The Collared Dove has risen quickly up the top twenty garden birds list and is currently number 7 having first entered the top 10 at number 10 in 1989.
Until the early 1950's the Collared Dove was a non-British species, being more at home in the Balkans. During the 1930's it suddenly began to spread across Europe and arrived in Britain in 1954 (as far I can ascertain). Its arrival had the 'twitchers' of its day quite excited but now it is just a common bird seen near human habitation from farms to city centres right across the United Kingdom.
Of all the birds, this is the one we almost always see in pairs, no matter what time of year. When one flies in its mate is not far behind and they always seem to leave together too. I had hoped to find out whether they mate for life but I have had no success but the fact they are usually in pairs and that they breed for nine moths of the year feeding one lot of young whilst brooding the next clutch of eggs must indicate that it is likely.
Already, the prelude to another years frantic family life has started with the occasional male singing its monotonous tones around our neighbourhood.
They are lovely together though aren't they, the perfect loving couple!
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