Doves Decorating Patio Entertaining Grandchildren

by Gary Blaylock
(San Diego, CA)

A little over a year ago we noticed a pair "checking out" a little nook in our patio, on top of a 4X6.

Soon they were busy building a nest. It seemed that the more they worked, the more nest material just fell of the narrow platform.

But, they kept bringing in new material or flying down to retrieve fallen twigs, etc.

We guessed that they must have just given up, because they suddenly disappeared, leaving a couple of twigs on the ledge and a big pile on our patio floor.

I thought, just in case they or another pair decide to come back to the area, I would make it a little easier to build a secure nest.

I found one of our old wicker trays used to hold paper plates. I anchored it to the top of the 4X6, in the same place where they worked so diligently.

Sure enough, a few days later, they were back. I just happened to be watching when they arrived. They climbed in and out of the tray nd "sniffed" all around it.

They must have figured it was safe, because within a few hours they were busy, again, building a nest in their new enlarged home.

They've returned to the same nest several times and have raised at least 4 - 5 broods since I built their nesting shelf.

Our granddaughters are fascinated when they visit. They'll sit forever in our patio watching the "daddy" sit on the nest.

And, of course, are delighted when the eggs hatch and they can get a look at the new babies.

The pair don't seem to mind our birdwatching and will get off the nest while we are watching. As though they wanted to "show off" their brood.

I thought this behavior was very odd since they are usually so fearful and startle so easily.

Perhaps they have sensed that they are safe, protected and cherished in our little "Dove Patio"

UPDATE



I finally got a picture of "Dad" sitting on the nest. He didn't seem to mind at all, even when the flash went off.

Dove in Pecan Tree

by Ann
(Houston, Texas)

I have an upstairs art studio where I often work in a corner of two sliding glass doors.

My dove is nesting literally just an arm's length from there ... Everyday I pull open my curtains & she doesn't seem to mind me working at her side.

One day as I was working, a squirrel sat right next to her & ate a whole pecan & she didn't even notice him until he left!

She is nesting in a pecan tree here in Houston & there is not a leaf on the tree & she is only blocked from the west wind.

I now know where the expression ... "tough as a bird" came from. We have had severe weather here this past week or so & she &( I now understand her mate) have sat diligently on their nest.

She seems to be OK with my husband & I looking at her & I've taken some snaps of her I'll share with you.

Picture of nesting mourning dove

by Christina
(Arlington, VA)

I have had a Mourning Dove nesting in my flower box for a week. I put food and water out. It let's me get pretty close to it.

Lovey's Nest On Gazebo

by Lorna
(Fort Worth, TX, USA)

One day in very late March, I was out on the deck and noticed that some brush had blown up and gotten stuck in the cross pieces of the gazebo.

The next day my husband told me to kneel at the window and look up....and silly me! It wasn't brush that got stuck in the roof, it was a dove nest and there was a beautiful dove sitting on it!

We named her Lovey, but then we read this webpage and found that it is probably not the female sitting atop the nest during the day hours. But whatever. We still call him/her Lovey.

He doesn't seem to mind that we are out and about the deck or back yard.

We have a veggie garden that we have to tend every evening, so we are walking about and watering...but he/she doesn't bat an eye.

Doves Nesting On Patio Ceiling Fan

by Loli
(Wellington, Fl., USA)

We live in Florida. Our back patio and yard face a small pond.

Wildlife are always plentiful by the pond, especially mornings. We regularly see Herons, egrets, snake birds, black birds, a red cardinal and once in a while, an eagle perches atop a pine tree at the pond edge.

However, recently we noticed a mourning dove coming and going in the back yard. (casing the area?) Soon afterwards another appeared, apparently its mate.

Then, lo and behold, they began building a nest atop the unused ceiling fan on our patio. The reason this was possible is that the last 3 hurricanes blew out our patio screens.

After the last one we quit replacing them. This enabled these birds to come and go.

I am amazed though, since we also come and go on the patio, taking our 3 shelties out, or eating at the patio table which is directly under the ceiling fan.

I am amazed the bird feels so safe up there. We smile each time we look up now.


Update On The Ceiling Fan Doves

The Dovelings Have Arrived

My husband and I went away on vacation. Before we left the mom & pop doves were still coming and going, but no sign of birth. We did however, once see them both take away a half shell...so we wondered if one of the eggs was a dudd, since there were still no hatchlings.

Then...we got back from vacation, and checked the patio and lo and behold, the miracle of birth occurred while we were away. Two adorable hatchlings are now part of our family of doves.

Dove on Garage Door Opener.

by Karen
(Lewisville, TX)

LoveyDovey built her nest about 2 weeks ago on our door opener. We are pretty sure her mate (found a dead dove in the yard) was killed in a hail storm or by the neighbor cat.

We have provided water and wild bird seed for her but not sure if she is eating it. I will post an update and more pictures of the fledglings when they pop up!!

