Tropical Audubon Society

South Florida’s Voice of Conservation

Took a slight detour on my way to work this morning to try for the Zenaida Dove. After some trying with no luck, I decided to leave since I had to get to work. I had just turned onto US-1 when both Larry and Bob W called me to say the dove had shown up. I went back to find it was deep in the hammock. After some searching by the many birders there, Bob spotted it behind a log and only the head was visible. Great, and here I was hoping to get a decent photo. After about 15 minutes, it started walking east parallel to the trail and disappeared. We estimated more or less where it was heading, which was in the vicinity of the pink tape. As a bunch of trail walkers came by, the dove flew onto the trail, only to get spooked immediately by a couple that was clueless to its existence. After another 15 minutes, some of us decided to move farther down the trail to see if it would show. As we passed the spot where in flew into the brush, I peeked in and to my surprise there is was, not 5 feet from me! I got some shots, then it jumped up on a low branch and everyone got good looks and photos. I heard that after I left it came out onto the trail again, but I was happy with the photo I got. I later had a very productive afternoon at work, and Trey and I celebrated this rarity each with a North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout finished off with some St. Remy Brandy. Cheers!