Dove central (in Rocky Ford)

Photo by Chan Robbins from www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov

The reason I stopped in Rocky Ford today was to look for the Inca and White-winged Doves that inhabit this town. Though White-winged Doves can be seen now in a few towns in SE Colorado, Inca Doves are only found regularly in Rocky Ford and Lamar (tho less reliable here). I also like to look for the Mississippi Kites that have nested here for some years (this species is only found in SE Colorado, nesting in towns along the Arkansas River from Lamar to Pueblo and in the canyons in the southern sections of the area.

I easily located 4-5 White-winged Doves as they called frequently and flew between trees in a residential part of town. Not far away I could hear several Inca Doves calling but they remained hidden in thick leaf cover. Lots of Eurasian Collared-Doves and a number of Mourning Doves also reside in this town.