I grew up in Miami. In those days you could often see vultures hanging out in thermal updrafts around the county courthouse (insert lawyer joke here). Apparently the wind currents around the building were exactly to their liking. And with Biscayne Bay (with a few preserved natural areas) close at hand, not to mention roadkill, they had plenty of food available.

It is in a hanging pot (the plant is long dead) on our porch (where I’m sitting typing). I can easily walk right up to within a couple of feet and look in, though the dove does watch me carefully. When I’m not looking at the dove, it doesn’t seem to worry too much about watching me.

The first nesting cycle, the birds (pair) were skittish, and would tend to fly away if I came out onto the porch. One got more tolerant faster than the other, which was interesting to watch. I just ignore them, and now they really don’t seem to care all that much. The pot has for wires hanging it up, which I think they appreciate since it offers some additional protection from scrub jays and other potential avian harassers.

The really odd thing is that we have cats, which we routinely let out onto the porch too. Cats kill mourning doves, though ours have demonstrated that they can’t reach the nest and their presence deters other cats from coming around (our dominant cat is a big grumpy Maine-Coon mix.)
I wonder what the offspring’s disposition towards people (and potentially more problematically cats) is though.

Anyway, just a random, somewhat relevant story to share.

I have never chanced upon one feeding, and I always wonder how these suburban vultures make a living.