Mourning Dove: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2026 — The neighborhood flock of Mourning Doves only comes to our yard once or twice a week. But when they do, one or more often come up and sit on the deck under the mealworm feeder in hopes that the Bluebirds have dropped crumbs. Sometimes they have, but I often scatter a few mealworms for the birds that can’t use the feeders anyway. The squirrels generally get them before the birds, but I enjoy squirrels too, when they don’t actually get into the feeders. It is all a matter of balance in my mind. I feed the birds not because the birds need feeding, but because I enjoy the birds. And I am willing to feed the squirrels when they come, as long as they don’t take the feed away to add to their store…since they have no sense of moderation. They will take all they can get, whether they need it or not. Somewhere around our yard I am sure there are enough sunflower seeds to feed our local squirrel population for several hundred squirrel generations. Just the way squirrels are made. But this is really about Mourning Doves, is it not? Such handsome birds! Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at about 400mm equivalent field of view. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.