Today there was a single mourning dove hanging out in the apple tree. Where were its friends? Some days there are 3 or 4 in the tree or feeding on the ground.

When there is a single mourning dove around, it seems to be quite relaxed. I can go out and fill the feeders and it stays in the tree unbothered. But when there are a few of them around, the group tends to be nervous, and they all fly at once if I approach. When the mourning doves take flight, all the sparrows and everyone else around the feeders scatter too. None of them go far, though, as long as there is some quality easy to access food about.