We have babies on the way! Well, this dove does, to be more precise. She is nesting in a juniper on the side of our house, in a space along the edge of our property between the house and the fence which separates our lot from the next-door neighbor's. The small Bears discovered the nest last week and within a day or so, there was an egg in the nest. The dove began sitting on the nest shortly after that.
We're excited to be able to watch a life-cycle activity in progress, right here in our own yard. Unfortunately, she is nesting just a couple of feet from our trash and recycling bins; we store them there in between weekly pick-ups, behind a locked gate since this passageway leads directly into our backyard from the street side of the house. We've had to change some habits to accommodate our nesting friend, but we don't really mind. We'd rather see her do what she needs to do, and it's interesting for us as long as she can keep doing it!
I try not to bother her, and I'll only take one child at a time back there to check on her. We creep along the narrow alley-like space as quietly as we can (it's much quieter when I do this alone). The juniper has an open area at the front and we can look right inside to where she nests. The nest itself is beautiful, a work of art and function. She's a pretty bird, with her bright eye-markings and smooth, pewter-colored body. I'm amazed at how still she sits, just inches from me. She seems very afraid. I don't stay long; she has an important job to do and I can certainly relate.
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Thanks for listening to our podcast! We're having fun with it. We listen to many podcasts and we started thinking we'd like to try it too. We've recorded several already. I'll let you know when new ones are available.
I just wanted to say thanks, too, for the kind comments, lately and always. I have some things going on right now, and for the next couple of weeks, with our son's medical situation, so please forgive me if I don't manage to keep up with your blogs for a bit. Thanks for being peaches.
Sweet!
ReplyDeleteSo sweet, we have starlings nesting above our front door which is exciting! I hope the next couple of weeks don't prove to be too taxing for you xx
ReplyDeletehow lovely! remember to take good care of yourself whilst you're caring for your son xxx
ReplyDeleteHey Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have a nesting dove. We had a pair of doves nest in the ugly palm tree in the front garden several years ago. Me and the boys watched the baby bird develop and grow and fledge all from the comfort of my bedroom window. Sending lots of love to you and your boy bear. I hope that all runs smoothly for him, and for you.
With much love,
Leanne xx
What an adventure watching the nesting in your own garden. Hope all goes well for your son and remember to look after yourself. Sending you a hug.
ReplyDeleteah, how special to have that to watch, so lovely for the children! Sharon x
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool, to have a nesting dove so close to home !!! Try to keep us informed with photos - if it's possible to photograph her without disturbing her peace & quiet....
ReplyDeleteTake care of your little bear...
Thanks for the beautiful post, Jennifer...you got an awesome photo of Mrs. Dove! Like you, she is a wonderful mother. I hope all goes well with you and yours. xx
ReplyDeleteAwwww.
ReplyDeleteAll best wishes Jennifer. Take care x
What a privilege to have the little bird nesting in your garden, such a lovely thing for your children to witness.
ReplyDeleteHope all goes well with your boy.
V x
Sounds like you and Mrs Dove are both wonderful mothers. Sending you positive thoughts X
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to able to get that close! Thinking of you over these coming weeks.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to be able to see this up close. We have crows nesting, but it's at quite a distance, we need binoculars to look closely. You're being so careful and kind and considerate, a great example to the children. I'm sure they will grow up respecting nature, and being fascinated by it too. I hope everything goes well with your son. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteI can imagine you creeping along for a quick look! I hope that all goes well for the hatching!! xx
ReplyDeleteGrr, pressed publish somehow before I finished. I hope that all goes well for LB and that you will be OK too. Hugs to you all, especially you. xx
DeleteI hope all goes well with LB, Jennifer. I'll be thinking of you. The bird is lovely. The blue colour is fabulous! :o)
ReplyDeleteAwe what a sweet mama bird! I will continue to keep you and your family in my thoughts over the next several weeks. I hope everything goes well for your son.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I missed this post.. what a beautiful bird! Did she lay any other eggs? Very sweet to be able to watch her have chicks. I hope nothing is serious with LBs condition. I will keep you both in my thoughts and wish him well. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteSomehow I missed this post.. what a beautiful bird! Did she lay any other eggs? Very sweet to be able to watch her have chicks. I hope nothing is serious with LBs condition. I will keep you both in my thoughts and wish him well. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteOh, this is the sweetest thing, Jennifer, and wonderful for all of you. You are doing your very best for the bird-mother, keeping it quiet and re-arranging the bins. She is a very pretty bird, too. We had doves nest beside a previous house when the children were growing up, and were able to see the babies after hatching, and watch them until they learned to fly. It was wonderful! So sorry to hear you have some medical issues to contend with, and all the best to you and your little boy for a good outcome.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty bird! It's so fun to watch. I just discovered a Robin making a nest by a window at the Nursing Home where I work. Hope she lays eggs there so we can watch her!
