How to Attract Doves (Practical Tips & Strategies)

If you’re a bird lover, you most likely appreciate the beauty and serenity that doves bring to your yard. Besides their gentle coos and graceful flight, doves are attracted to environments that cater to their needs, making them easy to attract. In this section, we’ll explore dove attracting tips to create a welcoming environment in your backyard.

How to Attract Doves

Key Takeaways:

Creating a dove-friendly environment is essential for attracting these peaceful birds to your yard.
Understanding dove feeding habits helps to cater to their dietary needs and attract them to your yard.
Offering water sources, dove feeders, and suitable plants creates an attractive environment for doves to breed and visit regularly.
Managing predators is crucial to ensure the safety of doves in your yard.
Encouraging dove breeding is possible by offering suitable nesting sites and addressing potential obstacles.

Table of Contents

Understanding Dove Feeding Habits

Doves are primarily seed-eaters and will feed on a variety of different seeds, including sunflower, millet, and safflower. They are also attracted to cracked corn, milo, and wheat. For attracting wild doves, it’s essential to provide a consistent and reliable food source.

Dove feeders are an excellent way to offer food to these birds. They come in various designs, including hopper, tube, and platform types, and choosing the right one depends on the geographic region and the species of birds in the area.

Seed Type	Description
Sunflower Seeds	Black oil sunflower seeds are an excellent source of protein and oil for doves.
Millet Seeds	Millet seeds come in several types, including white, red, and yellow, and are easy to digest.
Safflower Seeds	Safflower seeds are a less common choice but are attractive to birds and deter squirrels.
Cracked Corn	Doves love cracked corn, but it should be offered in limited quantities as it lacks essential nutrients.

When placing seeds in a feeder, use trays or platforms to prevent wasting seeds or spreading debris on the ground. Clean feeders regularly to prevent mold and bacteria growth that can harm the birds.

Providing clean, fresh water for drinking and bathing is also crucial for attracting doves. Birdbaths are a favorite of these birds, but shallow dishes or trays can serve the same purpose. Position the water source near the feeding area, but not too close to avoid food contamination from birds bathing.

“The key to attracting doves is to make them feel safe, comfortable, and well-fed,” says bird expert and author, David Sibley. “By understanding their habits and behaviors, we can create an environment that meets their needs and allows us to enjoy their presence.”

Creating a Dove-friendly Environment

To attract doves to your yard, it’s crucial to create an inviting environment. Implementing suitable dove-friendly features can attract mourning doves and other species to reside in your yard. To create an ideal environment for doves, consider providing:

Shelter: Doves prefer to perch in locations out of the wind and rain. You can create protective areas by incorporating trees, large shrubs, or man-made structures like nesting boxes.
Perches: Doves love to perch on open, even surfaces. You can install a raised platform, like a small perch, providing a comfortable area to perch and rest.
Nesting Materials: Doves like nesting on flat surfaces, and materials such as twigs, straw, and dry grass make a suitable nest. Creating a flat surface that serves as a nesting site will encourage doves to breed in your yard.

With these dove-attracting strategies, you can entice these peaceful birds to frequent your yard.

Providing Water Sources

While food is crucial for attracting doves, providing water sources is equally important. Clean water for drinking and bathing can be scarce for wild doves, making it an essential part of their habitat requirements. Providing clean water can attract both local and migratory doves to your yard^[1].

There are various options available for providing water sources, and it’s important to consider what will work best for you and your doves. Here are some popular options:

Water source	Description
Birdbaths	A shallow basin on a pedestal that offers water for drinking and bathing. Make sure to keep the water level low (1-2 inches) to minimize the risk of drowning^[2].
Shallow dishes	A shallow dish that can be placed in the ground or on low platforms. Change the water daily to prevent mosquito breeding^[3].
Misting systems	A system that sprays water to mimic rainfall. Misting systems can attract a larger variety of birds, including doves, but require proper maintenance^[4].

Regardless of which option you choose, make sure to clean the water source regularly to prevent the spread of disease among the doves. Changing the water daily and using a mild bleach solution to disinfect the water source will help keep your doves healthy and happy^[5].

References:

Dove Central. “Attracting Mourning Doves.” Dove Central. Retrieved on August 25, 2021, from https://www.dovecentral.com/attract.php.
National Wildlife Federation. “Birdbaths.” National Wildlife Federation. Retrieved on August 25, 2021, from https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Water/Birdbaths.
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies. “Providing Water.” Bird Conservancy of the Rockies. Retrieved on August 25, 2021, from https://birdconservancy.org/homeowner-resources/providing-water/.
Birds & Blooms Magazine. “How to Attract Doves.” Birds & Blooms Magazine. Retrieved on August 25, 2021, from https://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/attracting-birds/how-to-attract-doves/.
Wild Birds Unlimited. “Attracting Mourning Doves.” Wild Birds Unlimted. Retrieved on August 25, 2021, from https://wildbirdsfirst.com/attracting-mourning-doves/.

