Easter Morning Mourning Dove Nesting On My Patio

by Anne
(Fountain Hills, Az, USA)

I was wondering why this dove was standing on the edge of one of my clay pot on the top shelf of my wooden planting table.

It was Easter morning just a couple of days ago and I was thinking how lovely it was that I had a dove on Easter morning.

Someone tall, (I'm too short to see up there!) saw an egg in the pot. That was when I realized that we had a nest! Thank goodness I had not cleaned out the old soil from the last planting season, so there is a nice base for a pretty nest.

I was worried that night because it was surprisingly cold in Arizona and there was no Dove.

After putting up with us in and out all day long, and being so patient with our Easter Egg hunt, I wondered why the nest seemed abandoned and was very worried about that egg.

But the next morning a dove was back. I guess the Daddy now that I'm reading about this. When he left, I checked the nest and now there were two eggs!

The nest is being faithfully tended at this point and I admit I am excited to see babies in a couple of weeks. I only hope all goes well. The nest is right next to my arcadia door and I can peek out to check on Mom and Dad whenever I want.

My four year old grandson, who saw the first egg, is very excited and is getting telephone reports about the dove.

In the meantime I am smoking (yes, you can throw rocks at me later!) on my front walkway so I don't disturb this little family. And my plans to replant the pots with my spring herbs will have to wait for a few weeks!

I am posting a picture taken through the window as I did not want to frighten the bird by being outside. Please forgive the dirty window. It's been a rainy spring!

Doves On Our Patio!

by LaDonna Clark
(Ceres, CA. USA)

We have several Mourning Doves in our back yard, and have been feeding them for years. We have four feeders placed around the yard, and have seen quite an increase of these beautiful little creatures!

This year, Spring has arrived with it's usual "community" of doves, with one pair, nesting on our back patio! We have two buckets on a shelf, that I normally plant flowers in, but before I had the chance to plant, we were surprised with the beginnings of a nest!

I decided to wait a few days, to see what happened, and, about three days later, I was amazed to see a dove (later determined to be "Dad"), sitting in the bucket! Within two days, two little eggs were comfortably tucked inside!

So far, the pair have layed and hatched one brood successfully, and now we are blessed to see another two eggs in the nest! "Mom & Dad" are very protective of their nest, but do trust us to come & go through the Patio with ease...even letting us take an occasional peek!
We have also been "allowed" to take a few pictures!

We truly enjoy our new "tenants" and hope to see many happy returns, every Spring!

Doves On My Deck - Again!

by Steve Sarkees
(Midlothian, Virginia)

LAST YEAR!! While sipping my Sunday morning coffee, I turned to look out of the kitchen window to notice a Mourning Dove sitting in one of my flower boxes on my deck.

After my wife and kids had a good look, I dressed into my shorts and t-shirt and began a day of yard work.

My family and I spent a solid ten hours planting flowers, cutting grass, mulching and trimming. At the end of the day, while we relaxed on the deck for a cook out, one of my sons pointed out that the dove was still there.

He was concerned and thought that maybe the dove was hurt. I thought it was odd to, but noticed a small nest made of twigs. I immediately Googled Mourning Doves and learned that this dove was nesting and was going to have little doves. I also learned that there was another dove around preparing to change shifts...

I thought it was odd that they took up residence right on my deck within arms reach! I also noticed a cat prowling around. I though, "Great, now I can't water those plants and now I have a cat looking for trouble!" What is wrong with these birds?

We took some old lawn furniture and stacked it up at the base of the steps to the deck as a barricade to keep the cat away. I would also look for the cat in the yard and make a loud noise to scare it away. The dove didn't seem to mind and the cat eventually never came back.

After what seemed like an eternity the baby doves hatched. There were two of them. They were very cute. I worried about the cat coming back, but within a couple of weeks, the babies were flying all over the yard!

They would even go away for a while and then come back to the deck together.. I was amazed.. It was a slight inconvenience catering to the adults and giving them their space for 2 months, but it was also rewarding. I felt as if we built their trust...

