Quote:
Original posted by Mars at 28/12/2017 20:52 
Thank you John,
This is found in the side road 500m from Bride's Pool. Seems no buildings nearby unless it is released deliberately.
It is smaller than a normal size adult Dove. Seems to be a juvenil ...
I think that it is a young bird, as it seems to show a mixture of adult and immature feathers in the upperparts. But note that Diamond Dove is a small species and this is fully grown. The fact that it is not flying may be because it is unwell or because it is so tame that it has no need to fly to escape - it is old enough to fly.
Bride's Pool does seem to be a regular location for 'mercy release'. I have seen obviously released birds there in the past (including, coincidentally, Diamond Doves). The practice of 'mercy release' is a major environmental problem, as highlighted in the post above. It would be informative to know the scale of the damage caused and the number of birds and other animals that die in the process of capture and shipping to the point of release.
KFBG has often done work and publicity on this subject in the past:
http://www.kfbg.org/upload/Docum ... Report_20111027.pdf
http://www.kfbg.org/upload/Docum ... sfortune_28_APR.pdf
http://www.kfbg.org/upload/Blog/ ... ercyRelease_Eng.jpg
AFCD have recently been putting up posters at various locations around Country Parks to discourage the practice.
