Need help ref; collared doves

[vivtrev]

Hello to everyone out there!

We have just joined the site and did so because we moved to live in the South of France and have a very large garden surrounded by woodland with lots of birds around.

We built a bird table and then became fascinated watching and trying to identify our birds!! They are probably nothing unusual but they give us pleasure and now we are getting 'the bird bug' we aim to look at birds in the surrounding area.

We are in a fantastic position here!! We are just 2 hours from The Camargue for example so have lots to look forward to.

IN THE MEANTIME - can anyone tell us this:- we had a pair of Eurasion Collared Doves at our table or hanging around on the telephone cables above for weeks - over the past week only one dove is in evidence!! Is this because something has happened to the other one or could it be because they are nesting and are taking it in turns to go out for food?? If one of the pair has been killed for example - will the one that is left find another partner and stay here or is it likely to go off in search of another mate??

Second question - we also had these fascinating, pretty Nuthatches but I haven't seen them for about 10 days now? Why is that I wonder?

Sorry if these questions are very elementary but we are at the beginning of our learning about birds curve.

Any replies would be much appreciated.

Viv and Trevor, from Provence.

[rogerk]

Your collared doves may well be nesting by now, listen out for the call of the male, if the partner bird has died, the remaining bird will mate again.
It may well be the same for your Nuthatches, they often nest somewhere different to where they spend their winter, for food availability reasons.

[Adey Baker]

Welcome to Birdforum, Viv and Trevor and well done on choosing an excellent area to live in if you're going to get interested in birds.

The Camargue is one of the best-known areas in Europe but the hills and mountains of the area are also excellent for birds and other wildlife

[CJW]

Hi Viv and Trevor and welcome to Bird Forum from all the Moderators and Admin. Staff.
We look forward to hearing hearing more about the birds in and around the Camargue - a wonderful place.

Chris

[Elizabeth Bigg]

Hi Viv and Trevor - sounds a wonderful move that you have made. Please let us know what birds you get in your garden - it will be interesting to see how many are the same as in mine!

[CJW]

Please let us know what birds you get in your garden - it will be interesting to see how many are the same as in mine!

I'd be very interested if your garden birds are the same as Viv's and Trevor's, Elizabeth!! ;)

Chris

[Elizabeth Bigg]

I'd be very interested if your garden birds are the same as Viv's and Trevor's, Elizabeth!! ;)

Chris

It was just the comment about collared doves and nuthatches that made me say that!

[vivtrev]

To everyone who has replied to my first posting!

This is a great site - thank you for replying - it seems that getting into bird-watching introduces one to a very friendly community!

The birds ( We think! ) we have had visit our new table ( 3 weeks old ) so far are:-
Nuthatches
Eurasion Doves
great Tits
Blue Tits
chaffinches ( on the ground )
chiff-chaff ( not sure )
robins
grey wagtails
and the usual magpies all over the place

plus about 4 other kinds which we have not yet identified as we had no bird book and had to keep racing to the computer to look for them - they move so fast you need a book by the window!! We try to photograph them with our digital camera but by the time you get zoomed in they have gone again!!

We just bought a book ( in French ) on Friday which I am sure will help - but only for garden birds. We thought we may order the RSPB identification guide to European birds which seemed highly rated on Amazon. What do you more experienced members think?

We see birds of prey very frequently just driving to the supermarket but we are not experienced enough yet to identify them.

Also - this afternoon just sitting outside I closed my eyes and identified at least 10 different bird calls - trouble is I don't know which birds they are!!

Hey-ho - we will get there eventually - but it is promising to become addictive!! My 21 year old son was here for a few days last week and said he is going to buy us matching anoraks!! Then he started watching them!!

One question I have to anyone with experience of the climate down here - the birds seem to lie low when it is hot and sunny - how can I find out more about their feeding/behaviour in relation to weather conditions and seasons??

looking forward to more replies.

Viv and Trevor