Content
In legends, myths, and religions, pigeons personify peace, harmony, fidelity - all the highest human qualities. A pink dove is likely to evoke a feeling of tenderness, a sense of magic and a good fairy tale. A representative of this breed is an overseas bird; an ordinary person can only see it in a photo.
Description of the pink dove
You won't be able to see a real pink dove somewhere on the street. Those pink birds that can be found in the squares and parks of a big city are artificially painted this color for the sake of human whim using food coloring or a solution of potassium permanganate. Most often, these are peacock pigeons, because with their beautiful tail feathers they look very impressive.
The real pink dove exists, but in nature it lives only in one corner of the globe. The bird is so named because of the color of its main plumage on the head, neck, shoulders and belly. It is white with a dull pink tint. You can recognize a representative of the pink family of pigeons by the following description:
- the head is round, small in size, sitting on a neck of medium length;
- the wings are dark, may be gray or brown;
- the fan-shaped tail is brown with a red tint;
- the beak is strong with a base of bright red color, changing to light towards its thickened tip;
- four-toed feet are also red in color, with strong sharp claws on the toes;
- brown or dark yellow eyes, surrounded by a red rim;
- body length – 32-38 cm;
- The weight is relatively small and can reach up to 350 g.
Pink pigeons are excellent pilots, showing virtuosity in flight over short distances. At the same time, while in the air, they usually make a quiet sound “hoo-hoo” or “coo-coo”.
Habitat and abundance
The pink pigeon is an endemic fauna and lives in a very limited area. It can be found only in the evergreen forests of the southern part of the island of Mauritius (an island state) and on the eastern coast of the coral island of Egret, located in the Indian Ocean. The bird hides in the thickets of the forest among vines and greenery, where there is enough food for survival and there are conditions for a more or less safe existence.
The pink pigeon began to be considered a rare bird at the end of the 19th century, when only a few hundred individuals remained on the planet. By the end of the 20th century, their number had dropped to ten birds. And this served as a signal for taking urgent measures to save the population. Currently, thanks to measures taken to preserve the species, about 400 individuals live in natural conditions and about 200 in captivity.
Lifestyle of a pink dove
Pink pigeons live in small flocks of about 20 individuals. At sexual maturity, they form monogamous pairs for reproduction, remaining faithful to each other for life. The mating season in natural conditions takes place once a year, in August-September. Mating and laying eggs also occur once a year.In zoos in the Northern Hemisphere, this process occurs in late spring - early summer, and chicks can appear all year round.
Before the mating season begins, the pigeon finds a nesting site. Then the courtship of the female takes place with all the rituals common among pigeons. The male constantly walks around the female, fluffing his tail, stretching his neck and taking a vertical stance. He bends down and inflates his crop, cooing loudly.
After the female has accepted the male's offer, mating occurs. Then the newlyweds build a nest together in the crown of a tree, which the dove jealously guards from other birds. The dove lays two white eggs. Both parents take part in incubation. After 2 weeks, blind chicks appear. Their parents feed them bird's milk from their crops. It is rich in protein and everything newborns need for life.
Starting from the second week, solid foods are added to the baby's diet. At the age of one month, the chicks can already leave the parental nest, but remain nearby for several more months. They become sexually mature after a year, with the female at 12 months and the male 2 months later.
The diet of the pink dove consists of seeds, fruits, buds, young shoots, and leaves of those plants that grow on the island of Mauritius. This species does not feed on insects. According to the conservation program, aid points have been created for this population, where grains of corn, wheat, oats and other grain crops are displayed for the pigeons. In zoos, in addition, the diet of the pink dove is supplemented with herbs, fruits and vegetables.
Pink pigeons live up to 18-20 years in captivity. Moreover, on average, a female lives 5 years less than a male representative.In nature, pink pigeons rarely die of old age, because danger and enemies await them at every step.
Security status and threats
The threat of the disappearance of the pink dove from the face of the planet led to the fact that since 1977, the Darell Nature Conservation Fund began to implement measures to preserve the population. Captive breeding facilities have been established at the Darell Wildlife Zoo in Jersey and the Avias in Mauritius. As a result, in 2001, after the pigeons were released into the wild, there were 350 individuals of this population in natural conditions.
To date, the exact reason for the extinction of pink pigeons is unknown. Ornithologists name several possible ones and they all come from humans:
- destruction of tropical forests, which were the main habitat of pigeons;
- environmental pollution from chemicals used in agriculture;
- predation of animals brought to the island by humans.
The main threat to the existence of the pink pigeon is the destruction of nests, destruction of clutches and chicks of birds by rats, mongooses, and Japanese cynomolgus macaques. Severe storms can significantly reduce the pigeon population, as happened in 1960, 1975 and 1979.
Scientists believe that without human help, the population of pink pigeons will not be able to preserve themselves in natural conditions for further existence. Therefore, measures to protect birds from predators and breed them in captivity should be continued.
Conclusion
The pink dove is a rare bird.It is on the verge of extinction, and people must do everything possible to preserve this population, distribute it in nature as widely as possible, since it brings only harmony and decorates life on the planet.
