Flock of white doves roosting nearby

[ricwine]

I have seen a flock of white doves or pigeons on the estate for about a month. Uesally from a distance or resting on some rooftops. The estate borders some woods and an then countryside.

Today I finally managed to get a close up when the doves flew over. About 20 of them all seemed to be adults. And snow white, they sun was behind them so when they came over. Well they looked majestic. No pics though.

Why are they roosting on roofs in quite a tight pack of suburban houses. And i cant think of white dove flocks that i have heard of before ?. Ok they could be pigeons. But they were snowy white and graceful.

Does anyone have any knowledge of this behaviour at this time of year. As i would expect them to be forming roosting colonys, which they dont seem to be doing. Just a big gang kind of.

Richard - Cambridgeshire

[Kayleigh]

They are pets..
well people keep them in dovecotes there are a few here they do perch on roof tops.

[ricwine]

A large country estate is behind the woods. And if they have a dovecote it would not be a suprise. I suppose the doves might be mixing it wil the locals during the day.

thanks

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by ricwine

A large country estate is behind the woods. And if they have a dovecote it would not be a suprise. I suppose the doves might be mixing it wil the locals during the day.

thanks

Not sure, the dovecote I saw has only about 6 in there but if someone on the estate has pigeon coop then they could have mixed and let them all out together for a fly around.

[ricwine]

It is a big stately home. They have all sorts of wildlife like deer and a swift colony. Plenty of Red Kites have also turned up this year as well. As Im not on first name turns with tthe Lord and Lady at all. But that is my guess from your info. As the rest of the locality is the city itself.

cheers

[aeshna5]

White doves are pigeons- all derived from the wild Rock Dove, ancestor of the Feral Pigeon which abounds almost every city in the world. The Rock Dove has been selectively bred to form all kinds of breeds- homers, tumblers, fantails, etc.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by ricwine

It is a big stately home. They have all sorts of wildlife like deer and a swift colony. Plenty of Red Kites have also turned up this year as well. As Im not on first name turns with tthe Lord and Lady at all. But that is my guess from your info. As the rest of the locality is the city itself.

cheers

I am only guessing this is the case..I could be wrong..

[werdnal]

You don't necessarily need a dovecote to keep them. We have pet pigeons and doves - fantails in black, white and a mix of both, and a few white racing pigeons. We keep them in a converted garden shed, and they have free range during the day.

They are domestic birds but some do go feral, and some are released at weddings and for filming purposes. Years ago, there was a film version of Jane Austin's Mansfield Park, made at Charlestown in Cornwall (not too far from us). The film's producers released 200 white pigeons for one scene, but unfortunately, many of the white fancy strains have lost their homing instinct, so they all stayed in the village and were abandonded by the film company when they left.

Picturesque port's feathers ruffled by film's legacy of doves - This Britain, UK - The Independent

Luckily, they are survivors and with the help of some extra food from the locals, a small remaining colony is still going strong!

[ricwine]

Probally best if those doves get to breed out with the local pigeons. from the wrong side of the tracks.

These have a favourite rest of a bungalow roof. not sure what the owner makes of them though. and there are Red kites around most days. They tend to flock and you do see the odd one or two around. The local country estate has got to be there home.

rich

[astarsdad]

Hi,

My brother enjoys bird watching and has tried desperately to get birds feeding in his garden without luck (he has a pair of blue tits nesting in a box every year). When we were young we had pigeons ( he had been wanting to do it again); he decided that having doves in his garden might attract other birds. He built a lovely dovecot attached to the roof of his garage. He bought six white doves and 'homed' them for some months. Within no time his windows, the household washing, his caravan, his car and his 2 sons cars were covered in s***. Eventually, a year later, his wife ordered him to get rid. He hoped that by not putting food out for them may have encouraged them to desert. No luck. He wired up the entrance to the dovecot. This just made things worse regarding the s***. In the end, he had to advertise them for free in the local rag. I think he is still praying that they are properly 'homed' by the buyer and do not return!

Terry