Page 2 - Kind News, Jr. Parent Guide March/April 2021

ANSWER KEY

Critter Clues FROM PAGE 7
thomasb72/pixabay; (pet corner) first column) redrover; hannah kraus; masarik/bigstock; ygolub/bigstock; (second column): lightspruch/bigstock;
Our mystery critter is the mourning dove. It is one of the most common birds
in North America. Most people recognize the distinct call the bird makes, from which it
front page, from top: redrover; raja: bryan huff. this page, from top: (critter clues) cew/bigstock; (curiosity corner) alastair newton/pixabay;
gets its name.
Instead of being negatively affected by the presence of humans, mourning dove populations
have actually increased in North America as it has become more settled. The bird is found most
often in the suburbs or agricultural areas and usually avoids dense forests.
Seeds make up 99% of the mourning dove’s diet. When birds pick up seeds, they may store them to
digest later instead of eating them right away. The seeds are stored in their “crop,” an enlarged part of their esophagus.
Mourning doves often mate for life, although sometimes pair up just for the mating season. People have even reported
witnessing doves grieving the death of their mates! Parent mourning doves work hard together to take care of their babies.
The male and the female both produce liquid, sometimes called “crop milk,” to feed their young.
Although the mourning dove population is not declining, they are the most hunted bird on the continent. They are
cynoclub/bigstock; life on white/bigstock; marina jay/bigstock; redrover; ricky kharawala/unsplash;
at risk from dying from lead poisoning. Since they forage on the ground, they sometimes pick up lead shotgun pellets
and can ingest large quantities.
How can we help mourning doves? Consider helping your child build a nesting basket for a mated pair, and encourage them
to put out feeders for them. For instructions on constructing a nest box, visit sciencing.com (search “mourning dove nest box”).

Pet Corner FROM PAGE 2 Curiosity Corner FROM PAGE 7
1. Picture #1:
squirrel

2.
(Answer)

3. Picture #2:
chipmunk
4.
(Answer)

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