Birding/Dead Morning Dove

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Expert: - 10/29/2007


Question
Yesterday morning I found a dead morning dove in my driveway.  It was right at the base of my Garage door.  Almost like it had flown head first in the the garage door and broke its neck.  I have thrown it in the trash b/c the health dept says it isn't doing any testing on them. I live in central Mississippi.  Any thoughts? Thanks

Answer
Well, I'm not sure what I can say. It could have hit the garage door, a cat or dog could have killed it, a kid with a bb gun could have shot it, it could have starved, it could have eaten some toxic or polluted substance,or it could have had a fatal disease. I just can't say. In the case of disease, you need not worry. This minor contact with a bird won't transmit anything.

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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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