TODAY!!! The adults came back three weeks ago and tried to nest in my $30 hanging basket.. I didn't let this happen at first because the basket is hanging over my chair on my deck. I kept taking down the basket and removing every nest they would start to build (I know, you think I am evil). My intension was that they would simply move to another flower box or something. After it seemed that they gave up, I put the basket back out. A week went by with no doves. I felt terrible that I forced them to leave before they could start a substantial nest.

After seeing no doves, I planted more flower boxes on my deck. In one large pot, I planted a small tomato plant. To my surprise, three days after planting the tomato plant, they came back and settled in quickly! This tomato plant is not even three feet off the surface of the deck and is right at the entrance to go down the steps!!! It is also next to the deck furniture.. They don't seem to care.. I go about my business on the deck and for the most part, I ignore the dove and the nest. My kids are very good with the dove and they ignore them as well. We walk on the deck a little more lightly so as not to startle them and we don't make any sudden moves. It is fascinating! They seem to be very comfortable with my family and my deck.. I would like to know why.. They view of the yard and trees is great from the deck. I am wondering if this is the reason they continue to choose this spot.

Please see the pictures.

Dove Nest on Patio

by Cheryl
(Roseville, CA, USA)

I recently have had the pleasure (and pain) of having a beautiful pair of mourning doves nesting on the roof overhang of my patio. When I first noticed they had chosen my patio, I was both excited and nervous. The nest was kind of scattered and loose, and looked like it would be easy for an egg (or young bird) to fall out.

While watching the birds nest, I observed a new danger to the eggs. Scrub jays frequently inhabit our backyard and are known to prey on other bird's nests (eggs & young). Scrub jays had discovered the nest and were frequently pestering the sitting dove.

I waited until the scrub jay scared the dove away from the nest one day, quickly went out on the patio (to scare away the jay), and stapled a small screen across the front of the nest area to prevent the nest from falling or eggs from falling out.

I waited for the dove to return, and could tell it was apprehensive about the new addition the the nest area. Eventually it went inside and continued nesting.

I became a little obsessed with the safety of the birds and the nest, and spent some of my days off just watching the nest, and listening for signs of distress (from nest robbers).

I chased away several scrub jays on multiple occasions. The nest seemed doomed and I was sad when I had to leave for work and also leave the nest to what nature had in store. However, I was genuinely surprised when I came home from work each day to find the doves were still nesting!

Who am I to think that these birds cannot protect their own nest? I know I cannot save them, but I felt a little obligated since they were on my patio.

It's been about two weeks now and the birds are still nesting. I have witnessed the "changing of the guard" on so many occasions and have a great respect for these birds who stay together and share the demands and duties of raising their family.

The scrub jays still try to bother the nest, but for some reason, the nest and eggs are still intact.

This morning when I woke up I noticed one egg laying on the beam outside of the nest. The dove was on the nest, but this egg was not? I couldn't understand why, and thought maybe the bird inside was dead and the egg was kicked out of the nest.

I collected the egg with a stick and soft bowl without disturbing the sitting dove. I felt really bad that this one egg didn't make it after such a long journey.

I picked the egg up (with a gloved hand) and listed to it - to my surprise I heard slight tapping noises coming from the egg and even felt a little movement!! I had to get the egg back into the nest.

I scared the dove from the nest and quickly put the egg back in it. I then waited to make sure the dove would come back, and after a few minutes, it did.

I don't know why the egg was not in the nest, nor why the doves did not try to move it back over into the nest, but it's there now. I don't know if this was right to do, but I wanted the baby bird to have a shot at life.

I can't wait for the babies to make their appearance - it's time for them to hatch and I can't help but worry about them and hope they make it in the "real world."

Doves On Our Patio Cover

by Karen
(Lake Dallas, Texas)

We have doves nesting on the ledge of our patio cover.

Here are Paloma & Silvano.

Silvano sits on the nest during the day and Paloma sits on the nest during the night. It was pretty amazing watching them build the nest.

The only thing cooler is watching the changing of the guard when they change who's time it is to nest.

