Part Nine: Doves and Pigeons – Peaceful to Rowdy

Mangrove and peaceful (turtle) doves are consummate actors by nature, and there is always much posturing, wing-clapping and tail-waving (à la peacock) to be seen. Both species have the disconcerting habit of prostrating themselves on the ground (usually the middle of the road!) with one wing raised plaintively in the air as though they are injured. However, when you go to help them, they suddenly whip into the air saying "gotcha, gotcha"! In actual fact they are either sunbaking when they do this, or, if it is during a light rain shower, they are just performing (and enjoying) their ablutions.

Bar-shouldered doves in particular have adapted to living with humans and are mostly unfazed when it comes to close encounters with people and pets. They often utilise rooftops and television antennae with possessive glee – clawing their way up and down the entire length of the roof as though they are having a game of soccer up there! And if you protest about this racket, in return you may get their relentless, rather mournful but never-the-less decisive cry of "fluff off, fluff off" in various shades and nuances!

There are, however, compensations for living with these doves as they delight in eating small grasshoppers, grubs and other insects. Also, down in the leaf litter under my 'green ant' tree, I found that a pair of peaceful doves had raised two small fledglings. Able to fly short distances only, the youngsters would be parked there safely while the parents zoomed off to gather more substantial food than my bare patch could offer. The littlies blended so well with the fallen leaves that I would occasionally start hosing before they moved enough for me to spot them. I sometimes even felt like the baby-sitter! However, they were successfully raised, and I felt quite proud when I saw them fly off with their parents.

The Torres Strait pigeon is a common visitor to this area, seeking Carpentaria palms with heavy loads of red berries, fruiting usually from December to March. More later about these birds.

Next month: Firetail and Grass Finches, Lizards and Frogs.