For some reason, in the past year or so, pigeons and doves have suddenly decided to home in on our roof solar panels. Art, mom and I have gotten insect bites that we are pretty sure come from bird mites. We're getting a company to come and put up critter guards around the panels, but I wonder if even that will stop them.
It was a shock when our granddaughter, KC who was visiting from the mainland spotted a dove in one of our empty flower pots. How did it get there? Why would it choose to die in a flower pot?
And then, the other day we were shocked again to find another dead dove had fallen off of the roof.
A few days later, Art was cleaning out the gutters and he found another dove.
Why is it that the doves are dying and not pigeons?
Is our roof now the bird graveyard?
That's a mystery isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThat's sad. I guess it's a question for the critter-guard company.
ReplyDeleteThis could be a new Dateline investigation!
ReplyDeleteDoves are birds of peace, and maybe your house is where they find their own.. hope you get some answers Kay.
ReplyDeletePerhaps, a virus in the area is the cause of death. Pigeons usually seek dark, isolated places , away from predators,
ReplyDeletewhen they feel the approaching death.
I would chose to take it as a compliment that the doves feel enough at home to spend their final moments on your property. That sounds a lot better than the alternative of someone having placed a curse on your home.
ReplyDeleteA bird smashed into one of our windows and died even though I have stickers on the windows
ReplyDeleteLin says let us know when you solve the mystery of who the graveyard belongs to...lol!
ReplyDeletei think someone in your neighborhood is using poisoned feed. The birds eat it and fly away and die.
ReplyDeletev
Unfortunately, the doves don't bother me. It's the pigeons that are causing havoc on our solar panels by using it for nesting and a toilet.
DeleteThat is very strange. I would say that it's not an accident. Perhaps v has a valid reason.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather believe Doug and Ed are right but v just might be. Let us know if you find out.
ReplyDeleteBird virus? Pigeons are tougher than doves?
ReplyDeleteI remember a bird randomly deciding to die on my old deck
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. That is difficult. I hope you figure it out.
ReplyDeleteEww. You have a dove hospice. You might want to save (glove-up, double bag and freeze) a bird or two and call the state Conservation Dept. They'll be able to tell if it's a species-specific illness. I'd hate to think of a neighbor poisoning the birds, and only one species likes the poisoned food. The Conservation department should be able to determine if they're being poisoned too. I forgot which department helps to protect the nene geese and other tropical birds. They may not care about your dove hospice, or may already know the answer. The mites are a concern to all, but I hope there's not something else they're carrying that's contagious to humans. Of course, the critter guard company is profiting off of their demise, and may also know what's killing them. Keep us posted. I'm guessing you don't have too many feral cats running around, as I'd think that'd be a deterrent to the birds near the ground. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid our roof is too high for any feral cats to climb up on. But yes, we do have feral cats roaming around too. It's amazing there are so many feral chickens and chicks around with the cats prowling everywhere.
DeleteThat is weird. I wonder what is killing them.
ReplyDeleteI guess that's a question that you'll have to ask a bird expert.
ReplyDeleteScads of birds must die daily, but I seldom see them. Now I know where they all go. Or at least a few of them. 😎
ReplyDeleteI thought doves were kinds of pigeons???
ReplyDeleteThat's curious, I agree. I wonder if it's not a neighbor poisoning them. I had to laugh at Anvilcloud's comment.
ReplyDeleteBizarre.
ReplyDeleteWe had a bird nesting in a vent at camp. We waited for the babies to fledge and then screened off the vent to prevent it from happening again. Tim was working on a tractor and drained the oil. He set the oil pan on the edge of the deck to be poured into a bucket and taken to be recyled. He came back to it a few hours later to discover that the bird had flown into it and drowned. He felt terrible.
ReplyDeleteIt could be bird flu. Here in Scotland like many other places birds are dying in the tens of thousands especially sea birds. Some breeds of birds seem more susceptible than others and migration is spreading it round the world. Where I live near the Solway Firth at least one third of the geese that arrive every year from Sweden have died. The mass torture that is intensive breeding of domestic fowl doesn't help. Jessica in Scotland
ReplyDelete