Doves In a TrellisBbasket

by Bob A.
(Brooklyn, NY USA)

We live in a fully attached brick house in the southern part of Brooklyn. We are a block away from a salt creek and a few minutes from Jamaica Bay. We are bordered by bird sanctuaries.

I mention all this to put the pictures in perspective. The first several pictures are taken through the glass of the back door.

The planter is hanging from a wire trellis that is attached to the short cyclone fence. You can see the neighbor’s yard, garage and BBQ through the trellis.

The trellis is held up mainly by the wisteria vine and is there for the plant to fill in so we don’t have to see the neighbor’s yard in the summer.

Because of the crazy Fall and Winter we never took the planters down as per usual. It’s all ironic, there are plenty of nesting places in the sanctuary; but this pair chose our planter that’s swinging in the March winds because the trellis is loose and the planter makes it top heavy when it’s unsecured.

They are getting some ride!

Day 1- March 21, 2012
I am going in and out of the back door to my garage all morning. All at once I notice the dove in the planter, it doesn’t flinch and I go about my business. This nest is about 3 1/2 feet from the back door.

They have been around the yard at different times; but usually take off.

One time I looked out an upstairs window because I heard the cooing and saw one nestled on the telephone cable where it makes an angle between the chimney and rear wall.

This is a heavy lead cable so it provides plenty of support. Next time I pass, the dove is standing and I see an egg. I told my wife that we have a new tenant.

Day 2
Still going in and out and getting the blank one eye stare. I did notice that they change position every couple of hours. Now I’m curious and I’m checking on the bird all through the evening.

Day 3
Everything is status quo until my wife decides that this bird must be hungry and tries to place food near it in the planter.

The bird takes off and we are both surprised that it abandoned the nest. Everything is back to normal in about a half hour.

I go on line and find this website where I learned a thing or two about nesting Mourning Doves. Apparently everything that they are doing is normal. Now we know there are two and not to worry.

In the process of putting a plastic bag in a trash can I scared the dove again and it went to the roof of the garage. That’s when I see that there are two eggs.

I had a full view the first time and I know that there was only one egg.

Once I was back inside the dove came back; that’s when I decided to take a few pictures.

Day 4 9:15 AM
Contrary to the information given on the website I caught the shift change. Yep, one was sitting on the eggs and the other tending to it.

Luckily my camera was in reach and I caught a few pictures. The second one left a few minutes later.

Now late afternoon and the weather is turning. I felt a little sleet when I went out back to lock up. It crossed my mind that this bird has no shelter; but then I decided that I should just leave it alone.

Day 5
Everything is normal even though there is a cold drizzle on and off. Out for most of day so nothing to report. The dove was still there when we got home.

Day 6 7:45 AM
I was sitting in my office on the second floor and I heard a noise that sounded like a squirrel or bird hit the window screen. I got up to look and didn’t see anything unusual. Then I looked down and saw an empty nest.

In disbelief I went down stairs to check it out. There wasn’t a bird on the garage roof, the arbor, anywhere.

At about 8:30 something caught my eye as we were having breakfast. I got up to look and there she was, like nothing happened. Can those eggs survive uncovered for that long in 40 degrees F?