48 Carl Naether—Observations on Keeping Foreign Doves


are extremely graceful birds, especially in flight, which is swift and sure,

and their pleasing, penetrating call may be heard far away. Which

reminds me that very few varieties of my Doves coo in the night,

probably so as not to disclose their location to prowling enemies. I have,

however, heard the Mourning Dove and the Bronze-wing call in the dead

of night. In its native habitat the male Mourning Dove will during the

breeding season roost at some distance from the nest, so that if his cooing

in the night should perchance attract an enemy he would not be likely

to find the Dove’s nest which is usually located in another tree.


Of the varieties of Doves I have kept, thus far, the Galapagos are the

most difficult to rear, since the old will so very frequently desert their

young. Moreover, this Dove is extremely pugnacious, fighting off Doves

twice its size, and must, therefore, be usually kept alone. But even within

the narrow circle of its own family, the Galapagos has a trying time to

keep peace, since the male and female are at odds most of the time during

the breeding season. And yet I like the Galapagos Dove very much, for

it is quickly tamed with various titbits, such as hemp, bread, and

mealworms. The Galapagos Dove is not as common in this country as it

used to be, owing, no doubt, to the difficulties in breeding which I have

just mentioned.


My next task will be to study the family life of my Doves photo¬

graphically with a view to obtaining some really interesting pictures.

This requires great patience, a virtue with which many of us Americans

are not over-much blessed. I hope in due time to obtain a few of the rarer

varieties of Doves and to observe them closely. My aim is to keep only

a limited number of Doves in order to give them the attention they merit.

Just recently I was fortunate in obtaining a pair of White-fronted

Amethyst Doves and there is an opportunity to get some Black-fronted

as well. It will be very much worth while to get an insight into their

breeding habits and their family life in general. In due time I hope to be

able to report on both varieties. The longer I keep foreign Doves, the

more fascinating I find them to be. It is a sort of circle into which this

hobby has thrown me, but assuredly not a vicious circle ; rather one

getting fuller and more meaningful and interesting with the swift

passing of time.



