About time, the name of the doves in my photos!!!

I can't believe how hard it was to find out the dang name! Everyone I asked was stumped. Those things are so common here, and so peaceful and non threatening, no one really pays much attention to them other than to throw them scraps. Most Australians seem to believe they are native!!! Ok, they are called: SPOTTED TURTLE DOVES.  Introduced to Australia in the 1800's from Europe and Asia, they are no threat to native birds. They don't fight with them. They have no special nesting requirements that threaten our birds. They like seeds, and will generally eat from the ground only, but sometimes you will see them sitting on bushes having a try. They're sweet, very cute, and quite nice little birds. They tame VERY easily too, which I am working on. ;-) The ones my parents feed as so fat they hardly bother to get out of your way. But when they do go, they make a clap with their wings that scares hell through you! They do  tend to fight with each other over females, but leave other bords alone. They sound cute, making a coo-raaa-chuuu sort of sound. So there you go, natural history lesson for the week. :-)