21 Comments
Apr 20, 2021Liked by Amy Jean Porter

Meant to say the roadrunner killed a mourning dove.

Expand full comment
author

Yikes, a roadrunner? Poor doves never know what hit them. Here's another brutal story -- the very first minute after I got my driver's license, literally driving out of the DMV in AZ, I hit a roadrunner. It darted out from some cactus (and has haunted me ever since).

Expand full comment

Alex and I watched a roadrunner stalk and kill a roadrunner in a park in the desert town of Borrego Springs. It caught it, slammed it to the ground several times, then wandered off. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29739397

Expand full comment
author

Wow the photo of the roadrunner attacking the dove -- I can't believe you caught that. A dove's life is no easy thing.

Expand full comment
Apr 20, 2021Liked by Amy Jean Porter

I was reclining, eyes closed, and Alex said, *is that roadrunner stalking a mourning dove?* We had been watching the roadrunner for awhile. Without opening my eyes or moving, I dismissed the idea, roadrunners wouldn't do that...then Alex says something like OMG.

Expand full comment
author

Ugh it's like a horror movie, Jim!

Expand full comment
Apr 22, 2021Liked by Amy Jean Porter

Another bird story: https://www.coyotelearning.org/post/special-forces-quail

Expand full comment
author

They are such funny shapes, almost comical to watch, but with those beautiful feather caps -- thank you for this, and for the site, very cool. The coyote video is great, too. I like to see animals at rest and peaceful, just like my dog in the sun right now.

Expand full comment
Feb 19, 2021Liked by Amy Jean Porter

I vote Barred Owl, but I know I have talked about them before. Also on an pretty off topic note but I don't know where else to share this, so driving home last night a bunch of cars were slowing down because a falcon was flying at like car height and passing us on the side of the road, it was so cool. And I saw what I assume is the same falcon in a similar spot today.

Expand full comment
author

Oh wow! I once saw a heron flap by my car like that, truly crazy to be honest.

Expand full comment

I also spent my early childhood in Arizona and these little guys' coos always take me right back to biking alongside Scottsdale canals with my dad. I wonder if the rest of the desert is so quiet that their song just sticks right out and comes to define the sonic landscape. regardless, thanks for this cozy profile and the beautiful illustrations, good to know these beauts are all over

Expand full comment
author

Ah, that's exactly it! Thank you, Leah. I read that they can withstand the desert because they are able to drink brackish (salty) water. Their cooing definitely fills the air there.

Expand full comment
Feb 19, 2021Liked by Amy Jean Porter

Definitely a growing-up sound for me and I hadn't realized before that it was likely due to our feeder! That is too funny about their nests. Different adaptation techniques, for sure. Not sure best way to contact you but I might be interested in the drawing, we have more space now as we recently moved and looking for homey things to grace the walls. My email is just first.last @ gmail :)

Expand full comment
author

Thank you, Adrian! I will send you an email soon.

Expand full comment

The dove & babies in the cactus..... <3<3<3<3

Expand full comment
author

I know, right? <3333

Expand full comment
Feb 19, 2021Liked by Amy Jean Porter

love to see these gorgeous funny guys so much! there are always a ton of them at my feeders or on nearby trees and lines waiting for me to get out there and refill, feathered seed vacuums pushing and shoving each other and smaller birds out of the way. (have only seen them dominated on a couple of occasions by the unexpected appearance of a few massive band-tailed pigeons that towered over the mourning doves and tilted the feeder like it was a see-saw.) i stopped feeding on the ground so as to try to thwart a neighbor's persistent and murderous calico, and though the hawks still come for the dove buffet, usually they manage to escape in a noisy feathery burst. (so often the doves remind me of easily startled little old ladies, making a huge fuss if i open the front door too fast or otherwise surprise them.) i wholeheartedly agree about the beauty of their coloring and feathers, i've actually become a weirdo feather collector/hoarder because i feel guilty sweeping up or throwing feathers away, and whenever i find those small iridescent neck feathers in the mix i get extra excited, they're so incredible, pink and bronze treasures. and the little variegated babies with the huge eyes they haven't yet grown into are beyond cute, it'll be baby season here in los angeles soon so will be keeping an eye out for that damn calico and hoping i can help keep everybody safe.

Expand full comment
author

"Feathered seed vacuums" <3 I love that! Also, yes, agreed, they do seem like little old ladies making a fuss (in their very best finery, too). The little mix of pink in their feathers feels like magic. Just the thought of spring babies is cheering. Keep me posted!

Expand full comment
Feb 19, 2021Liked by Amy Jean Porter

New to your NL and love it! Last spring we watched a pair of doves work out a nest in the eaves of our tiny apartment terrace, brood, fend off marauding crows (traumatic for all concerned), hatch, and chicks fledge! I live in another place now and miss them so much! Please do prints, and I vote for the barred owl.

Expand full comment
author

Oh wow, that must have been amazing to see, and so close up! I'm glad you could watch the chicks fledge -- the doves have such a tight-knit quality to them, compared to many other species, a little family in your eaves. Thanks so much for sharing, noted about the owl, and I'll see about some prints, maybe later this year.

Expand full comment
Feb 19, 2021Liked by Amy Jean Porter

It was such a balm for managing the tightest stretch of the pandemic lockdown. My 28-year-old daughter stayed with us for 3 weeks after having been isolated for several months, and we all watched the doves together from our tiny apartment. We still talk about them. If you do prints, she's definitely getting one! Thank you again. I love your work!

Expand full comment