Bird Is the Word

It isn’t a partridge in a pear tree, but this mourning dove has plenty to sing about. Mama proudly shows off and cares for her eggs at the Abram Demaree Homestead Farm in Closter.

We hear their gentle coo at daybreak and dusk, but pausing to watch mourning doves can bring as much peace and serenity to our hectic lives. During his busy workday, Rafael Cortez, a farmer at the Abram Demaree Homestead Farm in Closter, never misses a chance to follow the birds—and his watchful eye resulted in this photo. “[He] saw the mama bird protecting her eggs in her nest, and he was quick enough to capture the beautiful image,” says Ester Crain, vice president of the homestead. “Our historic homestead and farm is also a nature preserve; we see foxes, turtles and many other animals and birds making their homes across our grounds.” Be sure to read the June 2021 issue of BERGEN to see even more great photos of birds in Bergen County. And for more of what’s going on around Bergen County, follow us on Instagram @bergenmagnj.