Doves Nesting on our Patio Ceiling Fan

by LeAnne
(Clarkdale, Arizona)

A couple of months ago my husband and I were startled from a bird flying from our patio ceiling fan after we had turned on the light the fans came on and scared the birds.

We turned the fans off, but noticed that there were two broken eggs on the ground which made us very sad.

We noticed that they were a pair of doves, they continued to nest on our fan and at first flew away everytime we would open the door to our patio. Eventually they would just stay in the nest and watch us.

We watched as they took turns sitting on the nest. But one day we found a dead dove in the yard and did not see the changing of the guard as before, we feared it was one of them.

We were sad thinking that the chick would never hatch without them taking turn sitting on the egg.

To our amazement a week later a very large baby dove emerged and a few days later he had flown to the ground and was sitting by our back door. He didn't even fly away from us.

Two more babies have hatched since that time and have flown the nest. Momma bird is sitting on yet another brood.

Keep Your Doves Around All Winter With A Heated Ground Bath

She never flinches now as we come and go on the patio even when my noisy two year old grandson plays out there.

He takes great delight when he sees her sitting up on the fan and exclaims "Biddie!"

What a treat to experience seeing so many baby birds born so up close and personal. She is sitting on two right now and we can see their little tails sticking out from underneath momma.

We are wondering how many broods they are going to have and if they will return next season.

It is a comforting peaceful sound to sit out on the patio and here the cooing. It has been a joy to share our home with these beautiful creatures.

Doves in Wreath on Front Door

by Karen R.
(Florida)

When I first saw the morning doves building a nest in the wreath on my front door, I thought of pulling the twigs out & removing the wreath till they found a new spot. After googling these beautiful creatures, I changed my mind and decided to keep my front door off limits by blocking the walkway and displaying a sign for people to not come to the door.

I took pics and watched them day & night. I read everything I could about them and was so excited when I saw the babies for the first time, watching the "changing of the guard" (mom & dad changing shifts) when I could see them clearly from a bedroom window close to the door. The doves would let me get 2-3 ft from the nest to take pics and watch the babies.

One baby fell out of the nest, or maybe the parent kicked it out if it were sick, at 7 days old. It broke my heart and I buried it in my backyard. I then put a huge cushion and blankets under the door frame in case the other one fell out.

On the 10th day, I heard a slam at my door at 11 PM and ran out the garage to see what happened. A neighbor's cat had got out and was jumping to get the birds. Parent flew off but the baby was still in the nest as I got the cat back to it's home and told the neighbors to keep it in so it wouldn't kill the last baby dove. I wanted to see them learn to fly so badly.

I stayed up till 2 AM watching for the parent to return, which she didn't...woke up at 7 AM and she still wasn't there, but the baby was moving. At 8:30 she returned, then quickly flew off. I went out and the baby was dead in the nest.

After calling a wildlife rescue, I learned that the cat probably got close enough to scratch it and with deadly bacteria in their claws, it would've been enough to kill it. Or the babies may have both been sick and timing just took the last one at the same time the cat showed up. I was so worried that I should've covered it that night or tried to feed it, but learned that neither of these were the problem causing death with it being 10 days old.

I think I'll put out one of the nesting houses for them to come back. It was a grand experience to watch, but such a sad ending...and yet, I also learned 2/3 of them don't make it to adulthood.

Doves Nesting Behind Eagle

by Gabriel
(Sacramento)

It's approaching 2 weeks since Doves began nesting behind the eagle plaque over my front door here in Sacramento! How exciting!

I have enjoyed seeing and hearing many Doves in my neighborhood but this is the first time I have had any nest in my yard or near my home.

The two doves have left quite a litter of discarded twigs and leaves at the threshold of my home and I have resorted to using my side entrance for entering and leaving my home.

Likewise, a sign I made alerts visitors and deliveries to my side door as to not startle the new family.

What I enjoy most about all this is that these Doves chose to make their nest behind the brass American Eagle plaque I placed over my front door a couple of years ago.

It seems as if the mighty eagle is giving the nest it's protection behind it's outstretched wings!
(I think it's made for a pretty interesting photo.)
I used a Canon SX200 IS with telephoto lense from approx 15 feet away.

