Flocks of turtle doves are often active around usThey are common in forests, meadows, and trees.
Strangely enough, however, we rarely see their nests.
This makes me wonder:Why is it so hard to find a home for such an ordinary bird?
Could it be that turtledoves reallyCan't build a nest?
Is the dove talking about the turtledove?
Why do some people say that turtledoves can't be eaten?
With these doubts,Let's move on.
Since ancient times,The idiom "doves occupy the magpie's nest" has long been known and used to describe the behavior of the strong bullying the weak and encroaching on other people's property.
But you know what?Actually,The doves in "The Dove Occupies the Magpie's Nest" are not turtledoves!
Let's take a look at turtledoves.
The turtle dove is a bird that looks somewhat like a pigeonThey are often mistaken for pigeons.
There are five different species of turtle doves in our countryThese include the pearl-necked turtledove, the mountain turtledove, the fire turtledove, the gray turtledove and the European turtledove, and the neck has a distinctive white markingsThat's why people often mistake them for pigeons.
Turtle doves feed mainly on the seeds and fruits of various plants, and also prey on crop pests such as locusts and aphids.
They are larger, have well-developed legs, and are good at running on the groundThis is in contrast to birds such as swallows, which specialize in hunting in the air.
Nowadays, many turtle doves have adapted to life in human communitiesThey steal food from cats and dogs, and compete with the pigeons for food.
Turtledoves live in a variety of environmentsThere are forest areas in the high mountains and vast plains.
They can adapt to the needs of life in different climatic conditions.
Turtle doves are also omnivorous birdsThey like to eat a variety of fruits, seeds, vegetables, and other small creatures, so they can find plenty of food near human settlements.
Turtle doves often choose natural places such as tree cavities or rock crevices to build their nestsThe breeding period is from April to August every year, and each clutch can lay 2-3 eggs.
Turtledoves have a cautious temperamentHave a strong sense of territory, and live in the area where they nest all year round.
Speaking of "doves occupy magpies' nests",We have to mention a bird called the cuckoo.
The cuckoo is a bird that is good at mimicking the calls of other birdsIt is also known for its peculiar reproductive behavior.
The cuckoo's call is variedIt can imitate the song of more than 30 other species of birds.
According to scientific research, cuckoos choose mates and begin mating each springBut in the following days, instead of taking care of their own chicks, they will leave another bird without their own chicks to take care of their babies.
Such an act certainly makes many people find incredibleAs a result, there are stories such as "doves occupy magpies' nests" that have been passed down to this day.
Cuckoos often choose the nests of small grouse birds such as magpies, white wagtails, thrushes, etc., to lay their eggs, and then push the host bird's original eggs out of the nest.
These small birds are kept in the dark and provide food for the cuckoo chicks until they leave the nest.
Suddenly, it is not a turtle dove that occupies the magpie's nestSo do turtle doves build nests?
Did you know?Turtledoves actually build nests!
Although some people'sFirst impressions suggest that turtledoves are not very good at this skill, but this is not the case.
Turtle doves like to live in natureSo their nests are usually built on top of large trees.
If you look closely, you will find that in some sparsely wooded areas, there are often several ruin-like structures, which are the nests of turtledoves.
These nests are around 50 centimeters in diameterThe interior space is small, only enough to hold 2-4 eggs.
They choose to build their nests in the treetops at a height of 6-10 metersThis makes it difficult to be detected by natural predators such as snakes on the ground, and it also avoids interference from human activities.
From the peak breeding season from May to July every year,The turtledove began to look for a suitable ancient tree, and planned to choose a suitable location in the dense canopy to nest.
When choosing trees,They consider a variety of factors, such as whether it is concealed and safe, and whether it is possible to provide adequate food.
Turtle doves are larger birds and need enough space to move aroundTherefore, they will choose tall and towering trees to ensure that their families live comfortably.
Turtledove fathers will go around collecting twigs, grass stems and other nesting materialsSometimes even fly far away in the valley in search of it.
The mother turtledove uses these rudimentary materials to build a nestShe adjusts the position and angle of the branches to create a stable and comfortable home.
This kind of nest made only of dead branches has a simple appearanceBut it's practical enough for the turtledoves couple.
They choose to build their nests in high places that are hiddenThe main thing is to protect the fragile little ones in the future.
In addition to the advantages mentioned above,There are many other details worth noting.
Turtle doves choose branches that are 10-15 meters above the ground to build their nestsIt ensures safety and facilitates foraging, while keeping the nest from being too conspicuous and less susceptible to external harassment.
Turtledoves also consider their surroundings when choosing treesAvoid areas prone to flooding and mudslides to prevent rain from eroding the nest.
It is worth mentioningThe turtle dove's nest is used for a short period of time, limited to the breeding period from May to July each year.
They only give birth to 2-3 litters per year, and each litter lays 2-4 milky eggs.
