They may raise several broods in one season. The male selects the nesting site and carries construction materials to the future mom, who then builds the nest. Unlike other birds, who carefully fashion a nest over several days, the mourning dove seems to have other priorities—since the flimsy nest we saw seems to have been hastily constructed.
Hermit Musings (the book)
The mourning dove broods and tends to the hatchlings longer than most songbirds. The time span from egg laying to fledging may be well over a month, rather than just a few weeks, as for, example, the wren. Our doves laid their two eggs early in chilly May. The fact that we scared the parent away so often on those cold days had me concerned that the eggs had gotten chilled and the embryos died.
Yet, day after day, the parent sat there—less and less inclined to flee, as it became habituated to us. I learned later that we were probably watching dad brood, since he usually takes the day shift, leaving mom to cover the nights.
My Other Blogs
But one day I thought I saw a baby's head peeking out from under the parent. Grabbing my camera and zooming in for a shot, I soon saw the second head pop out from under dad's wing. We doubled up on our nest watching—eager to watch the little ones grow. It's amazing how fast a chick develops from a feeble, downy lump into a bird virtually as large and full-feathered as its parent, in just a week or so. Doves are strictly vegetarian—its diet consisting of seeds and fruit.
Book Musings: Sparrow and Dove
They have a large crop in their chest, into which they stuff a capacious amount of seed, which later gets ground into edible mush. After the chicks hatch, the crop-stuffed parent flies to the nest to feed the babies. We never saw the feeding activity, but we kept a close watch over the next week or two, noting the chicks grow ever larger—wondering how that flimsy nest could possibly support two big chicks and a parent. Were we seeing a great balancing act, or was the fragile-looking nest far stronger than it appeared? Later research told me that the nest may get used again—maybe even in the next year.
I'm beginning to think that momma doves are very savvy structural engineers, who build robust yet delicate nests.
One day in June the chicks fledged. A little research told me that the fledglings may hang around their nest area for a few days. We must trust God enough to live our best most daring lives, the lives we truly want to live Read More. My thanksgiving and gratitude mode has been activated.
I look around me and despite all the bad news around us I still feel it is such a privilege to be alive today. I am not taking being alive for granted. For me, it does not matter what the circumstances are-good or bad.
- Friends of Mine: Thirty Years in the Life of a Duran Duran Fan.
- Musings from the Wounded Dove.
- Public Health Approach Recommended To Address Disparities In Cognitive Health & Dementia Impact (OPEN MINDS Weekly News Wire Book 2013).
All I know is that being alive gives me the opportunity to hope for a better tomorrow. And that is the Read More. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. When I got born again so many years ago, Faith was such a fascinating phenomenon. It seemed so simple yet so difficult. It is even exciting. However, when you have to faith healing from a terminal disease or your rent is due tomorrow and you are in faith or you need an opportunity that a million other people also want, then you understand why faith is not easy.
Musings with God
I could not take my time to understand faith. I learnt it on the job. I did not have the luxury of being able to Read More. He was the son of Jesse the Ephrathite from Bethlehem in Judah. The names of the three sons who had joined up with Saul were Eliab, the firstborn; next, Abinadab; and third, Shammah. David was the youngest son. The Message The year is still new but is running so fast.
Country Musings - With a little help from the turtle dove above, October
With all the negative reports from the economy-Oil prices are crashing, the Naira is being devalued etc, there is a need Read More. Faith will be ignited, rekindled, or destroyed; it all boils down to what you want to take out of I am so excited about this year I know someone will wonder what I am talking about. There all sorts of predictions going around about Nigeria at the moment. But we will rise up to who we are as people of faith.
- Account Options!
- The basics of econometrics using Eviews;
- Scenes and Musings in Port Angeles.
- Circus Tender (Floating Wolf Quarterly Chapbooks).
- A Dragon's Musings.
- Dreamwork for Actors (Theatre Arts Book);
- JBlog Carnival Updates, HH, KCC & JPIX.
For we walk not by sight Read More. The Message Recently, I bought myself a little charm bracelet and was very excited about it.
I bought it at a great bargain and was really looking forward to wearing it when the occasion would arise. I have this thing for charm bracelets. Then I began to feel a nudge to give it to a particular younger friend of Read More.