For two out of three months this summer, we've played host to two families of mourning doves.
We've always had mourning doves on our property, nesting in the grove of cedar trees or in the older maples. This year, we've got more than one family for the first time. They sit at the crest of our horse barn and coo, or they perch on the roof outside our bedroom and wake us in the mourning.
In June, two doves built a nest in the hanging basket on the side porch, just off the kitchen. For a month, we came and went with caution while the mother bird hatched one of two eggs and the father bird sat watch all day long. The noisy flapping of wings alerted us about 7 p.m. every night when the guard changed and the mother returned to the nest.The birds left in July and allowed our plant to flourish again. But another pair took up residence in August, and now they've got a darling little baby, technically known as a squab.
No, I'm not going to post a recipe for squab. Sorry. I can't eat my guests. (Don't make any jokes here about famous Wisconsin cannibals, please.)
We've always had birds in our hanging baskets, but rarely have we gotten to know them as well as we have this year. One day I looked up from my supper preparations to see my husband having a conversation with the father bird.
The first couple were unflappable, allowing us to pet their tail feathers and water the plant. The second pair is feistier, and regularly flap their wings in alarm and defense when I come near with my long-spouted watering can.
Still, I suspect I'll feel a bit bereft when they quit the nest in September.
Summer guests are both a blessing and a curse.
8 comments:
What lovely guests! We had a nest of sparrows in one of the hanging baskets earlier this summer but they definitely didn't let us get anywhere near them.
Mary, we've actually used a different door to keep past visitors happy. We've had robins, finches and sparrows in our porch basket in years past, but never two families in one year.
That is sooooo sweet, Mimi! I love it when we can be close to birds and other creatures without scaring them away.
The doves have become part of our lives in a very intimate way this summer. The current family prefers m husband's company just now, because he did not tr to water the plant!
Mimi, I have mourning doves here every day feasting at my bird feeder, but none nesting in my yard, you will miss them when they leave, none of the birds in the yard will let me near them at all.
Eileen, we are luck to have a lot of nooks and crannies around our house and the birds seem to find them attractive.
My husband's theory is that since it is now legal to hunt mourning doves in Wisconsin, the birds are moving into cities in greater numbers. Thus we have more doves than in the past.
In fact, I think the season begins today.
What wonderful guests to have! Your hanging basket must be very inviting. And two families in one summer! They're very cute.
They are pretty good guests all in all, and the truth is that we will be sad to see them go. It will seem as if something is missing, Lucy!
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