw that a while ago going to work. There was a duck right by the road that had been killed, and his mate was standing right next to it.

Accident like that happens with wildlife. While visiting Hawaii, I learned that their Nene, a native goose which is on the endangered list was prone to traffic accidence because they're currious birds, and wanting to get close to people, thus get ran over by accident.

I just read that the Nene always has the the right of way in Hawaii.

Yes, but tourists maynot alway being informed. Sad but true.

In my presence, any living thing in the road will have the right of way.

Here,here!

Amen to that what you've said Lin. May peace be with us all.

I just saw this entry, and read the first notation from "threegardeners" above. I have a visitor from Japan who loves watching the birds here. I explained the meaning of "mourning" dove. Soon after, a Coopers Hawk nailed one right outside the living room window - first time I've ever seen that by our home. I'm attaching his photo of it - stunning, like all of Nature, but very sad and not for weak stomachs. My Japanese friend, with limited English, said very astutely, "I do not think these are Mourning Doves; I think these are Suicide Doves." Wondering the same thing, I've since learned that these sweet, loving critters are well-known for being dangerously slow on their escape skills. Maybe their preoccupation with love? or mourning? (sad smile)

Nice pic MB. Unfortunately a too often site.

MassBirder: That's a great picture of that beautiful Hawk! Yes, it is sad to see but part of nature. We have a few different types of hawks that are common in my area but I had never actually seen one close up until about a month ago when this Cooper's hawk took a Dove in my backyard. The thing I found really strange is he let me get to within 5 to 6 feet of him while he was eating his dinner! My computer crashed recently and I lost a few thousand pictures but luckily I had uploaded a couple of the hawk to Bird Files.

I was outside this evening and saw a Swallow-tailed Kite flying about. I grabbed my camera but he was too quick. I hope it didn't get any of my little backyard birds but I know the raptors have to eat too.

Lin, I experienced a similiar experience with a Redshouldered Hawk in my back yard. It landed on a branch. I grabed my camera, and opened the door, dispite all the commotions I made. It just stood there and assessed me unwavered for a long while, until I shooed it off the tree. It was a beautiful creature in close up. I think I posted that pic. last year.

The Raptors are usually so quick, it's rare I get to see one perched anywhere. They are really beautiful creatures andI love seeing them as much as I do the pretty little ones that visit the feeders daily.

There's a paved road beside my house. It is elevated and whenever a bird leaves my yard and flies across it, it is only about 3 ft off the ground. I keep wondering how many birds have been hit. I've never seen one go down, though.

Hack

They might get picked up by hawks or vultures.