This past weekend, I was fascinated watching two mourning doves flying in and out of a bush in our backyard. They would fly up to the bush, sit on a branch and then disappear inside. They were carrying twigs and grass in their beaks.
I got the photo above before scaring the birds to the top of our pergola.
One of the doves kept guard from the top of the pergola before continuing the chore of building their nest.
I wanted to get a picture of the nest, but this is what I saw when I got up close:
Do you see the dove roosting in her nest? Her eye is to the left of the vertical branch. I backed off after snapping a photo. I don’t want to scare them away. That was quick work in building the nest!
Last year, I discovered quail eggs in a large planter next to our garage. The quail must have laid eggs while we were out of town. Once we were home, I noticed quail flying out of the planter whenever I opened the garage. I looked in the planter and discovered quail eggs, but mom and dad quail were scared away. The eggs never hatched.
I don’t want that to happen with the mourning doves. So, I’ll try to stop myself from taking more pictures!
A Gila woodpecker goes in an out of a saguaro nest in our backyard. All the holes were most likely made by woodpeckers. When they leave their nests, other birds move in.
I love watching birds in my empty nest.
What nests have you noticed in your neck of the woods?
That should be fun to keep an eye on EA! I’ve seen a few sparrows nest building here. I used to see a lot of Starlings but they sort of disappeared last year. I expect to see some new bunnies and squirrels at some point as well.
I can’t wait to see the baby birds. We get bunnies and chipmunks too.
Wow – how wonderful! I can’t wait for the updates as you have them!
I can’t be too much of a pest, or there won’t be any updates!
Love! We have a pair of mourning doves frequenting our deck but we can’t figure out where their nest is! 😉
Maybe you’ll spot it, but mine was pretty well hidden. My neighbor has a nest on her patio fan right over her outside dining table!
Oh my! Yes…we need to keep our peepers open, that nest is somewhere! 😜
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Each year, my in-laws have a pair or mourning doves build a nest atop their front door chandelier. The first year, they didn’t know and the eggs got cooked. Then, last year, the babies fell from the nest. This year, we knocked the new nest down every 10 hours or so (twigs fell down onto guests) and the doves kept rebuilding. We ended up putting up bird spikes… it’s just a bad location for all.
I can imagine that’s not the best location! My neighbor has them building on a ceiling fan on her patio over their dining table. Dirt and twigs would fall on the table. I think she turned on the fan a few times!
I’ve joked about this in the past, you really do have a bird and game preserve at your house. I bet it definitely adds to your day. Ha, ha.
The nature here tops the homeless guy living in my yard in California. I’ll take the coyotes, bobcats, javelinas and birds any day of the week.
Oooo, I forgot about the story about the homeless guy. Oh, yea, I’ll take the wildlife. Ha, ha.
😅 👍🏼 Other than the homeless guy we had raccoons and a skunk. The skunk sprayed Waffles in the face while I was taking care of him!
Oh, poor waffles! And you. I suspect that took some cleaning up.
It was a nightmare to clean up. It was so strong smelling, we thought it was a strange chemical. Waffles was foaming at the mouth. It didn’t smell like skunk. I googled foaming at the mouth and strong smell. It was a skunk. By that time Waffles had run through the house!
I don’t see nests. But, I do watch two Pigeons kiss and fornicate in front of my door. I keep telling them to go behind the shed to do that. Lol
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Every year we find doves nesting in a planter hanging on the wall in our patio. The crows try and get to the eggs, the parents take turns guarding but we have to be careful not to scare them both away at the same time. I am forever fascinated by the birds of spring. It’s such an exciting time of year. Hugs, C
A lovely opportunity to watch them in action. Lucky you
I’m trying to keep my distance, but I walk by and glance over at the nest once a day.
It’s so lovely to have them nest nearby.
Ha….
You have so many birds, woodpeckers too!
The woodpeckers can be annoying because they bully other birds and have a loud obnoxious call.
Interesting, they do seem like a strong bird.
Today and yesterday I had a raven in the yard. I’ve never seen one before. It is three times the size as a crow, is shinier and its wing tips and tail shape are different.
Oh, and I think they are fiercer looking, aren’t they.
Absolutely scary looking!