Yesterday I opened the patio door thinking to do a bit of weeding, and disturbed Mrs Dove when I got too close to where she was sitting. She flew a couple of feet away and I saw
A few minutes later she came back to continue sitting. She and her nest are concealed by the henbit that I'd planned to clear a bit. So I'll leave it until the family's fledged.
She doesn't mind me if I don't get too close. Doves are calm birds. I expect she's a descendant of the ones who were hatched years ago in a hanging plant on the front porch. The nest is just a few bits of grass chucked together, as you see, but anyway it can't fall any further, being on the ground. We don't have any outdoor cats, so it's pretty safe.
And today, the whole state legislature's term being up, I mail in my vote for the June primary
Nothing like sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea, filling out the ballot, and keeping warm.
Happy day everyone, Textiles and Tea later, but I wanted to show you the mourning dove eggs right away.
Those are larger than I would have thought. Good Morning!
ReplyDeleteGood morning! They usually have y clutch of two eggs, pretty big, yes.
DeleteHow wonderful to be able to watch the eggs!
ReplyDeleteSo considerate of her to lay them right near the door.
DeleteSweet little eggs.
ReplyDeleteSuch a treat to suddenly see them.
DeleteWell done, Mama Dove! Oh, this will be fun to watch!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to feeding once hatched. The babies are huge in no time, hard to tell them from the parents.
DeleteActually my dove layed her eggs in a planter, and then took off. And they were really small...so happy little ones may hatch in your garden.
ReplyDeleteThey can have multiple clutches in a season, different nest sites.
DeleteThey are such gentle and peaceful birds. At least they seem to be.
ReplyDeleteThat's been my experience. They're nice neighbors. Even the babies ask politely for food.
DeleteBoud, I agree with your comment that the mourning doves are calm birds. There are several in and around the mill apt ground, who seem to stay in place as residents walk by. The eggs look rather large and I hope you will be able to follow what happens when they hatch as I have never seen a "newly" hatched. The Peanuts cartoon was so true!
ReplyDeleteI'm very hopeful about these eggs. Mrs dove continues to sit out there. If I can get pictures without disturbing the family I will.
DeleteHow lovely. I discovered a nest with eggs in it in my camellia a couple of years ago. They hatched and I checked every day and then one day - nothing. I fear they were taken by the Indian Mynas which are evil birds.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping for the best with these eggs. The last mourning doves which started life in ky front porch dud well, learning to fly from the nest, then the porch roof, then the main roof. After that they were independent. I think I'm seeing their descendants here, though.
DeleteNew life. How lucky you’ll be able to watch them hatch and grow.
ReplyDeleteThat's my hope.
DeleteI wish those birds the best, and I'm glad you were cozy as you voted.
ReplyDeleteI'm do hopeful about them.
DeleteI've never been terribly fond of doves, for no good reason. Now that I'm in an apartment, not a house, they are wonderful to see.
ReplyDeleteI love how they look and the whistling their wings make. Their call is a bit mournful.
DeleteThis is an exciting development! I have never heard of morning doves nesting on the ground. Thanks for the enlightenment!
ReplyDeleteChris from Boise
I wonder if they were wanting to be in the shelter of the house. It's certainly a corner out of the wind and rain.
DeleteOh how nice.
ReplyDeleteI checked straight away, pigeons breed about 17 days and are then about 24 days in the nest. At around 32 days they are fully airworthy.
It will be nice for you to watch this.
Hug of Viola
These are doves, but about the same development times. It's exciting.
DeleteThe nest is a great discovery! We had a robin’s nest several years ago but the crows found it. I like crows but they don’t miss a trick! Hope you get to see hatchlings!
ReplyDeleteAround here not too many predators of doves so we'll see.
DeleteIt's great that she feels safe enough to nest so close to your door. Ground nesting is risky but hopefully she and the babies will be OK!
ReplyDeleteI think there's a memo. Birds do sit near me when I'm outside reading. Once a grown rabbit sat right by my feet for over an hour, peacefully.
Deletethe cardinal never came back after I disturbed her nest. several days later I looked and only one egg remained, the other two provided dinner for something. I brought in the last little egg and added it to the nest on the shelf above my kitchen sink with the other abandoned eggs I've found over the years.
ReplyDeleteSnakes love eggs. Wouldn't surprise me if that's where they went, especially if there's no debris. Squirrels and bluejays make a mess but snakes neatly swallow whole.
DeleteHow exciting!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have such a good view of the wonder of nature. Good for Mama bird for being so calm over your comings and goings.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of local wildlife is used to me and don't tend to run. It's a peaceable tiny kingdom.
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