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Birding/Dead Mourning Dove Chicks

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Expert: - 6/20/2008


Question
We have been watching a mourning dove nest on top of some doors leaning against the house  under the eaves.  Two chicks were hatched and seemed healthy and were good size (not sure how old). Yesterday the mother was on the ground hanging around.  We looked this morning and the babies are dead in the nest.  Any clue what could have happened to them?

Answer
There are all kinds of possibiities - disease, weather, parasites, pesticide poisoning, abandonment by parents, etc. Most people do not realize how high the mortality rate is of young birds - it is very high. About 90% of all eggs laid do not survive to become adults one year later.

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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