Doves in our Front Porch Planter

by Bob H
(Los Angeles CA)

Last year during nesting season we noticed a pair of doves frequenting our front porch planter.

When they repeatedly landed there and started bringing in materials it became obvious that they were making a nest. We kind of had an idea what was happening but then when two eggs appeared it was confirmed.

This year they were back again and after reading up on the subject we discovered that this is normal and that they often return to their original nesting area.

We have to walk up stairs and pass within a foot or so of the nest. They've become very comfortable with our frequent passing and we'll often stop and say hello (slowly and quietly).

Two young ones just flew from the nest a few days ago and are now huddled together on the ground in the back yard.

The parents are usually somewhere very near and watching over them. We keep a close eye out for neighborhood cats as we lost two last year to the felines.

I have included photos of the latest pair. Enjoy!

Mourning Doves in planter on condo

by Dana
(Dayton, OH)

I have two planters hanging on my second story condo railing. I was getting ready to plant new annuals when I noticed that a mourning dove decided to use one for her nest.

The little flower pot that I had left in there from last year is now her nest. I only saw one egg but yet two chicks appeared one day.

I think they hatched a week or so ago....and I know they were there at 4 am this morning. I checked because we were having another storm yet again.

I have been worrying about the parent and chicks during this bout of bad weather.

When I came home from work tonight around 9 pm, I went to see how mom and chicks were doing and they were not there.

I am so worried that the the chicks fell out and into the bushes down below, but I am hoping that perhaps they flew off.?.?.?.?

I am wondering at what age do the chicks fly off? Is it possible they flew off or did they fall out?

I would try to look in the bushes below but it has been cold today and this evening and I doubt they survived the cold...also I do not remember them having too many feathers yet.

If they fell out of the nest, will mom or dad stay with them in the bushes??

Can anyone advise on this? This is my first experience with mourning doves in the wild. I am used to domestic parrots, not wild birds. Just wondering if I should try to find them in the bushes below or not? Thanks.

The photo I posted is a stock photo of five day old chicks, and I am using it because my chicks looked like these chicks only slightly bigger. I hope they had a chance to be able to fly away, but I don't see how they could. Hope someone can help.

Doves in Hanging basket

by Megan David
(Walnut Creek, CA)

A pair of mourning doves filled the hanging basket outside our kitchen window. It was a delightful surprise to see them sitting there only a few feet from where we were standing.

From my perspective the basket seemed too small for the pair, their tail feathers sticking out the sides, the resident fern displaying its fronds on the other.

My husband was immediately concerned about the plant and wanted to shoo the birds away.

"No, if this is the place they've chosen, let them stay," I said in their behalf. "I'll water the fern on the side then." I ran upstairs to Google "dove eggs" and read that they aren't waterproof.

"We'll have to let the fern die," I declared firmly. "We'll plant another one later."

The hanging home they chose is in the most congested area of our house. It's next to the back door and the kitchen with its garbage disposal and blender grinding and whirling several times a day.

People came in and out, banging the gate, talking, laughing just a few feet from the suspended family.

"Watch out for the birds," became my mantra for a few weeks, I might as well have put a sign on my forehead. I was worried they might fly away and abandoned their home.

But they didn't. I wasn't convinced that they would stay. But shortly after the pair first arrived, the female planted herself there. She must have either trusted us or had no place else to go. We could have easily touched her.

Once she claimed the nest, there was only one time when the nest was empty. I stood on a stool in the kitchen and peered into the nest through the window. Two small white eggs. That was the only time I saw them.

The pair took turns sitting on the eggs, never leaving them exposed except for that one exception. They hatched after only two weeks just like the internet stories said would.

I was surprised by how fast the chicks grew. The first week after they hatched the mother hovered over them, allowing me to see them fully only once while she was feeding them. Otherwise she covered them with her wings hiding them from view.

And then suddenly they emerged from beneath her, fully feathered and about one third her size. They became active like three year-olds, bopping around the nest.

Then the first time she left them alone, I stood on my stool and took a picture of them, two vulnerable little beings nestled side-by-side in their comfy bed of soil and moss. The mother returned frequently only leaving them a few minutes at first. And then she left them for longer periods like over an hour.

At about 12 days old my daughter called me over to the window. "One of the babies flapped their wings," she announced. I rushed over. It was the other ones turn for flying lessons. He raised his wings and fluttered them as though he were about to take flight. But he settled down again.

"A lot of non verbal communication going on there," my daughter said. Shortly after wards the mom took flight herself as though showing them how it was done.

The following day when my husband and I returned after an afternoon outing, I checked the nest and found that the baby doves were gone. The mother dove was sitting in the nest and the dad was on the ground.

He flew to the top of the car port when we arrived. My husband said that she must be sitting on the babies but I knew they were too big for that. "They are gone." It was a bit of a shock considering they were born two weeks ago.

Watching the doves nest in our back yard was an enormous experience for me. I felt so honored to be a part of their family, the life process. Nature visited our back door. It was a gift. I miss the birds. I miss seeing them there. I miss checking on them.

Dove in Planter Again

by Sandy Troche
(Tracy, Ca, USA)

Well my daughter and I were in the backyard swimming. My daughter noticed a bird in one of my hanging planters. She thought it must be fake.

As I walked closer to pluck a weed from the side, this bird moved away from me. We were a little surprised. I got closer to take a look and noticed she had two eggs in a what appeared to be a half built nest.

The dove just kept her eye on me as I took a closer look. I just spoke to her with a soft voice. I was very surprised that she let me get so close. I left her alone and for a few weeks she just stayed there sitting on her eggs.

