Mourning Doves On My Porch

by Marie Druck
(Windsor, Pa )

For the last two years my family and I have had a family of mourning doves nesting in a hanging plant on my front porch.

My husband, kids and I enjoy watching them make the nest and raising their young. Its a great way to teach the kids about nature and how to respect it.


Here We Are

My family is not the only ones to enjoy it the whole neighborhood comes around to see what is happening with the doves.

The parents don't mind the interruption of people climbing on to a chair to get a better look, I actually think they like it. They have even allowed us to take pictures of them and their babies.

However we are all sad because once again it is that time of year for the babies to leave the nest and once again we are all suffering from empty nest syndrome.

Can't wait for next year!

Doves take over my Staghorn fern

by Julie
(Fort Myers, Florida)

I obtained a staghorn fern which is and this one is pricier and more difficult to keep alive and healthy. I have given this plant TLC and extra care. I would put old bread in it a fruit peels.

One day I was walking into my condo and a dove flies out of my fern and fluttered into my face. I realized two doves were building a nest in my hanging fern. I tried shooing them away all day. They diligently persisted in bringing twigs and nesting material. I noticed the next morning that only one dove was left and building had stopped. Mama bird did not fly away when I approached. She just looked at me and sat. I went up on the balcony and saw two big eggs under mama.

I even had a barbecue outside with 7 guests milling in and out the door. Mama dove seemed unbothered. They didn't even notice the well camouflaged mother. They were amazed that she was so still...only cocking her head at observers. I'm told it is a sign of good luck if baby birds nest near your door. I just wish mama, papa, and babies luck. if my calculations are right, I should meet beautiful baby doves next weekend.

Doves Nesting In Plant Container

by Heather B
(Arizona)

I was wondering for a few days why every time I opened the front door a dove would fly away...Then I discovered that they had built a nest in where I had a spider plant, the plant died a while ago but I just left it up there.

I was very happy and excited for the eggs to hatch at first there was only one egg but now there's two however they been there for about three weeks and still haven’t hatched.

I hope they will hatch soon and aren't bad, I want to check the eggs but know its best not to interfere.

The male dove is used to me now and lets me take a closer look they're so cute.

I've included a picture of him sitting on the eggs.

My First Mourning Dove Nest

by Jo Ellen
(Central Pennsylvania)

I discovered it just yesterday. I hung a new petunia and then had to go out of town for 2 days. When I came back, I went to water it and a dove flew out! I knew there had to be eggs, I am so excited!!

We survived our first windy day today. I nervously watched the plant spin in circles, whipping every which way. I thought maybe I should move it in closer to the house but I remember trying that with wrens a couple of summers ago and mom was NOT happy. So I decided just to leave it be ... and they are fine.

I saw Mom and Dad change shifts this evening. Daddy Dove is so much more skittish than Mom. I can barely move anywhere in the area and he flies away. Mom is very calm. I can take pictures, get up close to her and talk to her, she doesn't seem to mind at all. I even swept the porch underneath her and she stayed in the nest. I hope I can get Dad to trust me more.

If I have my days right, we should have baby doves somewhere between May 20-22. I am so hoping this is a successful nesting experience, I would love for them to come back ... again and again.

Our Spring Babies 2010

by Dan & Debbie Ventrola
(Perkasie, PA)

We had just planted flowers for the Spring/Summer season. On our porch we added a beautiful bright hanging plant to add to the color of the season.

Within two days of the plant being on our porch, we noticed the top was separated. We climbed up on a chair and took a look inside. Sure enough, a nest had been started. So, we let nature takes it's course.

Our babies were born on April 29, 2010. Every day we would check to see if the eggs hatched yet. Surprisingly enough, Mom & Dad Dove were not afraid of us at all. They let us approach the nest every day. We went in and out of our house. They had no problem with our dog barking, we even weeded and spread mulch and they didn't flinch.

Once the eggs hatched, it was awesome to watch. Before we looked up information on your website, we thought that one dove was with the nest all the time. It was really neat to learn that both parents are involved in the parenting. So, every day we watched them grow and watched their habits. It was a really cool experience.

The parents started leaving the babies alone for a few hours each day, a few days before they left the nest. We took a lot of pictures. I will attached a few with this story. The babies left the nest on May 14th.

My husband and I were hoping to be watching when they left, but they flew away while we were having dinner. We have seen them since. We have bird feeders in our backyard and they have come back to eat. Great experience.