Doves in Hanging Basket

by Marianne
(Palmdale, CA)

We have had wonderful generations of a Dove family in this basket over and over again for the last three years. This is the fourth set of hatchlings and the neighborhood is just full of doves.

Apparently they love the location of the baskets which are just outside the front door and hidden from the elements.

We never plant the one basket so it is ready for them and try to keep the other one planted for shelter.

We keep a little cracked corn in the planted basket for them while they are sitting. We immediately stop using the front door when they arrive to allow them privacy and fewer interruptions.

It is just so much fun to watch the process. God Bless the faithful mother and father as they remain on their constant vigil. Shift change seems to be at around 5:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Our weather this year has been just crazy so they have had to protect the eggs from snow, 28 degrees up to and including 95 degrees and back again several times.

It has been a great experience - full of all the parenting joys and worries. It is sad to see them go but you always know they are somewhere nearby..... and you can hear them talking to you.

Doves Nest In Hanging Plant on Deck

Imagine my surprise when I started to water my hanging plant and a dove flew out! When first hanging the pot, I'd dropped it from the second floor and lost some of the soil. But this created an empty spot right in the center-perfect for the nest I found inside the next day.

The following day there was one perfect egg. Then a second followed.

Keeping the plant watered to maintain the lush foliage has been a challenge. Finding a moment without mommy or daddy has been impossible.

I assumed one left and the other "came on duty" until I happened to see a dove fly TO the nest without seeing a dove leave.

I looked and they were both in the pot!

At first, my attempts to water would frightened off the dove and I would soak the plant enough to last a couple days.

I kept going on the deck to sweep, water the other plants and move around their plant so they would get used to me. Now they allow me to water while in the nest!

I try my best to hide behind the leaves, stay low and pour slowly. They do watch me very closely with those bright shiny eyes!

The big day is near (1 or 2 more days) from what I’ve read. I can’t wait for the babies.

Hopefully I can get some pictures to remember this wonderful opportunity to see nature in action.

Pretty Nest In Hanging Plant

by OutWest
(San Mateo, CA )

We have a dove family forming on our front porch in a hanging geranium pot.

So far the birds fly off when we open the front door so we're trying to use the back door as much as possible.

I moved the pot higher up on the chain so they would feel a bit less visible when someone comes to the door, and today when I went out for the paper the nesting bird didn't take off. So I'm hoping they're getting used to some activity near the nest.

The eggs are so pretty I almost wish they wouldn't hatch! But it will be nice to see the babies.

A question for the more-experience dove hosts out there--is is possible to water the pot? I'm thinking of waiting for the bird to fly off and quickly putting a little bit of water into the plant every other day or so. It's getting pretty hot here and I don't want my plan to die.

Luckily it was watered right before the eggs were laid.

Mourning Dove Nest In My Hanging Petunia

by Bernie Warren
(Fairfield Twsp Ohio)

Last month I had a Morning Dove decide to nest in my hanging petunia on my back deck.

I didn’t want her there restricting my deck usage, so I removed her nest; yet she came back the next day and built another. So I removed it again!

This time I filled the spot in the basket with a large dragon candle to discourage her once and for all.

However, she had other plans as she shoved the candle out of the basket, built another nest, and laid an egg by the time I came home from work on that third day!

We learned to coexist and she allowed me to water the other plants on my deck. Once, I got too close so she flew away and I could peek at her nest and saw that her egg had hatched into a beautiful chick! There was also a second egg that had not hatched which I thought best to remove.

Several weeks later I noticed that neither Momma nor Poppa Dove had been to the nest for several days and the chick, now considerably bigger, had been hiding in the petunias to get out of the glaring sun.

I was really worried they had abandoned her because of something I had done! I checked on her and she was quite annoyed with me.

I prayed and prayed that the parents would come back and finally got the nerve to look in on her and she had successfully flown the coup!!! I was so relieved and happy for her.

Later that evening, she came back and spent several hours sitting on the deck. I like to think she was telling me she was going to be ok!

Doves in Hanging Baskets

by Marianne
(Palmdale, CA)

This is the third time I have had Doves return to this one basket for nesting. There are always two eggs.

Initially they are very nervous should anyone come close, but they got much calmer and didn't fly off.

Here is one of many great pictures. I put a dish of food you suggested in the basket next to the one they have made a nest in and placed water close by.

