Help with fledglings and a pool (1 Viewer)

[mlggator]

Hello All,

I hope you can give me some advice. I am in sunny Southern California. We just recently built a pool in our small California backyard. Most of our backyard is pool or deck with a small ring of plants around the outside. We just had two lovely Mourning Doves nest in one of our date palms. Here is my concern, the palm overhangs the planter area and is very near the pool. I am so scared the poor little fledglings will either fall out of the nest and into the pool or fly into the pool while practicing their flights.
I am not sure how old the babies are and haven't gotten a good peak at them since mom and dad are good parents and one is always on the nest. I know they have hatched as two broken egg shells were found on the ground below. I go out every day to see if the fledglings have left the nest yet.
I have rigged a temporary cover with a tarp on the end of the pool where the nest is. Still I think a short flight and they could still end up in the pool. I am a huge animal lover and will do a lot to help animals in need. I am really terrified for these babies.
What should I do to help ensure these little babies don't drown when they become fledglings? When they fall out of the nest, would be okay to relocate them a few feet away (maybe to the other side of the fence) so they can't fly into the pool. I don't want to move them where mom and dad can't find them.
I would love your advice. If needed, I can take pictures of the area and upload them here for you.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Tired]

Are you able to completely cover the pool?

You should definitely get a couple of these, or something similar. Not just for the doves, but for everything. IMO, these ought to be mandatory for pools, with the number of animals that fall into pools every year and drown because there's no way out. https://www.amazon.com/Swimline-FrogLog-Animal-Saving-Escape/dp/B08QX5MN28

Moving dove fledgelings that are in danger should be fine. I've moved a couple out of the road. They call for their parents, so if they're just a few feet away, the parents will find them. Plus, most of the time the parents will watch you to see when you put the baby down. Under a bush or other shelter would be best, in some shade.

 

[mlggator]

Are you able to completely cover the pool?

You should definitely get a couple of these, or something similar. Not just for the doves, but for everything. IMO, these ought to be mandatory for pools, with the number of animals that fall into pools every year and drown because there's no way out. https://www.amazon.com/Swimline-FrogLog-Animal-Saving-Escape/dp/B08QX5MN28

Moving dove fledgelings that are in danger should be fine. I've moved a couple out of the road. They call for their parents, so if they're just a few feet away, the parents will find them. Plus, most of the time the parents will watch you to see when you put the baby down. Under a bush or other shelter would be best, in some shade.

Thank you so much for your advice. I am not able to completely cover the pool. I have put a tarp over the portion that is near the nest. I also have three of the Froglogs already in my pool. I got those before the pool was finished. I don't want dead animals in my pool.
I just went and took a look at my dove babies. I haven't been able to see them before now because mom and dad are always on the nest. Today, no mom or dad. They are pretty big and look like they are ready to leave the nest. I suspect with mom and dad not sitting on them anymore, it's time. So I am going to be watching a like crazy so I can move them when away from the pool. I need to figure out the best place to move them for their best chance at survival. The palm they are in is in the corner of my yard. They have about 1 to 2 foot area between the fence and pool decking on my side, then on the other side of the back wall is a pocket park with bushes and the other side of the fence is my neighbors yard.

 

[mlggator]

When they do leave the nest, I am thinking that I should dismantle the nest so that the parents don't use it again. Would you agree?

 

[Tired]

Seems reasonable, yes. They could, of course, set up right next door in the same tree if they like it enough.