White-winged Dove and Pecans

Toward the end of the first dove season we had a large group of white-winged dove that would frequently visit our property. But they weren't in the pastures, instead the would visit our mature Pecan trees immediately around the house.

There were a couple of trees they especially liked and at times we would have 30-50 birds underneath a single tree at a time. When they got spooked they would circle and head back to those couple of trees.

The ground underneath the trees is grass and not exactly barren.

We have had this property for a couple of years but have never really noticed this many dove underneath the pecan trees before.

Is it likely they were feeding on the pecans themselves or maybe using the shells as grit?

What time of day is it when you are seeing them?

Yep, they are all over the trees by my home.

They are at my place to eating pecans

Dove eat crushed pecans along the gravel road that leads to my old mans house. Huge pecan tree's line both sides of the road. I planted those trees with my dad almost 50 years ago and now they're enormous.

Squirrels chew up the pecans sitting in the trees and the pieces drop down to the ground, dove heaven!