Dove nest

While playing with our new video camera I decided to make a lil wild life report of sorts here it is.

http://cappyandpegody.blogspot.com/2015/06/a-pair-of-doves-come-home-to-roost.html

I reckon she is thinking I may as well take it easy for now as there is an awful lot of work  to be done when they hatch.

Or something like that.

We just had our Doves leave with their young from the nest. They made a nest in a hanging plant basket that was on a outside shelf attached to the carport. They were not there last year, but they were the year before. My wife and I keep the hanging plant basket as is, just to see if the Doves come back every year.

Ryan

Sweet dove

Funny how the Lord works if they had nested early the yard cats would have gotten them.  Since the kittens all have flown the coop and mama cat is now inside its safe for them so they nested later than usual.  I will let yall know when the chicks appear.

People used to have (still have?) dovecotes in England. Fattened the doves for eating.
Has  anyone eaten dove?

Dove is a great game bird.  They are solid dark meat make a rich gravy and really good bacon wraped on da pit.  They are easy prey and when I was young it was great fun to take a pellet gun out get a couple build a fore and roast them over the coals, now that I am older I prefer looking at them than eating them and eat other critters instead.   I aint ever gonna say never though, cause they are very tasty.

Our Doves nesting on teh patio raised 2 chicks and then flew the coop so to speak.   Here is a report complete with a video of the chicks getting fed:
http://cappyandpegody.blogspot.com/2015/07/an-update-on-our-nesting-doves.html
We miss them and hope they return to do it again one day.

So you are empty nesters, again! Thank you for sharing.

You are very welcome Sanderson we revel in all living things in our back yard jungle

We occasionally have a dove's nest. Our cat just has to lay on her back and wait for the junior squab to fall into her paws. The doves make the flimsiest nests, 3 twigs and call it good.

Yes their nest are rather simply thrown together.  We hadda corral our yard cat and incarcerate her in the bathroom till the doves left.  She was really good about it and has now become an inside cat as much as outside.  The dogs dont like her in but she is a tough gal and they keep their distance.

Hi Cappy - just read this thread. 2 years ago a dove decided to nest in a hanging plant on our patio. It was at a level where we could have reached in and touched it. We left her alone (which included not watering my geraniums), but occasionally I would forget and walk really close to her. She didn't budge! That maternal instinct is pretty strong!. It was fun to see the babies hatch, get fed, and finally fly away. I left the nest (the plant survived), but they didn't return. Thanks for the memories.

Cappy, I'm jealous of the privilege you had to see doves grow up on your patio.  For a couple years now, we've had multiple generations of wrens come to build nests on or near our porch.  The wrens completely ignored the bird houses my wife bought... instead they chose a cardboard box in a quiet corner.  We heard the peep peep and watched as both parents brought food.  This year we had two generations, back to back.  It seems they will come back every year.

I've have a friend here who relocates squirrels.  When there are too many to relocate, he prepares them for eating.  He told me he would teach me how to process a squirrel next time he has too many.  Believe it or not, I'm looking forward to it.  Perhaps an ex city boy can learn some practical country skills?  He's grew up here and he knows how to prepare just about anything.  Hopefully his skills will rub off on me!

Oh, my gosh.  Memories.  When I was still in elementary school, we went on a picnic in the foothills.  My daddy shot a squirrel and my mother fried it up like chicken.  Not bad.  We also went gigging and ate frogs' legs.  I think I would rather eat squirrel if my memory hasn't failed me.  I was the one who had to hold the flashlight for my dad to gig.  

Back to doves. The fledglings would fall out of the nest and I would to put them back in the nest to keep them away from the cat. They would just jump right back out. Sigh.