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Dove Nesting in Unusual Area

by Jessica
(Naples, Florida, U.S.A)

Dove Nesting In Hanging Light On Porch

Dove Nesting In Hanging Light On Porch

Well I'm 15, pretty much a youngin' and not very aware of how bird watching works. I have a lamp that hangs outside my front porch from the ceiling roof on my house.

A Mourning Dove chose the top of this land for nesting. A weird but very wise choice. By wise I mean; covered and protected from weather, and also surrounded by a family of humans that wishes to due her no harm.

I think she realizes that now. Im very surprised by how calm she is by us. Her nest is about 5ft. from my front door, and there's a lot of us walking in and out several times throughout the day coming within 2 ft of her sometimes and she remains.

I think she is no longer frightened by us at all anymore. She's been around for about a week now.

The first night i saw her nesting, when she saw me she flew away. I felt very bad. I thought she'd abandoned her nest.

The next morning when she still wasnt there I felt even worse, BUT when I arrived back from school that afternoon there she was, and she hasnt left or been startled off again since then.

I think shes going to be laying eggs soon. When she does and the babies come, I will send some more pictures.

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Dove Nesting in Unusual Area

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May 25, 2008
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starstarstarstarstar 		Dove Nesting in Unusual Area
by: Betty

Jessica, I, too, was very concerned about my baby doves nesting in my hanging light fixture on my back porch. I have a cat, three small dogs, and I was so concerned that they might catch the babies when they started to fly.

But, that did not happen. One morning early I heard unusual strange noises coming from the nest just outside my bedroom. When I got up, the baby birds had gone but not far, they were in my garden in the rose bushes where they stayed for the next four days. Their parents stayed with them helping them to gain their wings. We got to see them as they flew short distances and finally flew off when the Mother went back to her nest to lay her next clutch. It was a wonderful experience. I hope your light fixture is safe for them to hatch but it looks as if it is. Again, good luck and enjoy.
May 25, 2008
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starstarstarstarstar 		please put something under your nest
by: Lori

I learned this the hard way. I, too, had a nest w/ mourning doves in our patio covering. Unfortunately, it became very difficult to maneuver w/ the two babies as they got bigger. One eventually fell. Unfortunately, I could not revive or help that one. Later that day, the other one fell. They fell to our cement patio. This time, my 2nd was still alive. Not knowing what the heck I was doing, I put it back up on the nest. It was breathing but weak and very scared. I was sure I'd kill it. The parents were no where in sight. I managed to feed (thanks to the internet) some warm water & bread dissolved. I put some dryer lint under it as the nest was nearly gone and I was afraid it would die of cold w/ no parent. The good news is my 2nd baby flew off yesterday after the parents returned, nurtured it for another week.

My advice to you...please put something soft under the nest in case the birdies fall.

P.S. I have another nest now in my angel trumpet tree. I am grappling w/ what to put under it, too, as the nest is so sparse and I can not imagine how they will raise 2 babies there.

Good luck and Enjoy!
May 25, 2008
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starstarstarstarstar 		Doves Nesting in Unusual Places
by: Betty

Jessica, your Dove was probably laying her eggs when she flew off and returned the next day. It takes 12 days for the eggs to hatch and another 12 days before they fly. Then, when they do fly if there is a safe place to hang around until their little wings develope the Mother and the Father will stay with them for about four days. Then, if you leave the nest in place the Mother will again lay her second clutch of eggs.

Another thing I noticed is that the babies do not poop in their nest but hang their little bottoms over the edge so do not be surprised to find poop in a small area just beneath the light fixture. Good luck.

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