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

P. 2

ANSWER KEY

Curiosity Corner FROM PAGE 7

Picture #1: Picture #2:
squirrel chipmunk
Where’s Raja?
front page: redrover. this page, from top: alastair newton/pixabay; thomasb72/pixabay; raja: bryan huff; cew/bigstock.
(Answer) (Answer) RAJA IS HIDING ON PAGE 4!

Critter Clues FROM PAGE 7

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 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 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”).

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