Mourning Doves - Nest abandonment (1 Viewer)

[27GV]

Hi All,

I am new here and this is my first post. For the past 2 weeks I have had a pair of mourning Doves nesting on my balcony on some shelves I have out there. I live up on the 4 floor of an apartment complex.

A couple fo days ago I was fortunate enough to see the 2 eggs that were in the next hatch. Today, when i was on my way to work I look out the window to see the happy family in their nest.

When I got home tonight, the nest is still there however the birds and the squabs are gone!

I admit that I know thing about birds and am concerned that some harm has come to them.

Can anyone tell me if mourning doves ever change nests and take their young with them?

I am pretty sure that no predators got to them as I do not see any signs for blood or anything that may show any kind of struggle.

Any information anyone could supply me would be of great help.

 

[fugl]

No, parent doves do not move their young which normally don’t leave the nest on their own until they’re at least 10 days old. If the squabs in your nest were only out of the egg a few days when they disappeared, they were probably predated, I’m sorry to say. The fact that there are no signs of struggle doesn’t mean much: the parents wouldn’t necessarily put up any kind of fight & a crow or other avian predator would just gulp young nestlings down whole or carry them off cleanly. Not what you were hoping to hear, I know, but that’s nature I'm afraid, even in apartment buildings.

 

[27GV]

Thank for the information. You are right, it was not the news I was hoping for. I was looking forward to seeing them grow.