Mourning Doves Nest in My Heart Shaped Basket - My Experience

by Kathy Devitt
(Little Egg Harbor, NJ)

A Cozy Nest in an Unexpected Place

A pair of mourning doves has turned our front porch into their own private sanctuary, nesting right on top of a heart-shaped hanging basket.

These gentle birds have chosen this unlikely spot to lay their eggs, incubate their young, and raise their hatchlings—offering us an intimate view of their nesting cycle.

Last year, I noticed a pair of doves starting to build a nest in the basket, but something must have spooked them because they abandoned it before laying any eggs.

However, I would still see them in the yard, perching on nearby trees or foraging for food on the ground.

This spring, to my delight, the same mourning dove pair returned, determined to make the hanging basket their permanent home.

They carefully rebuilt their nest, using small twigs and grass, and soon enough, I spotted mourning dove eggs nestled safely inside.

Living Side by Side with the Doves

Despite our frequent activity on the porch—coming and going every day—the mourning doves in the basket remained surprisingly calm.

Unlike some bird species that might abandon their nest at the first sign of human presence, these doves seemed to tolerate our movements.

Then, the big moment arrived—the mourning dove eggs hatched, revealing two tiny baby doves!

It was an amazing experience to watch them stretch their delicate necks upward, beaks wide open, just like an illustration from a children's book.

They were so fragile, yet so full of life.

A Close Call with Predators

Unfortunately, the nest attracted some unwanted attention.

One day, I saw a squirrel scaling the window screen, attempting to get to the mourning dove nest in the basket.

The little troublemaker had a firm grip on the hanging basket and was tugging at it, likely trying to knock it down.

I rushed outside, clapping my hands and shouting to scare it away. In the commotion, the mother mourning dove flew off in alarm.

I was terrified that she wouldn't return and that the baby doves would be left defenseless.

I peered into the nest—thankfully, the hatchlings were unharmed.

To prevent future squirrel invasions, my husband had a great idea.

He removed the screen from the window, making it impossible for squirrels to climb up and reach the nest.

Thankfully, a couple of hours later, the mourning dove mother returned to her babies, resuming her protective watch.

Watching the Baby Doves Grow Up

Mourning doves grow up incredibly fast.

Within just two weeks, the once tiny, featherless mourning dove hatchlings transformed into fledglings, strong enough to leave the nest.

The big day arrived when they took their first flight—an emotional and exciting moment.

I watched as one of the mourning dove parents flew down to the grass a few feet away and began calling softly to the babies.

The first fledgling spread its wings and took off, fluttering unsteadily before reaching the ground.

The second baby hesitated, flapping its wings nervously.

After a few moments of gathering courage, it finally followed its sibling, making a successful first flight.

After that, I didn’t see the doves for nearly a week. I assumed their time on our porch had come to an end.

A Surprise Return: A Second Nesting Cycle

Just as I thought our mourning dove family had moved on, they returned! The same pair was back in the hanging basket, incubating a second brood of eggs.

It turns out that mourning doves can lay multiple clutches in a single season—sometimes up to six!

Now, I find myself eagerly watching this new nesting cycle, knowing that in just a few weeks, another pair of baby doves will hatch, grow, and take flight right from our front porch.

It has been such an incredible experience to witness firsthand the mourning dove nesting habits.

Their resilience, gentle nature, and dedication to their young have made this a truly special experience.