Then one day I noticed her eggs had hatched and there were two sweet babies. I took pictures of them and to be honest became very attached as though they were my birds. Checking on them several times a day. They grew very fast, I couldn't believe it.

Then one afternoon I was horrified. I went to check on them and found one of the babies dead on the patio. She must have fallen or tried to fly and a cat got a hold of it.

I felt so sad for the mother. She must have seen the whole thing. I was so upset that she had lost one of her babies.

Then I got this bright idea that I would try to save the other baby so it would not have the same demise. I tried to remove the planter to place it in a safer place, but . . . the mother took off and the baby tried to follow.

I eventually caught the baby and put her in the planter placing a net around it with an opening to let the mother have access to her. Well the baby kept getting out. I did not realize the babies could fly so soon.

Well the baby disappeared over night and I was sad. Hoping that it would not be the next victim of a cat or other predator. I look all around the yard. In bushes, anywhere it might take shelter.

Three day later I moved some fig branches around and there it was. It flew over the fence. Then a minute later appeared on the fence with mom & dad.

I felt so relieved just knowing it had survived. I tried to get closer to take a picture of how much it had grown in just a week but they all flew off to the neighbors 2 story rooftop.

The baby just got to the rain gutter and couldn't make it on to the roof and flew to the ground. It was so cute to watch them as a family.

It's been about four days and I see them on the fence throughout the day. Yesterday I noticed the two adults in the planter. Last night I saw there was an egg in the nest.

I was surprised that she was laying another so soon. That's when I decided to get online and read about them and I'm glad I did. Now I understand their cycle and habits.

Hopefully she will continue to return to my planter and build her family. I enjoy watching them grow!

Doves nesting in Patio Planter

by Olivia Essary
(Fresno, CA USA)

One morning last week I was sitting out on my back patio enjoying the spring day when I noticed a dove 20 ft out at the edge of the patio, pacing back and forth.

Watching closely I realized he (I think it was the male?) was carefully pecking about selecting only the best long pine needles to pick up, one by one!

Not realizing why he was doing that at first, I watched as he then flew his prize up to the corner of the patio overhang to an old hanging planter I have up there, where his mate was busy inside it, pacing 'round and 'round, and making use of each needle he delivered, weaving her nest!

I was so overjoyed and felt SO BLESSED that they chose that old planter so close in proximity to where we could witness (CAREFULLY!!) the beauty and awesome process of their brood coming into the world, that my heart simply sang with delight!

I couldn't help but feel uneasy that they might change their minds once they discovered how noisey our huge chocolate lab, Rosie and our presence around on a regular basis.

But as I told my husband, "Well, honey, it's up to God, if they stay, then it will be His will, we can not altar our ways such as keeping Rosie more confined, it wouldn't be fair to her." And so I resigned myself to see what would happen next.

After that first day, I did not see them in the nest the next day, and my heart fell, thinking that they must have moved on, feeling threatened and deciding to move the nest elsewhere.

But then the next day, they were back! That must have been the day that "Lady Mamma Dove" laid her eggs, for I have not seen that planter empty since.

Day and night, a Dove, (either he or she, I am finding out), is there sitting diligently, no doubt caring for the eggs they now have!

Every morning I look forward to greeting the sitting parent! It brings real joy to my heart that they stayed! I'm sending this picture I took today so others may enjoy the sight.

They are Mourning Doves!

Best Regards to All,
Olivia

Doves in hanging basket part 2

by Staci in the City
(Atlanta)

Folowing up with Birdell and Birdean here's a shot of the twins!

They flew away Friday and Mom is looking for them... I think... They were ready to spread their wings!

They sat and flapped for 2 days on the edge of the balcony and then finally took the leap and off they went!

Not sure if she is upset and cooing trying to find them or nesting again but she keeps checking back in and making some noise out there.

Doves in hanging baskets 2

by Staci in the City
(Atlanta GA)

I have a dove on my patio in a hanging basket as well! I have been worried it was there to die as I never see it leave to eat but I guess they are slipping in and out by me.

Here's the real interesting thing... I live in the middle of a large city and the basket is on my small balcony. What a treat to have them decide to nest on my balcony.

I hope they don't mind me coming out, ever so carefully, to water the other plants. They seem to be ok with me now, I guess if they are city birds they are use to the noise and such.

Should I leave food for them you think?

5th Year of Doves in Planter - Science Project

by Renee
(Maryland)

5 years ago a dove took up residence in our planter right outside of our kitchen window. We'd greet her in the morning and we're captivated as we'd watch exactly what this site says - the male would relieve her for part of the day and bring her twigs early on.

We were so excited when the following year the entire scene started all over. My 3 children became experts on the progression of their little lives with us. This year we had 2 round of eggs - so fun.

Then 3 years ago, when my youngest was up to 2 years old, the birds became "his birds". Again 2 wonderful rounds of eggs and we actually caught one learning how to fly and get around. When the baby fell from the planter I thought for sure I'd have some explaining and "clean up", but she got herself together - shook it off and in a few hours could flutter around. We repeated again last year as well and knew to clean out the stems from the annuals from the previous year to prepare for possibly another spring.

This year, about 3 or 4 weeks ago when I was making breakfast I heard the familiar sound and went running to the door. There they were - building again and back for yet another glorious year. My youngest tells everyone, "OUR bird is BACK!"

We'd like to know if these are the babies that return to where they are born or possibly the same mother? I swore I saw 2 fat ones the first week w/the male. Do the women take turns?
Thanks to anyone that can give us the info!