Eurasian Collared Doves?

[Julie Brown]

Shot in the town of Lee Vining, California (Eastern Sierra), on 6/17/11. Shouldn't these birds be in the southeastern US?

[Dan Brown]

Hi Julie. These birds should be in Europe!! But, they are all over now! I have birded many, many areas in CA, ORE and WA over the last 2 years and I can say with much confidence that they are just about everywhere, mainly smaller towns and farms/ranches. They have made there way across the US over the last 20 or so years!! They don't seem to be displacing any other species, as far as I know! Lee Vining is over run by them, mainly because they have found the hotel/Inn where the owner feeds the birds (probably where you shot the pic?).

[Julie Brown]

Hi Dan. Thanks for that info. So you know Lee Vining? I was staying at Murphey's, and yes I did notice that they threw seed on the ground in the parking lot. I just happened to be looking up into the trees in the back, and knew that I had never seen these birds before.

[Dan Brown]

Hi Dan. Thanks for that info. So you know Lee Vining? I was staying at Murphey's, and yes I did notice that they threw seed on the ground in the parking lot. I just happened to be looking up into the trees in the back, and knew that I had never seen these birds before.

Hi Julie. Yes, I know Lee Vining fairly well. I have visited there many times. Did you eat at the "Whoa Nellie Deli"? It's a gas station just south of town with a really unique restuarante/deli. Fantastic fish tacos!

[Paul Guris]

FYI Eurasian Collared-Doves have been exploding across the U.S. To put things in perspective, they've been in the U.S. for about 30 years. It seems that the people creating range maps can't keep up. Here are 4 maps that illustrate the amount they've spread:

The Birds of North America account is about 10-15 years old, and the map is woefully out of date:
http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/spe...s/introduction

Here's a map from Arizona State University that shows them spreading:
http://askabiologist.asu.edu/bird?id=34

This one's from National Geographic that's obviously more current:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.co...-collared-dove

And finally here's a map from BirdFellow that's very current:
http://www.birdfellow.com/birds/eura...pelia-decaocto

There's a small breeding colony in Delaware, they're seen annually in the Cape May, NJ area, and there's evidence of a possible breeding pair this year in Connecticut. They've been seen in Alaska and Nova Scotia. The upshot is that if this species doesn't occur in your area, just wait a bit.

[John Chardine]

I just checked our Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas database (the atlas is not published yet) and the species was seen in two squares in northeast New Brunswick. In one of the squares it was given a "probable" breeding designation.

[Julie Brown]

Thanks Dan, Paul, and John for your replies. I have learned a lot from the info.

Dan, I have been going to Lee Vining since 1999, and have eaten at the Whoa Nelli Deli many times. This was the first year that I was there for the Bird Chautauqua. Since they had a very late spring due to all of the snow (people were still skiing in Mammoth), a couple of the trip leaders commented on the low numbers of songbirds in the area. I plan on going back again next year.

Paul, thanks for those range maps. I looked at every one of them. My Sibley guide must be way out of date as well. I like that birdfellow.com website.

[Rick Poulin]

There has been a pair of this species in Sainte-Brigide-d'Iberville, Quebec for over a month. This location is half way between Montreal and the New Hampshire boarder. They are spreading everywhere.

[Julie Brown]

And they have been reported in Indiana this month as well!

[John Chardine]

At the risk of sounding insensitive, does anyone have a dove pie recipe?!!!!!

[Paul Guris]

John, do a Google search for dove pie recipes. I got 3.2 million hits. There's gotta' be something yummy in there.

[Eric Weaver]

I haven't seen them yet, but it looks like it won't be long til I do!