Mourning Doves

A flock of perhaps two dozen or more mourning doves (far more than are usually resident here) have taken over the hill behind the house. They are working through the leaves finding seeds and taking advantage of the mild weather to bathe in the birdbath just below the edge of the woods. One or two at a time they enter the bath. Settle themselves into the water - splash, flap their wings and splash some more - work water up into their feathers - turning splashing and turning again. They send up huge sprays of water in their energetic bathing. After a time they leave the pool some to dry on a low branch others find a spot on the rocks and spread out one wing at a time to dry in the warmth held deep inside the stone. Other birds find a bit of sunshine hitting a pine branch, spread out their white and black tail feathers to dry in that bit of sunlight. While those are drying and grooming, other birds come to the pool to repeat the exercise. The birds who are waiting their turn at the bath use a sunflower seed feeder, their little pink feet gripping tightly to any surface that makes a good perch for them while they grab a few bites of the seeds.