James L. Cummins

The Mourning Dove by James L. Cummins

 The mourning dove is a member of the dove family, Columbidae. It takes its name from the distinctive, plaintive call uttered by males to attract a mate. The call is meant to establish territory and can be heard from dawn to dusk in early spring. 

Mourning doves are slender, weighing an average of 4 to 6 ounces and measuring around 12 inches in length. This gray-brown bird has a small head and a long, pointed tail. The outer tail feathers have white tips with a black marking midway, so the tail is edged with a black and white stripe. The wings show dark primaries, and wing coverts and scapulars are boldly spotted with black. Below the eye is a distinctive crescent-shaped area of dark feathers. The eyes of the mourning dove are dark with light skin around them. The adult male has bright purple-pink patches on the neck sides, with a light pink color fading towards the breast. The crown of the adult male is a distinctly bluish-gray color. The female is similar in appearance but has a browner coloring overall. Mourning doves have perching feet, with three toes forward and one reversed. Their legs are short and reddish in color and their beaks are short and dark. 

Most mourning doves migrate over land along flyways. Spring migration north runs from March to May. Fall migration south runs from September to November. Migration is usually during the day, in flocks, and at low altitudes. The wings of the mourning dove can make an unusual whistling sound upon take-off and landing. But these birds are strong fliers, capable of maintaining speeds up to 55 mph. However, not all individuals migrate. Some will overwinter, finding sustenance in bird feeders. 

Courtship between doves begins with a noisy flight by the male, followed by a graceful, circular glide with outstretched wings and head down. After landing, the male will approach the female with a puffed breast, bobbing head, and loud calls. The male will lead the female to potential nest sites, allowing the female to choose the site. The female dove then builds the nest with materials brought to her by the male. Most nests can be found in trees, both deciduous and coniferous. But sometimes they are found in shrubs, vines, hanging flowerpots, or situated on buildings. When no suitable elevated object can be found, mourning doves will nest on the ground. 

The number of individual mourning doves is estimated to be approximately 475 million. As a gamebird, the mourning dove is well managed, with up to 70 million shot by hunters each year. Despite hunting and a high natural mortality rate, their populations are increasing in most regions. It is important to manage mourning dove populations because they help to control weed populations through their diets as well as serve as a food source.

That record was broken this past August 2023, when a group of hunters from the state captured a 14-foot, 3-inch monster that weighed in at 802.5 pounds! The largest taken American alligator ever recorded was captured in 2014 in Alabama. It measured 15 feet, 9 inches and weighed 1,011.5 pounds. 

These measures all contributed to the bald eagle being delisted from the Endangered Species list on June 28, 2007. The protection and preservation of bald eagle populations is very important. We should do all we can to ensure future generations can enjoy seeing eagles soar across our skies. As the great poet William Blake said, “When thou seest an eagle, thou seest a portion of genius; lift up thy head!”

One such problem was the number of enrollees in the East versus the workload available in the West. To solve this problem, the Department of War mobilized the nation’s transportation system to move thousands of workers to the various work camps. The Departments of Agriculture and the Interior were responsible for planning and organizing the work to be performed in each state. The Department of Labor was responsible for the selection and enrollment of applicants. This program, unlike any other, enjoyed great public support. 

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In June 1933, it was decided that men in the CCC camps would be offered vocational training and other educational opportunities. In all, more than 90% of all enrollees received some form of educational training and more than 40,000 illiterate men were taught to read and write. 

There were 105 CCC camps in Mississippi. Many of the state parks were built by the CCC and their work can still be seen around the state. At Legion State Park near Louisville, the Legion Lodge still stands. At Tishomingo State Park the cabins, lodge, pavilion, and swinging bridge are still in use. Some of the work the CCC did in our national parks and forests can be seen at Clear Springs recreation area in the Homochitto National Forest where two small lakeside gazebos and a large pavilion are still standing.

James L. Cummins is executive director of Wildlife Mississippi.

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