EXPLORING NATURE: MOURNING DOVES

An avian newcomer has been beating the summer heat by splashing around in my backyard birdbath: A mourning dove.

This is the most widespread dove in Texas and across the continent. It is the only native Texas bird found in every one of the state’s 254 counties. Only the common house sparrow comes close to being so ubiquitous.

However, people don’t hunt sparrows, but they love to shoot mourning doves. They are the most widely hunted of all game birds. Millions are shot every year.