The doves are back!
By The Horse
@TheHorse (205105)
Walnut Creek, California
April 2, 2016 9:44pm CST
The doves have a nest in the planter at my neighbor's house. One couple (not sure if it's the same one) has used this planter as a nesting site for several years. The planter hangs, making it hard for raccoons to reach, and its under the eaves, making it hard for red tailed hawks to see.
As of today, there were two babies in there. They're large enough that they're almost ready for flying lessons. Last year, my balcony served as college campus for flight school. Two different juvenile doves spent about a week each on my balcony (at separate times), periodically flying away with an adult dove, and then returning to spend the night there. I read on the internet that it's the father who teaches the juveniles how to fly.
I'm hoping the juveniles will make their way back to my balcony this Spring. It's actually kind of fun going out there to water the plants, trying not to scare a juvenile dove who doesn't know much about the world yet, including whether to be afraid of me or not. I'll attach a picture of one of this Spring's first babies, taken yesterday. He didn't try to fly away when the flash went off.
21 people like this
22 responses
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
3 Apr 16
what a gift to've the opportunity to feel a part'f such :) i'm hopin' that the winds we've had didn't cut short the lives'f those wee ones, though many shattered eggs've been found sadly. still, 'tis early here'n the doves'll no doubt begin anew if such occurred.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
4 Apr 16
@TheHorse lol, the ones here're very romantic 'n often produce several broods throughout the season :)
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@TheHorse (205105)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Apr 16
@crazyhorseladycx Yep, I think my friend's couple produced three or four.
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@rebelann (111070)
• El Paso, Texas
3 Apr 16
There are so many mourning doves around my place, I haven't a clue where they nest but it's been mating season for them for the past 3 weeks. I wish I could tell the difference tween adult and juvenile but it's hard cause I usually don't get a chance to get too close before they fly off.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111070)
• El Paso, Texas
3 Apr 16
That's never happened here @TheHorse of course the fact that I have a dog and no open porch for them to walk on may have a lot to do with that. But, I do keep water bowls filled for their use, it gets so hot and dry in the spring and summer here that any birds we have will need me to provide water.
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@LadyDuck (457307)
• Switzerland
3 Apr 16
The doves are cute, last year one laid an egg on the top of one of my bird feeders. I rescued the egg, put in a basket with straw and moved the basket on my balcony. I am glad that the dove came to take care of the egg and I saw the little baby moving the "first steps".
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
3 Apr 16
I've lost many hanging plants due to bird babies.
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@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
3 Apr 16
@TheHorse No, can't water the plants for fear of drowning the babies. Plus the birds make a mess of the plants.
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@TheHorse (205105)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Apr 16
@AbbyGreenhill Ah, I hadn't thought about the watering part. I suppose you could "drip irrigate" somehow--just put a few drops in at a time in the evening.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (98695)
• India
3 Apr 16
You are an extremely gentle soul! They make a nest on one of our air conditioners. Initially, dad used to throw their eggs and even young ones down. But now, he is kind of soft on them. He shoes them away and then switches on the air conditioner. We can't do without air conditioners, it is simply too hot out here.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130067)
• India
4 Apr 16
You did manage to take that pretty picture. It is difficult as they keep a watch constantly.
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@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
3 Apr 16
we have a nest each year on the porch, on the brick wall, one of those mud and twig nests attached to a vertical wall, each fall once they are gone we knock it down. Haven't checked yet this year, dont know if they are back yet, but you will know when they are, they get all dive bomby protective lol
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@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
3 Apr 16
@TheHorse these never get that close to me, but I get bombed as well, lol
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@TheHorse (205105)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Apr 16
@Jessicalynnt Were you wearing your cat outfit?
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@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
3 Apr 16
I think doves are some of the coolest birds @TheHorse . I think I have every bird species known to man at my place and it's a pleasure to watch all of them wandering all over my yard.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
3 Apr 16
I had a pair of doves return to a hanging basket on my balcony for several years. I think yours are the same pair too. They never seemed to be afraid of me. If I wasn't around, they came to the window to let me know they were there. Very cute.
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@TheHorse (205105)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Apr 16
@ElizabethWallace I agree. They can also tell who is not a predator but still "unsafe."
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@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
4 Apr 16
@TheHorse I think animals can read our "auras" and determine who is friend or foe.
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@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Apr 16
My mother is a big fan of morning doves and likes when they hang around.
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@Tampa_girl7 (48864)
• United States
3 Apr 16
Awe, I am glad that they have a home.
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@Rohvannyn (3098)
• United States
18 Jun 16
I'm a little late to the party, but my new place has doves. Including gay ones. I just posted about them.
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
3 Apr 16
I've never seen anything like that. I wish they'd do that here at our place.
1 person likes this