Lighting wasn't exactly the greatest since the porch over the entrance casts quite a bit of shadow...but all in all the image wasn't half bad.

I haven't exactly seen a "shift change" take place but I did watch while the two parents were apparently taking great interest in what was going on inside the nest yesterday.

(Is it possible that one or more egg has already hatched?)

Doves in Chrismas Cookie Can

by Ck_Sz
(Plano TX)

About 7 years ago, there were two doves trying to make a nest on in my back yard close by the porch light, but the nest and eggs were blown down by the wind.

I decide to help them with a Christmas cookie can. First I put some of their nesting material inside the pan and secured it with a screw.

Since then, they been coming back every year. And I replace with a clean can every winter for them.

This year they come back earlier (February), and so far have nested and laid eggs five times this year.

Does anyone think it is because of the weather changes we've had this year?

Doves Nesting On My TV

by Angel Tellez
(Fremont, California)

Great story goes on. A couple of months ago my roommate told me of a dove nesting in our patio where we have an outside TV mounted near the ceiling.

I took a look when both parents were not there with a step latter. Sure enough I saw 2 eggs in the nest and being a student photographer took some good pictures.

This began my search for knowledge on the subject of Nesting Doves.

After a couple of weeks of constantly watching I noticed the baby check with it's father in the nest.

From a distance with a 200mm lens I took a cute shot of the father & baby dove.

A couple of days later, the father was walking back and forth on the cement cooing for the chick to leave the nest. I guess so that they could hatch the other egg.

A day later I hear a crash on my screen door and the baby flew and was on the cement. I was so worried about it so I read how I could crush up some dove seeds, make mush with warm water and feed it to the baby with an eyedropper.

After feeding I left it on its own and it just walked in the shade along the fence and with the father cooing I left the 2 alone.

The next day it was so still in the corner and the father was no where in sight.

I then fed it the mush again and after feeding I took it back outside, saw the father sitting on a phone wire.

I held the baby in my hands and gently tossed into the air and it took flight with the father flying next to it. I was so happy and thank God for a wonderful life.

The parents did not come back until a week and a half later and after the mother came back to incubate the egg the very next day my roommate through the nest away with the egg in it.

I was so upset and have not spoke to him on this subject since.

After a few weeks go by I saw the father back on top of the TV. After it left, I left a little seed for it to return which it did.

The father was cooing again and finally the female or a new female came back (this female is much smaller).

The male flew back and forth to and from the back yard building a new nest. Now, after a week there is 1 egg in the nest and they are taking turns incubating it.

This true goes lives on!

Doves nesting on A/C Unit

by C C
(Bonita Springs FL)

In the spring of 2009 our mourning doves again searched for a delightful and safe spot for their nest.

Initially, they tried to build on top of a hurricane shutter over our kitchen window, but the shutter slopes down at about a 65 - 70 degree angle and was causing their haphazard method of throwing together a nest to be very unsuccessful.

Interestingly, the year prior, however, a pair of doves were successful in building a nest in that same spot and had two babies.

Maybe, just maybe, it is one of those fledglings who was now to trying to build a nest (or one of the original parents - sure wish they wore name tags).

The hurricane shutter is under a patio roof so it is an ideal spot, protected from rain, but still getting the wind that Florida springs can bring. With the angle highly problematic, the doves finally gave up on that location.

Shortly thereafter, I noticed the doves collecting nesting material and placing it on top of our wall A/C unit in our southern exposure Florida Room.

This also is a fairly ideal location, because it has a protective overhang from the roof and gutters, but it still get the winds as they blow easterly or westerly.

They attempted for nearly a week and a half and the materials were blowing away due to high winds the end of March. I doubted that they were ever going to be successful.

It was interesting to watch their dogged determination with our incredible birds-eye view (our sliders are on each side of the A/C unit but the doves cannot see us due to the privacy/reflective film on the sliders).

Day after day, all the nesting materials were being blown away - poor little workers. I felt so badly for them.

