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Wildlife Garden

Mourning Doves at feeder

9 years ago

The mourning doves are gobbling up the food at my plate feeder. I thought they would leave it alone bcs it's small but they seem to love it. I've thought of putting 2" chicken wire around it but I'm afraid I'll lose the cardinals and blue jays as well if I do that.

Anybody have a solution that has worked for them?

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Comments (2)

User
Original Author
9 years ago
I put the chicken wire around the feeder and that seems to be keeping them out. The cardinals are not having any trouble getting in but I haven't seen any blue jays at the feeder since then.
renais1
9 years ago
I fill a tube feeder with a millet, corn and sunflower mix, and no catch tray. The birds eating from this feeder drop enough seed to feed the mourning doves on the ground. You could also try putting a tray feeder right at ground level for the doves. I love watching the antics of the doves, and these techniques have worked well to encourage their presence with all the other birds at our feeders.
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