I worry about them all the time but they are so much joy!!!

Doves nest in hanging plants

by Suzi
(Virgunia)

This is the third season that the mourning doves have mated and raised a brood on our front porch.

Now we know that our hanging flowers will be covered by nests. The last pair have raised 2 chicks and thrown them from the nest.

They cannot fly well yet but are adorable and fun to watch them learn.

Now they have nested in another hanging plant next to the old nest. They seem to trust us now.

Third Year Nesting In Hanging Plant

by Edwardine Baker
(Gilbertsville, PA)

For three years or more, as soon as I put my hanging pots out, I have a dove making a nest in it. Last year there were three nestings and out of the eggs, only four survived.

This year I heard the whistling of their wings and I said, guess you are waiting for me to hang out my hanging plant. Sure enough as soon as I did, they started building their nest. And as you say, it is a sparse nest material. Today we saw them exchange places. They are so trusting. I walk right by them and they just move their eyes, not their body. I feel they trust me.

Last year when one baby died, the parent worked and worked to throw the dead one out of the nest but the bird eventually succeeded. I felt so sorry for the parent but did not attempt to interfere as I was afraid she would abandon the other baby bird.

The doves seem to pick one or the other planters each year and sometimes the same and sometimes not. Last year one nested right at our front steps and never moved when people came in or out. What a privilege to be able to watch these gentle birds!

There's a Dove in My Ivy Plant!?

by Nan
(San Diego)

27 Mar 2016 - I stepped out on my back balcony and turned around to see this dove sitting in the middle of my ivy plant, staring back at me at eye level, right next to the back door. I am not sure which of the two of us was more startled.

I very carefully went back inside, but later had to go back out for something and she flew off, so I could see that there are two eggs in the nest. She was back on the eggs very quickly after I came back in the house.

She and her mate had been out there last week, trying to set up housekeeping in one of my fern plants, which I brought in as it did not need to be used as a bird nest. I really didn't expect her to substitute the somewhat scraggly ivy plant - but apparently it didn't need to be the lush, green, soft fern plant to be suitable.

(Yea!!!)

Doves in Hanging Baskets at Front Door

by Beth Walsh
(Claremont, Ca)

Hello, April 12 the we noticed a nest with a single egg in the hanging baskets by our front door. The next morning a second d egg was noted. Unfortunately, spring is busy at this time so the parents got frightened off the nest a few times before they figured it we were ok.

We ignored them coming and going and kept our dog in a leash. One egg hatched on May 3rd with no signs of the other egg. No shell fragments, nada.

The male bird appeared to have an Injured wing as he bolted from the nest when a visitor peered into the nest, fell to the grown and scrambled across the street. He returned to the nest 10 minutes later but a wing is not right.

Yesterday morning we heard a lot of cooing for several hours. As we left home around 11 am all was fine. Arriving home at 7:15 pm last night everything is gone. No birds, no nest...it's like they were never there. The female did not return to the nest last night.

Would this have been a predator or did the squab fly off in a week. Normally I would guess predator, however there was a lot of cooing in the early am so am wondering if the parents encouraged the little one to fly. Typical predator​s here are squirrels, cats and Hawks. Also heard raccoons across the street a few nights ago.

Curious about your thoughts...

Beth

Doves in my basket!

by Deanna Kaufman
(Allen, TX)

My morning ritual usually consists of a hot cup of coffee & at least an hour on the patio tending to my plants, hummingbird feeder & fountain.

Yesterday, started in the usual way. I opened the back door wide to get the fresh air. I went to the west facing side of my patio...rotated hanging baskets, filled the fountain, watered plants on that side.

Headed to the NE facing side of patio, watered, turned the first basket, went to turn the second & whoosh! Dove flew up & away, scaring me half to death. Wasn't expecting such a glorious surprise!

I carefully watered the plant & went indoors for a bit. I often see the pair of doves, noticed their comings & goings. I honestly didn't notice the nest building!

I work from home & I spend a significant portion of my day on the patio. I enjoy mornings there as well as evenings glass of wine, opera...it's my retreat. A family of doves moving in is quite unexpected.

I really enjoy the busy lives of all the birds that frequent my patio...cardinals, blue jays, hummingbirds, & finch.

This though...this was special. Feels much more like an honor that they have chosen my patio & my hanging basket. I really look forward to watching the family. I can definitely post photos of the babies too.

Cheers