- Provide food: Mourning doves are ground feeders and prefer small seeds like millet, milo and corn. You can put these in a bird feeder or scatter them on the ground. They also love sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and safflower seeds.
- Offer water: Provide a source of fresh water, such as a bird bath or a dripping hose, near the feeding area.
- Create nesting sites: Mourning doves build their nests in shrubs and trees, so providing them with suitable nesting sites can encourage them to stay. You can place nesting boxes or platforms made of twigs, grass, and leaves around your yard.
- Plant native plants: Mourning doves are attracted to native plants that provide them with food, water, and shelter. Some plants that they particularly like include sunflowers, coneflowers, and fruit trees.
- Avoid pesticides and herbicides: These can harm mourning doves and their food sources, so it is best to avoid using them in your yard.
- Be patient: It may take some time for mourning doves to discover your yard, so be patient and consistent with your efforts to attract them.