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 laid 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!

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!!!

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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.

Doves Nest on Patio Fireplace Mantel

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 door so as not to alarm the dove. Until it got use to us.

Sometimes 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. We could tell 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.

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Easter Morning Mourning Dove Nesting On My Patio

by Anne
(Fountain Hills, Az, USA)

Mourning Dove Nesting on Patio

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!