Bird Whisperer

Judy, the bird whisper, did it again yesterday. The young morning dove was feeding in the porch cage, but forgot how to exit the cage. Judy had to extract the beast.

The morning dove is one of the most abundant and widespread of all North American birds. It is also the leading gamebird, with more than 20 million birds (up to 70 million in some years) shot annually in the U.S., both for sport and for meat. Its ability to sustain its population under such pressure stems from its prolific breeding: in warm areas, one pair may raise up to six broods a year. Its plaintive woo-OO-oo-oo-oo call gives the bird its name. The wings can make an unusual whistling sound upon take-off and landing. The bird is a strong flier, capable of speeds up to 88 km/h (55 mph).

^{That is if they can get out of the cage feeder!}