Finally a Good Look at the Baby Mourning Doves

I have been checking on the doves every day. Yesterday I caught them without the mom, but they were very hidden between the leaves. I never want to disturb them but brushing aside the leaves, so the photo above was the best I could get.  There are just two chicks. I thought there were more.  I went back to the photos on March 9th, and only 2 eggs are in the picture.

This morning, I looked at them again. Mom was sitting with the chicks, and I could only see one chick. After returning from Pt. Isabel a few hours later, I checked on them again. Yahoo!!!!  Only the 2 chicks were home, and I was finally able to get a clear photo of them! I can't believe how much they have grown in eight days! (see photo from March 20th). They are now completely covered in feathers. Pretty soon they will be learning to fly!

Mourning Doves Chicks Are Here

I first discovered the nest on March 9th. On March 18th or so, I thought I saw some movements in the next under mother dove.  I wasn't sure because because mother dove was still sitting on top of everything. On March 20th, while the mom was away, I had a good look of the nest. The chicks are definitely here but they slept a lot and were not moving much. On March 22nd, I saw chicks moving next to the mom.  Everytime I try to get closer to the nest by reaching over the porch, the chicks seem to hold completely still. I am sure that's the defensive mechanism to reduce attention from their prey.

I got a glimpse of mother dove feeding the chicks and was able to take a short video of it.  I don't want to bother them too much. I know the mom's eyes are always watching me. She is extremely alert.

Mourning Dove Nest Outside of My Window

Lately it seemed like many birds have been hiding in the plants along the walkway to my backyard gate. Every time I am sweeping or pulling weeds or doing whatever near the gate, some bird would flop its wings and startle me. Today I was trimming the overgrown vegetation, my next door neighbor called out my name. She wanted to let me know that some mourning doves are nesting right in the bushes. Now it all makes sense!  As we were talking, surely enough, some bird flopped its wings and startled both of us. She told me the nest is at the same level as my window. I was excited. I could observe birth of some baby birds right through my window.  After the conversation, I got on my back porch looking for the nest. Suddenly I saw an eye staring back at me. Somehow it looked like a fake bird because it wasn't moving at all, so I got closer. Suddenly, it flew away making a lot of noise as it took off. I guess it was real.  I was able to see the eggs the bird was sitting on.

I waited for a while, but the bird didn't come back. I was a little worried. I went get dinner and went back to look at the nest through my window this time. Ah, the bird came back and was sitting on the eggs again. I almost feel bad for the bird because Cracus barks a lot sometimes. The bird has to endure a lot of noise.

Perhaps the bird likes it because the dog would alert it if any danger comes.  The nest is more than 6 feet above the ground, so I can't see it when I am outside on the ground level. Once I come inside, because the house is elevated, I am able to see it at the eye level from the window. This is perfect. The bird doesn't get startled when I watch it from inside.