Choosing Dove-friendly Plants

Doves are attracted to certain plant species that offer them food, shelter, and nesting opportunities. Choosing the right vegetation is vital in creating a welcoming and attractive environment for these birds. Here are some dove-friendly plants that you can consider:

Plant Name	Features
Wild Sunflowers	Provide food and perches for doves, and attract insects that can be a food source for young chicks.
Red Mulberry	Produces seasonal fruits that birds love, and provides good nesting opportunities.
Eastern Red Cedar	Offers year-round shelter, perches, and nesting opportunities. The berries of this plant also provide an excellent food source for doves.
Common Hackberry	A great source of food and nesting materials. It also provides excellent cover and perching opportunities.
Buttonbush	A late-season bloomer that attracts bees and other insects, which can be a food source for doves. It also provides suitable cover.

Tip: Before planting anything, observe the natural vegetation in your area. This helps you identify which plant species are already attracting doves and other birds.

By incorporating dove-friendly plants into your landscaping, you can provide a comfortable living environment for these birds while adding to the beauty of your yard.

Offering Dove Feeders

One of the easiest ways to attract doves to your backyard is by providing their food in feeders. Not only does it act as a consistent source of food, but it also allows you to control the type of seed that is provided.

There are many different types of dove feeders available in the market, including platform, hopper, or tube feeders. As doves prefer feeding on the ground, platform feeders are an excellent choice for offering seeds. Hopper and tube feeders can also be used, but make sure to keep them low to the ground.

When selecting seed for your dove feeder, opt for millet or cracked corn as they are the most preferred seeds among doves. Mixtures of different seeds can also be used to attract other bird species.

Managing Predators

Doves, like all birds, are vulnerable to predators. To ensure their safety and maximize the chances of attracting them to your yard, it’s essential to take necessary precautions. Here are some tips for managing predators:

Identify Potential Threats

Firstly, identify potential predators in your area. Depending on where you live, these could be cats, snakes, hawks, or larger mammals. Research the common predators in your region and take appropriate actions to keep them at bay.

Use Adequate Dove Feeders

One easy way to protect doves from predators is by using adequate feeders. Choose dove feeders that have protective covers, which will prevent larger birds and mammals from stealing the food. By providing food out of reach from predators, you minimize the risk of attracting them to your yard.

Clean the Yard Regularly

Keeping your yard clean is another effective way to deter predators. Remove any fallen fruits or seeds from the ground, as they might attract rodents or other small animals that could be potential prey for larger predators. By keeping the yard clean, you reduce the risk of attracting them to the area where the doves are feeding.

Provide Adequate Shelter

Finally, consider providing some shelter for the doves. Small dove houses or bushes can function as a safe spot for them to retreat if threatened. You can even plant dove-friendly shrubs around your feeding area. This way, the birds will have various options for protection and won’t feel like they’re in danger.

Encouraging Dove Breeding

Attracting mourning doves to your backyard is a great way to enjoy their gentle coos and graceful presence. By creating a welcoming environment and providing suitable nesting sites, you can encourage dove breeding in your yard.

Ensure that you have enough food, water, and shelter to support a pair of doves. Additionally, consider the following dove attracting strategies:

Strategy	Description
Provide nesting materials	Doves prefer to build their nests using twigs and grass. Ensure that these materials are available near their perches.
Place nesting boxes	Doves prefer to nest in open boxes with a wide entrance, placed 6 to 10 feet above the ground. Create or purchase nesting boxes and strategically place them in your yard.
Minimize disturbances	Doves are sensitive to disturbances, so it’s essential to minimize human activity around their nesting area. Avoid loud noises and sudden movements around their perches and nesting sites.

By implementing these dove attracting strategies, you can increase the chances of dove breeding in your yard and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of their presence.

Conclusion

Attracting doves to your yard is a rewarding experience that requires patience and effort. By following our tips and strategies, you can create a welcoming environment for these peaceful birds.

Remember to offer suitable food and water sources, create shelter, and manage potential threats like predators. By doing so, you can enjoy the presence of mourning doves and other species while contributing to their conservation efforts.

Thank you for reading, and we hope this guide has been helpful in attracting doves to your yard.

FAQ

How can I attract doves to my yard?

To attract doves to your yard, create a dove-friendly environment by providing suitable shelter, perches, and nesting materials. Additionally, offer a consistent food source, such as seed feeders or scattered seed on the ground.

What are the feeding habits of doves?

Doves prefer to feed on seeds, grains, and fruits. They are ground feeders, so scattering seed on the ground or using a ground-level feeder is best.

How can I create a dove-friendly environment?

To create a dove-friendly environment, plant dove-friendly species that provide food, shelter, and nesting opportunities. Place perches or platforms in your yard, and offer nesting materials such as twigs and grass.

Why is providing water sources important for attracting doves?

Doves require a water source for drinking and bathing. Consider placing shallow dishes or a birdbath in your yard to attract doves.

Which plants are attractive to doves?

Doves are attracted to plants that produce seeds and berries, such as sunflowers, millet, and elderberry. Planting these species in your yard will likely attract doves.

What type of feeders should I use to attract doves?

Doves prefer ground-level or platform feeders. Fill these feeders with seeds like cracked corn, millet, safflower, or sunflower seeds to attract doves.

How can I manage predators when attracting doves?

To manage predators, place feeders in areas with good visibility and away from potential hiding spots for predators. Remove any food scraps or fallen seeds that can attract rodents, which may, in turn, attract predators.

What can I do to encourage dove breeding in my yard?

To encourage dove breeding, provide suitable nesting sites such as shrubs, trees, or nesting platforms. Avoid disturbing the area near the nests and ensure a consistent food and water supply.