Baby Doves Born On My Patio

by Tiffany Baugh
(Colorado Springs, CO)

Two baby doves were born on my patio and yesterday took their first flight (which I got on video). Now the two adults and both babies are gone. I do hope they come back.

They allowed me to photograph them, take videos, etc. They were only here a few weeks but I felt like a proud mamma. lol.

I miss the babies already!!!

A Surprise Guest on Our Patio

by Maxine
(Bakersfield, CA. USA)

We had just returned to our California home after being gone a couple of months to discover a dove sitting on a nest on the fireplace ledge on our patio just about 3 feet from the door.

We watched closely and carefully went in and out the this door so as not to alarm the dove. Until it got use to us, it would at times fly off the nest but always returned, this gave us the opportunity to peek at the nest and we noticed two eggs. Then one day my husband informed me that the babies had arrived, two little fuzz balls. I was surprised to see them with pin feathers so soon.

One day I noticed that only one dove was involved is this hatching at this point because somehow it got a sore above its beak and we were able to identify it each time.

I worried so about these babies, I read that if only one parent has the task of caring for the babies they are not usually successful.

Just today I had the pleasure to witness the parent bird feeding the babies, what a precious sight this was. Then the parent at times would get out of the nest and sit for a while, I think it was resting because when it is in the nest the babies are trying to climb on it. (hey, maybe they scratched its nose).

I hope and pray that the parent whether it be the mother or father can get these babies raised and out on their own and that they the parent will be ok after that.

Doves Under Deck

by Pauline

We were eating at night under are deck and we noticed on the eaves of it there was nest. We don't know much about birds, so we didn't know what type of bird's nest it was.

The next day we saw a mourning dove sitting on the nest. We were so happy and watched it everyday.

About a week later, we saw another dove sitting on the ground near below the nest. Then, the dove ON the nest left. When she came back, instead of sitting ON the nest, she sat right next to it.

We could see a little dove's head. Then, she started feeding the baby dove. We were so happy! We'll never forget our little mourning doves. :)

Doves in plant on my patio deck

by Elisa Estrella
(Hunt Valley, MD)

It all started one surprising cold day in March when it had snowed and a small sparrow was chirping on my patio, probably as confused as humans about why it was snowing in March.

I decided he was hungry so I crumbled up some bread. I had a lavender plant out there, but she looked hardy so I left it there.

The next day, the sparrow came back and I fed it again. I guess he told some of his friends as I got visitors every morning. Soon it became a habit to place bread crumbs out before I left for work. As if I needed one more thing to do before I left for work!

One day I noticed the mourning doves working diligently building a nest in my lavender plant and then one day, just like that, she had two eggs in her nest. And just like the article stated, she appeared to never move from the basket. I was impressed with her dedication.

The dove has since gotten use to me going out there as I put bread crumbs and water. Today was our first warm day and instead of sitting on the eggs, the dove was watching them. I'm guessing they are about to hatch.

It's made me smile knowing that the doves felt they could nest right on my patio. Today I sat out on my deck enjoying the weather. I suppose it's the male dove that was watching the eggs during the daytime. He didn't seem to mind me either.

Right around 5:00 p.m. I did happen to catch the switching of nesting duties. At first she laid beside the eggs so I thought maybe one had hatched. Later, I observed that she was seated back over the eggs.

As an empty nester, I reflected on those years when I was expecting and how excited I was when I was having my baby. It was nice having a little family with me again.

Update to Doves Nest in Hanging Plant on Deck

Since the first picture of my "Anticipated Guest," another egg was laid. I've been following the doves' story every day.

Momma and Papa continue to allow me to water the plant so they've had complete privacy and protection from both sun and rain.

I even managed to catch them changing shifts on more than one occasion. Was lucky enough to get a picture in mid flight!

They've also allowed me to stand right nest to the plant and look at the chicks and get some close up pictures. Always under the watchful eye of the mother!

Babies will be 2 weeks old on Aug 22/23 so I worry about their attempts to leave the nest. I'm on the second floor and hope they are successful.

So far, they seem quite content to remain snug in the nest. Having several heavy rain/thunderstorms may have something to do with it!

Here are the latest pictures!