03 June 2010

Mother Dove

Mother Dove recently took up residence in one of my hanging baskets. She built a nest and promptly deposited two large eggs. From reading a little bit about doves, I've learned that the mother and the father share egg-sitting duty. I caught this picture at "changing of the guard" time.



The eggs should not get wet, so I have to be extra careful when watering the basket. As soon as I climb up my ladder, Mother Dove flies to a nearby tree. I gently water the basket without letting any water touch the eggs. When I put the ladder away, Mother Dove returns.

A few years back, I had a nesting dove in another hanging basket. The two baby doves which hatched were adorable and quite fun to watch, so I was excited when Mother Dove chose my basket for her temporary home.

But not as excited as Tinsel! (Notice the slight blur of her tail. Swish...swish...swish!)

4 comments:

Sarah Coggins said...

Laughing at Tinsel - I bet that is a good time. We have had birds nest in our hanging baskets every year. This year, I confess, I didn't hang any. Kind of miss peeking in on the eggs and new hatchlings. I have always been careful to water around them as well. :)

Janet said...

lol It is fun! It will be more interesting for Tinsel once the babies hatch. Mother Dove sits so still that right now, there is not a lot to watch! lol

I get really nervous about babies in hanging baskets. We had a storm once and a baby (don't remember what kind of bird, but not a dove)fell out. Very sad.

Maureen said...

Ha! I LOVE that photo of Tinsel with her swishy tail!

And Doves! That is awesome Janet; obviously they know you are an animal lover... they couldn't have chosen a better location.

Jill said...

Oh my gosh - Sugar would be in HEAVEN!!!! Lucky Tinsel! And lucky bird that the glass is there. ;-)