ReplyDeletewhat a great photo! hope you get to see the babies.
ReplyDeleteLast year I had babies bird on a nest in my garden and I could see them. I took mamny pics I had shared on my blog ... I took pics everyday and it was so interesting to see the daily changes .... You're lucky ... I wish them the best !!! And I wish you a very lovely day ! Thanks for your nice comment for my blue blanket ....
ReplyDeleteI love watching the birds in the garden and seeing them nest in the hedge. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope all goes well for your son. x
Looking forward to seeing photos of the chicks! I am keeping my fingers crossed for you that LB's health problems are resolved shortly. x
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful bird and how lovely to be able to watch her like this. Sorry LB is having some health issues and hope they are not too serious and he's well very soon. :) xx
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful. Dove nests always seem so uncomfortable, cobbled together from sticks and twigs and perching precariously in trees, it's a wonder they manage to hatch their eggs. It will be so interesting watching each development. I've had a nest box in my back garden for a few years but it never had any residents. I hung a new one on the house in the front garden a few weeks ago and within days I saw blue tits checking it out. They've been nest building so it looks as though we'll have babies too. The box is right next to the window so I can see them coming and going. I hope all goes well for your son and don't forget to look after yourself too.
ReplyDeleteThe amazing thing is how they line the nest with their own feather down.
DeleteWe had a huge Plane tree outside our living room windows in Buenos Aires. And every spring, Mama Dove would make her nest and have a couple of babies. One year she chose my geranium plant on the balcony and no one was allowed to go out there until the babies could fly :)
ReplyDeleteI sacrificed my geranium plant for those doves !
How wonderful - biology lessons in your own garden. Have fun watching them hatch and grow. Wishing you a great weekend. xx
ReplyDeleteWe have mourning doves in our yard all through the winter, but they seem to moved elsewhere with the "warmer" weather. It's so nice that your kids found the nest and will be able to watch the birds. Mourning doves' chicks grow really fast!! The great-horned owls live-cam I was watching has now turned into a nest for a pair of ospreys! The owls have grown & left the nest. Here's the link if you're interested: http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/46/Great_Horned_Owls/
ReplyDeleteI hope things with your son are soon resolved, and he feels better soon. He has the best mom & dad to care for him.
Wendy
How wonderful to have this sweetie nesting in your garden!!! I love nothing more than to find nests with the beans and keep an eye on babies to come!! And I will be thinking about you all in the next few weeks...and know how trying medical things can be so hang in there mama.....all will be ok! Nicole xoxo
ReplyDeleteLovely to see the birds nesting
ReplyDeleteClare x
Beautiful photo.I hope everything is alright with your son. xo
ReplyDeleteLovely post Jennifer and love that you have a nesting bird, with beautiful eyes....sending good
ReplyDeletewishes for your son and to all of you from Oz xoxo
How lovely that you have a nesting bird, too. The one I spotted is on a ledge of our school on the third floor with a very sloppy nest. I wonder if the couple will still be there when we get to school on Sunday. There's no protection for them out on the ledge like that. Sorry to hear your son is having medical issues. Sending prayers and blessings, Tammy
ReplyDeleteWhat a great mommy you are, Jennifer, to your bears and to this nesting bird!
ReplyDeleteI must have missed your post re: your podcasts! Where can we listen?
Happy weekend!
Poppy
We have wood pigeons nesting in a couple of trees in our garden, we have 1 nest every year, it's great for the kids to see. However our birds are not so good on the nest building it's really like 20 twigs in a pile not very good in the wind!x
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post. Jennifer, I hope everything goes smoothly for your son. You are in my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with all of your appointments and with your son, Mama bird....that is you you know!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
Oh how sweet. We once had a blackbird nest on top of the engine of our campervan. We couldn't use it until all the baby birds had fledged and left the nest. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope all the medical appointments go well.