The parent bird alternately guards the nestMake sure that the little turtle dove breaks out of the shell smoothly.
After the baby turtle dove grows to be able to leave the nest for activitiesThe whole family will leave this humble home and start living freely in the countryside.
So we can see thatThe turtledove's simple nests were built primarily for practical reasons, rather than for aesthetic disregard.
For turtledoves,The purpose of nesting is to hatch healthy offspring, and this is the greatest romance in their minds.
Whether it's site selection or construction,Turtle doves nest in a way that reflects their intelligent and industrious nature.
These simple branch structures actually contain a lot of consideration, and are the crystallization of the wisdom of the turtledoveEnough to arrive
Resist the test of the external environment, so that the young birds can grow up safely.
Because of this,Turtle doves can adapt to a variety of harsh habitats and survive for generations.
In recent years, more and more people have begun to pay attention to ecological protection issuesThis is especially true about how to treat wildlife properly, including the question of whether or not turtle doves can be eaten.
According to experts, turtle doves are one of the typical members of the forest ecosystemIt is low in protein and fat, which means that from a nutritional point of view, there is no obvious benefit to the human body from eating turtledove.
Moreover, there may be a variety of potential pathogens and parasites in the turtle dove, which can be transmitted through the food chain, which poses a significant risk to human health and, worse, may trigger regional disease outbreaks.
The turtle dove is an important fruit-eating birdThey are dispersed through fruits, helping plant seeds to multiply and maintain ecological balance.
If a large number of turtledoves are killed,This chain of transmission is interrupted, which is not conducive to vegetation regeneration and ultimately affects the entire ecosystem.
Turtle doves are also a precious species that is strictly protected by the stateKilling or buying and selling without permission is a violation of relevant laws and regulations, and faces strict legal liability, such as 5 to 10 years in prison.
We should be aware that nature is a complex systemChanges in any one link can cause a ripple effect that can have a profound impact on the entire ecosystem.
Turtle doves are an important part of forest ecosystemsIt forms a complex food web with other organisms, which directly affects the quality and stability of the surrounding ecological environment.
If we kill turtle doves in large numbers, it will definitely disturb this ecological balanceThis in turn spreads to other species, with unimaginable consequences. Therefore, the protection of turtle doves is not only for itself, but also for the harmony and stability of the entire ecosystem.
We shouldn't look at this simply and rudelyInstead, we should think from a broader perspective, respect life, and cherish natural resources.
Every life is providing us with the resources and services we need to surviveWe should also do our best to care for and protect them.
Only then,Our planet can become a better and more livable place.
With the rapid development of social economy,The expansion of many cities has led to a large number of rural areas being included in urban planning.
In the process, many wild animals are forced to migrate to cities in search of suitable living spacesAmong them, turtle doves are the most typical.
In the past, turtle doves were mainly distributed in the countryside and forestsThere they can thrive freely without competitive pressure from other species and destruction of the ecosystem.
Nowadays, due to the acceleration of urbanizationMany of the inaccessible rural areas are disappearing, and the turtledove is no longer able to survive there.
As the size of the city grows,High-rise buildings rise from the ground, forming a huge complex of buildings.
This human-intensive environment offers many opportunities for turtledoves to survive.
Turtledoves can find enough space on the balconies of residential buildings or near windows to nest and breed their offspring.
Although the urban environment lacks sufficient natural resources and a rich ecological environmentBut for the turtle dove, it can learn how to survive in the urban environment through continuous exploration and experimentation.
Turtledoves still face many challenges when they enter the city.
The safety risk of urban environments is highProblems such as noise pollution, air pollution, and vehicular accidents can pose a threat to turtledoves.
Human activities in cities may also affect the lives of turtledoves.
Someone might be out of curiosityAttempting to approach or kill a turtledove;There are also some people who are negligent in managing when keeping petsHave pets attack turtledoves.
For these issues,We need to take effective measures to solve it.
On the one hand, the protection of turtle doves should be strengthenedLegislation is used to restrict unnecessary hunting, and people are actively encouraged to respect animal rights and refuse to buy illegally trafficked animal products.
On the other hand, we can also make more efforts in urban greening constructionProvide a more comfortable living environment for turtledoves.
In particular, it is necessary to strengthen the construction of urban parks and the layout of urban green spacesMake the city a vibrant green ecosystem, which promotes the development of turtle doves and other wildlife.
Although the reason why the turtle dove was able to enter the city smoothly,Mainly because it has strong adaptability and vitality, but that doesn't mean we should take it lightly.
Only when we truly pay attention to the value of every life and take action to protect themin order to achieve true sustainable development.
With the development of mankind,We are leaving less and less space for wild animals to live, and it is not easy for creatures like turtledoves to find a place to survive in the city.
We should try to provide them with a more suitable place to liveIf turtledoves come to live on your balcony or garden, don't drive them away, but give them some help as much as you can.