Update


LoveyDovey's Babies

After weeks of worry we finally got a peek at the babies yesterday when mama left the nest. She was gone quite a long time so more worry if she was able to come back, well not only did mama return but long lost papa was with her.

I have a feeling unbeknownst to us they were switching all along. We were relieved to see her mate was not the dead bird we found in the yard.

I am guessing they are about 8 days old. A week ago we saw white egg shell pieces in the driveway along with some Hawk droppings so then we worried the nest had been attacked, but she stuck to her business and you can see the results!!

Dove Nesting On Ladder.

by Lee
(Texas)

One day I went out into the backyard to find a bunch of twigs and sticks on my ladder.

At first I thought it was kind of funny but figured what the heck. We'll see what happens.

A couple days later I come home late from work to find all the twigs on the ground but an egg sitting on the paint shelf of the ladder.

I picked up all the sticks and kind of placed them back around the egg quickly and left.

Next morning we have a dove sitting on the egg. The ladder is right in front of a window and I have been able to open the shades to get photos.

The birds don't seem to mind to much. I take a quick photo and close the blind.

Front Door Nest

by Chris
(Islip, NY)

A pair of doves built a nest on the wreath which was hanging on our front door. We were not able to use our front door for weeks, while we waited.

They were pretty calm when the eggs were in the nest and we could walk up on the stoop for a closer look, but once the babies hatched they were quite nervous.

We had to put a baracade around the stoop so no one would come knocking at our front door and scare them.

Fortunately we could see the nest from a window in our house so we were able to watch the whole process.

The babies finally flew the nest early one morning and as luck would have it, I was awake and checking on them and got to see the babies' first flight.

We took the wreath away but they came looking for it the next year but settled on one of our window boxes.

In my new house I have what I've been told is called a dove cote attached to the side of the house.

It's beautiful and I'm hoping to attract a family of doves in the spring.

Baker Rack Dove Nest

by Ernie Munshower
(Spring, Texas)

We were working in our front garden area and found mulch on a Bakers rack on the front patio.

We threw it into the garden and did not think much more of it until the next day when we found the "mulch" back with an egg in it.

The attached photographs are the result of the "mulch".

Ernie Munshower

Doves Under Lid of Propane Tank

by Katie Allen
(Colfax, Indiana)

My 3 year old daughter and I were outside when I decided to check the gauge on the propane tank, knowing we would need it filled soon. When we opened the lid we were surprised to find two eggs in a nest.

A few days later we went back to check on them and there were four, and as I suspected we were also low on gas. When I went to the gas company to have them refill I asked if they could try not to bother the nest.

The lady laughed at me and said she would write in on the order but the person refilling it would probably laugh too. She said that it happens "all the time."

Two days later the guy showed up to fill the tank. He told me to leave the lid open and in a few days come and knock the nest out.

I said "sure" and as soon as he pulled out of the driveway I put the lid back down. I was afraid the dove would abandon the nest after that. However, they've been coming back to the nest.

My daughter and I eagerly awaiting the babies to hatch. We have been doing our research on mourning doves and have since discovered a robin's nest we check on as well.

It's wonderful that she is so excited to learn about the mourning doves (and Robins) and their life cycle.

Doves on TOP of small finch house

by Edie Goodban
(Redding, Ca, US)

We hung out a small birdhouse for house finches. It has a peaked roof and is hung up against a porch pillar. A pair of mourning doves decided to use the roof to build a nest. They had twigs sticking out into space, but persisted!

The nest was completed and the birds began setting on it. The location is right outside our bedroom sliding door, and they can see us and we can watch them. My husband can even water the patio plants by moving slowly and carefully, and avoiding looking directly at them.

Finally the eggs hatched. We could barely stand to watch as the babies hung onto the little nest, sometimes getting their balance by flapping a little wing. It was nerve wracking, more for us than for them!

In a couple weeks the fledgings took off, after having survived the crowded nest on the little birdhouse roof. (photo of one parent and babies attached)

We wanted to remove the birdhouse before they started again, but in only one day mom and dad were repairing the nest and starting another batch! I guess we'll just hold our breath and hope no one falls out this time. They are wonderful to watch, though, and we are hoping for another successful brood.

Dove Nest on Hanging Ladder

by Aubrey Huggins
(Kingston, Ontario, Canada)

While cutting my grass the other day I heard a sound and saw something out of the corner of my eye. I looked up and saw what appeared to be a bird nest build in/on a ladder that was hanging from a neighbors shed.

I got my own ladder and soon discovered 2 white eggs in a flimsy built nest. My wife and I took many photos of the eggs and were glad to see on the pair of doves return and one to sit on the eggs. The other was on a wire not far away.

We took many photo's of the one dove sitting on the eggs.

Today the contractors were here to put new shingles on our roof. The sitting dove did not leave the nest all day while they were here/.

They finally left for a little while when the noise from the shinglers stopped.