We had begun packing up to get ready for our return up north. The day before leaving, I took a last walk around, checking to be certain every task outside was accomplished and taking the last photos of my aquatic birds in the lake out back, when, to my delight and utter surprise, I saw one of the sweet doves sitting on a fairly well formed nest on top of our A/C unit.

She looked very pleased to have accomplished her task. I wished her well and hoped to see her and her family in the fall.

I'm attaching a photo (or two - not sure how many I can provide)showing how most would not notice her up there.

In the fall, we had more mourning doves than ever and felt for certain some of them were the same family. How delightful!!

Doves Nesting In Cactus

by Louise
(California)

Just about a week ago I was surprised to find 2 Mourning Doves in a flurry of activity making a nest in a succulent/cactus (ouch),plant on my terrace.

The nest would not be featured in the "Beautiful Nests and Gardens" magazine if there was one. The height of the plant and nest is flush with the window in my kitchen.

I am literally inches away from the nesting bird. I am flattered the birds have trusted me to such an intimate extent.

I have ceased putting out bird feed for the numerous Finches that frequent my seaside terrace as I do not want the Doves unduly disturbed.

I hope that is the right decision,? I am looking
forward to the Big Event!!!!

Doves Nesting In Torch Lamp.

by Kim Coppler
(Flint, Michigan)

My daughter brought me a tall torch lamp that she had in her room that she states she did not want anymore.

I told her to put it on the front porch and that I would put it in the goodwill box this week. A couple days later, early morning, my husband asked me to come out to the front porch.

As I did he showed me a pair of doves perched in the lamp shade. I said they were probably trying to get warm because of the morning sun rises toward our front porch. I thought nothing of it of course.

The next day I saw sticks coming out of the lamp shade. Within a week the lamp shade had sticks and grass in it. I may have thought that the doves were confused by the light bulb. That maybe they had mistaken it for an egg.

I'm not sure, but to my surprise these doves stayed. We have 4 dogs, two boxers that are large, they did not bother the doves, however, they were always watching.

For the next two weeks I watched as mom and dad took shifts with their nest.

To my amazement one morning I saw two baby doves heads pop up. I was in shock. I never thought that being so close to our home and family with dogs, that they would have been comfortable enough to hatch two babies.

Our front porch has always been a great place to watch the sun come up but now it has been even more enjoyable.

I woke this morning to find the nest empty, I haven't seen mom, dad, or the babies. However short time they were here it was truly interesting.

Dove on Fire Escape

by Linda Marks Katz
(New York City)

We are city dwellers. . . N.Y.C. that is. That means, we must go to the nearest park to find nature.

But something wonderful has happened. Nature came to us! I was away on a sisterhood relaxation weekend and came back to find a dove nesting on our fire escape.

The loosely packed nest and exquisite color of the bird caught my eye. I stared in amazement and a surge of maternal protectiveness swelled within. In an instant, I made a sign that read, "Caution! Dove Nesting," so that onlookers who entered the room would approach with care.

She is beautiful. The graceful lines of her body looks as though she had alighted from a Bernini statue and onto our fire escape. And I wondered why she came to us.

Did she know how badly I need nature in my life, or was she telling us that she was a symbol of the peace that was about to shroud our family and our world. I was moved to (internal) tears by her presence, as if somehow she knew what I needed most at this point in my life.

"She looks bored" my husband said. Waiting for the most precious gift of my life, the birth of my daughter..... felt endless too, when all I wanted was for her to pop out, look me in the eyes and say "Hi Mom, I'm Laura." I waited 9 long months to finally meet her and I wondered if this bird felt the same.

Somehow, she looked too perky and slender to be a mother. . . . too composed and confident. When evening came, she looked like she had drastically fallen into ill health. She suddenly looked heavier, and very tired, a bird who had flown for many miles.

I tried not to approach the window too often, but couldn't get over the sudden change. Fortunately, I read on this website, that males protect the egg(s) by day and the mother by night. Knowing there was a changing of the guard was reassuring.

Last year when a red tailed hawk roosted in Riverside Park, many residents visited the nest each day, and for many weeks. Some stayed for hours, watching with telescopes and binoculars, in order to catch a glimpse of red tailed hawk family life.. And what did the birds see when they looked down at us? Humans, creating nests out of blankets, parents feeding their young, and the young taking short solo flights away from the nest accompanied by squawks from the parents.

