Mourning Dove Returns To Nest

by Chris Garcia
(Carmichael, California)

Mourning dove and her two hatchings...April 2009

Last spring, after several early mornings of hearing a "cooing" sound, I discovered a pair of doves had taken up residence in our fern basket which hangs from an overhang next to our bedroom window. My discovery frightened the dove and after she (or he) flew off I discovered the tiny eggs in the "squatter's" nest.

Unfortunately, a few days later I discovered the egg shells on the deck below the basket. Apparently something caused them to come out of their nest...I'm guessing a cat or one of the myriad of squirrels in our yard.

But they were not to be deterred...because a few weeks later I discovered the dove had laid new eggs. Unfortunately, we went away on vacation and never knew the outcome of this second batch of eggs.

After sharing this discovery amongst my acquaintances, I learned that doves will often return to the same nest year-after-year. Lo, and behold, three weeks ago, I heard the familiar, soft and gentle "cooing" and was excited to learn that the doves were back. I can only assume that it was the same couple of doves back in the same basket (we have 4 hanging from the same deck).

Today--the first really nice day we've had to get out and do some yard work--I got brave enough to venture near the nest and discovered that the dove's eggs had already hatched! The parent had left long enough to leave the two little ones by themselves.

I didn't think to take a photo when the parent was gone. However, I did manage to get a photo with the two hatchlings and one of the parents this afternoon. I've uploaded it here. I'm going to check every day to see when the young 'uns get brave enough to leave the nest.

This is very exciting for me...we to used to hear beautiful yellow-beaked magpies in our backyard; they would serenade us every morning in the spring and summer (when they weren't harassing the cats/squirrels).

These birds were nearly wiped out by the West Nile Virus three years ago. Today I rarely see one; it's anyone's guess when their numbers will return.

This is very sad as these birds only live from the Western Rockies to the Central Valley of California where I live.

So hearing the cooing doves and being able to share our home with them is that much more special, now that the magpies are gone.