Doves have hatched at second try this year

[Fuerte Rav]

The first try by a pair of doves, using same nest, ended in a scrambled egg disaster after a strong gust of wind emptied the nest (12th May)



Today a new addition to their family!




These doves are the bane of my dog's life. She spends half her day chasing them away from the handrail just below them and more importantly, from her water bowl! They have learnt to have early baths before she is let out in the morning, so my first job is to wash the bowl and put out fresh water for her.

[Fuerte Rav]

2 babies!

[Fuerte Rav]

This pic was 3 days later, things looking good but not quite ready to leave the nest:



The next morning the nest was empty!
Later I found the remains of one scattered under trees at the other side of the garden and the second one skewered on a spike 'ready for later'. This gave me the clue that Shrek the Gray Shrike that also lives in my garden had done his worst

[Leafmite]

What a handsome bird! I am very glad they had success the second time.

[Shadeflower]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

What a handsome bird! I am very glad they had success the second time.

Helps to read the post.

That is so sad Fuerte, I was really rooting for these guys!!!

[DirtyCoconuts]

damn!! i hate that

i have a pair that has made more than 15 total babies in my lath house and i protect them (several years)

i dont let the dogs into that area unless i am with them and i have hung plants in such a way as to make it VERY hard for a big bird to get in there.......

i usually let nature do its thing but tiny bird babies are sooo cute!


here the most recent two are. they are ready to leave but they like this little niche by the water tote

Untitled by J Solo, on Flickr

[Fuerte Rav]

Third attempt was the charm!

The doves built a new nest in the middle of a dense tree, learning their lesson! It meant no pics and very little following of progress for me. Last week we had a horrendous 5 day calima (gale force hot winds, non stop, temps day and night between 40C and 48C in the shade, less than 5% humidity). I filled their water dish 3 or 4 times a day but didn't see any sign of them and feared the worst.
Today they all appeared and posed for a pic! The baby is looking quite mature so must have hatched just before the calima!

[Fuerte Rav]

The doves are nesting again! No pics of nest as in dense shrubbery.

Pic of my dog from beach walk today - couldn't find my dog thread