I named the dove Eve. I hope she is happy on our fire escape and makes it her new home.

Dove Nests in Archway

by Jim & JoAnne Rollins
(West Haven, CT)

Our self-made archway in our back yard has a dense growth of chocolate plant(in spring) and trumpet vine(in summer). Last year a robin made its home on the top of the archway and raised 4 little ones.

Whenever we would check on the nest Momma would fly away to a nearby tree and watch us and chirp until we disappeared. It was quite an experience to watch the babies grow up and leave the nest.

Needless to say when we spotted a nest on top of the archway, once again, we assumed Momma robin was back. When you stand under the arbor/archway you can get a great view of the nest and its inhabitants.

Recently, when we looked up at the nest from behind we saw a large tan and white tail poking out. It did not look like any robin's tail I had ever seen.

Upon walking more forward to view the other side of the nest, we saw a beautiful tan bird's profile with one black eye looking right at us.

We gazed at the unmoving bird trying to figure out what it was. Then it hit us--- a mourning dove! We have only seen a few in our area and never in our back yard before. This one(or two)found a home.

Until I saw this website, I assumed the mother was the only one nesting, and never saw the father in any nearby trees.

Now I know about the change of shifts. We check on the nest daily and are within two feet of Mom or Pop when we gaze up at them. They never flinch or attempt to fly away. They almost seem tame.

It's been almost two weeks and we are waiting to hear some baby peeps. It's always exciting to see new baby birds. We have had robin, sparrows and monk parrots in our yard before but never mourning doves. Can't wait to see the hatchlings!

Dove Nest On Patio Wicker Chair

by Susan Baggett
(Sanger, California)

Where would a dove couple build a safe nest away from harm and prey? On a wicker chair out on an upstairs outdoor deck, of course. We were fascinated watching our dove couple pick out their spot and slowly build a precarious little nest by bring in twigs and pushing them around on the chair.

Finally the nest was built, and two eggs were laid. We were able to see this couple and their actions very close up by watching them through the window, which is 3 feet from the chair. (They couldn't see us) We watched them make the "shift change" from male to female, and also watched one of the birds fly in and try to "patch up" the nest a bit after a windy day.

Finally, we saw some moving little bits of furry feather under the parent bird, and then were able to watch the mother feed the little beak of one of the birds when its head tumbled out a little bit from under her. This was very interesting! It looked like she was regurgitating into the baby bird's beak, (which was what she was doing)

This may be the same couple who built a nest in our fern plant last year, but since I took the plant down, they decided on the wicker chair. Now we will watch these birds up close through the window until the babies are grown and fly away.

Baker's Rack Delight

by Jody
(Houston, TX)

Much to my delight one beautiful sunny morning here in the Houston area I got quite a scare as I was watering my plants on the back patio. As I neared a potted palm (near the baker's rack) to quench it's thirst a bird flew off right in front of my head! It flew to the fence and perched there for a bit and I got a better look.

Of course I had no idea what kind of a bird this was and by then 2 birds (I'm thinking mom and pop) flew back to the baker's rack on my back patio so I had time to grab the camera. Once I had a couple photos I emailed them to a bird lover who told me they were doves.

I quickly googled them and sure enough...found out they were Mourning Doves! Up until now I haven't been an avid bird watcher, as such...I take notice of birds and enjoy watching when the opportunity presents itself...but having these birds so close by is so sweet!

The doves nested on my baker's rack tucked away all cozy in a corner of the shelf and then there were two little white eggs...that have now hatched. I didn't want to take a picture of the babies because I was scared that the flash would go off and I didn't want to blind them!

The birds seem to have grown accustomed to me as I continue to putter about the patio watering my plants.

I am saddened today though because I had a chance to peek at the babies in the nest and one bird appears to have possibly died because it's much smaller than the other baby and I couldn't notice it breathing. The other baby looks very good.

Mama (I believe) was perched on that back fence while I quickly stole that look at the babies. I'm not sure what will take place from here on. I just feel so bad for the doves that one of the babies might have died.