Dove Nesting In My Front Tree

by Michael B
(Omaha, NE, USA)

I noticed early this season that I had a nest in the crotch of a low hanging branch (about 6 ft off the ground) in a dense white mulberry tree.

I was surprised at how sparse the nest was assuming is must have been a year old and falling apart.

To my surprise the very next day I saw a beautiful dove resting in it, with her mate standing next to her.

I had never had doves nest in my yard (to my knowledge) and I was pretty excited. That is, until I realized I needed to pass immediately below the nest several times while mowing my yard.

I was concerned that the mower would scare the bird enough it might not return to the nest so I mowed the whole yard except the spot beneath the branch. She didn't move.

The next week I really needed to mow that spot so I mowed all around it hoping to get her used to the mower, then I would quickly mow the area beneath the branch and shut it off, only exposing her to it for a short time.

Amazingly, she didn't fly away. The next week I could see the babies so I didn't mow near the nest. The next week they were gone.

Now, she's back nesting again in the same spot, so she must have another batch of eggs. Now she's so used to the mower it doesn't even phase her.

What a good little mother. I imagine a big guy pushing a mower just beneath her must be pretty frightening. For her to stay put is really a credit to her nesting instincts.

Lastly, we just had an incredibly powerful thunderstorm pass through the midwest. 90mph winds were clocked and everyone in my neighborhood lost trees and limbs.

All weekend long, the sounds of chainsaws has been constant in my area. After the word was done and the limbs were cleaned up, I remembered my little doves.

Keep Your Doves Around All Winter With A Heated Ground Bath

I went to go find the nest, assuming it would be on the ground. Amazingly, it was still in place and the bird was STILL IN IT!

Needless to say, due to this little pair of doves incredible devotions to their young and their luck following a recent storm, I look forward to an increased population of doves in the coming seasons. :)