Dove Back - Second Year

by Kathleen Jameson
(Hemet, CA. USA)

We have a mated pair of doves that have built their nest in our hanging basket under our front archway. They had a nest with two nestlings last year, 2008, but started late in the season and only had one set of babies that year.

Both nestlings survived. They were so little and the basket is up high so I couldn't see them and had to wait until they were larger.

Once the nestlings were larger, they would sit on opposite sides of the basket and watch for mom or dad to return to feed them.

The larger of the two was very curious about us but the smaller one hid on the farther side and seemed to wish we would just go away.

But within a few days both flew down to the courtyard and practiced flying and then were gone.

This year, mom and dad arrived earlier and they are now on their second set of nestlings. They hatched last week and are so adorable. Mom and Dad are busy keeping them fed.

After making the nest, the adult doves sit on the nest continually for several weeks, sitting still when we walk by.

I will also watch them from our front kitchen window and as soon as they spot me they would just stare at me silently and they were gentle and not afraid.

Once the eggs hatched, our new set of baby doves are too little for us to see so my husband stood on a step stool and looked in the nest.

He said the two babies were about the size of half his thumb and full of feathers. We gently water the basket at the opposite side of the babies and so far everything is going great.

We look forward to this amazing sight from now on.