Dove nesting behavior question (1 Viewer)

[thegatorlady]

Hello to all,

I am new to the forum and have no birding knowledge but a love of watching birds of all kinds.

I had a Dove build a nest in a hanging plant basket near my front porch. It has been wonderful watching over the last three and a half weeks. Last night the Dove left the nest I was able to see the hatchlings were there and breathing. This morning the parent Dove had not returned and I checked the nest and could see both hatchlings had died over night. I did not have time to remove the dead babies before I left for work. When I came home from work the parent Dove was once again sitting on the nest with the dead babies. A few hours later I noticed the parent Dove had once again left.

My questions are should I remove and dispose of the babies and the nest or leave the nest? Will the parent Doves come back and try again? Is this common for a parent Dove to leave the hatchlings like this and then come back to them only to find it too late for the babies?

I am so sad that the babies have died. All seemed to be going so well we never disturbed the nest and just watched from a far. Any advice on this issue would be great.

Thank you in advance for you help,

Annette

 

[fugl]

These things happen, unfortunately, with specific causation often hard to pin down. I'd get rid of the old nest & dead nestlings; if the doves decide to have another shot, they'll soon build a new one.

What kind of doves are they, Mourning Doves?

 

[thegatorlady]

Thanks for your reply. Yes they are Mourning Doves and the parent Dove was back again tonight when I got home from work.

 

[VLBerry8]

Nesting mourning doves

Any input / info would be appreciated.

We have a pair of mourning doves nesting in the hanging plant at our porch. They built their nest and laid 2 eggs in a matter of a few days. 2 days later they were gone. After 4 days of no activity they have returned to sit on the eggs again. I don't think the eggs are going to hatch. I don't know if I should do anything at this point or just let them continue as they are.

Should I remove the eggs from their nest on the chance they will lay more? How long should I leave the eggs before I do anything and what should I do with the eggs?

 

[fugl]

It sometimes takes a couple of days for incubation to start after the second egg is laid (there're normally only 2 eggs per clutch in dove nests). Once incubation starts in earnest the eggs are covered 24/7 by one or other parent until they hatch after about 14 days. So, if your birds continue to sit on the eggs, things are are probably alright; if not, the nest been abandoned and can be safely cleared out after a few days. Mourning Doves sometimes renest in the same place after successfully bringing off young but seldom or ever after a failure, so in that case there's no reason not to get rid of the old nest. As for the abandoned eggs, I'd just toss them.

 

[VLBerry8]

Thank you. I will probably leave the nest alone until the 14 days are up before doing anything. The dove returned for approx 36 hrs but now she is gone again. At that time I will dispose of the eggs / nest.