revjohn
Peaceful Place
Posted on: 05/01/2008 23:33
Hi All,
We moved into our current home last June so this is our first spring with mature trees around the house.
The mature lot covers up my immaturity quite nicely.
So I notice movement all the time. Rabbits, Raccoons, Skunks and birds and think where are they all living. The Skunks were next door under the neighbur's shed. He relocated them to the local Golf Course. I watched him from afar.
We have always had quite a few Morning Doves cooing around which doesn't quite cover up the massive freight trains rumbling by between 8 and 15 times a day but they can be very relaxing.
The population has been growing like gangbusters.
We have a nest in our birch tree. Momma and yesterday two hatchlings.
We have a nest in our cedar hedge. I see Momma but no hatchlings yet.
Evidence of another nest was Momma feeding a fledgling down on the ground in the garden.
The one nest surprised me because I had only seen the one egg in it. Yet very clearly there were two hatchling heads peering out at me from underneath Momma.
The trick now will be to keep the fledglings away from our puppies. The older male would likely be curious. The females, especially the older one, appear very intent on dining on bird and will chase birds flying through their yard's airspace.
We also have a Robin sitting on two eggs a few cedars down from the Dove. She's just a little thing and the clutch of eggs is below average yeild, I suspect it is her first.
So there is lots of coming and going and gentle cooing and chirping. The odd territorial squabble.
I noticed a young rabbit on the lawn about noon so there is probably a litter of them somewhere nearby as well.
It is lovely to be in the middle of all of that.
Grace and peace to you.
John
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revjohn
Posted on: 05/01/2008 23:34
cooooo
LBmuskoka
Posted on: 05/02/2008 06:33
Our place is also a peaceful place, with the exception of the youngest dog who barks at every living thing, including the wind, that passes by.
We discovered that for the first time our boathouse had visitor's in our absence. As with most guests, they did no damage but left a mess....
abpenny
Posted on: 05/02/2008 06:37
Hi revjohn...immaturity is underrated, and I'm glad you're taking in the secrets of the garden!
"Be Still" has been a joy to teach my granddolly. Our yard is full of mature trees so it's fun to show her all of the nests once the leaves fall. I love to read in the sun, but often the book sits unopened while I listen and watch...if it wasn't still dark out...I'd go!
abpenny
Posted on: 05/02/2008 06:39
Great shot, lb...for sure they're Canadians!
LBmuskoka
Posted on: 05/02/2008 07:46
That's right AB, the open fridge door is the dead give away to their native origins :-)
btw, I can't take credit for that shot, one of our friends took it when they went to check the cottage. We haven't even put our boat in the water yet.
I'm still surprised they chose our run down accomodations over the luxury one next door....
redhead
Posted on: 05/02/2008 08:29
lb: you have very cute guests :)
crazyheart
Posted on: 05/02/2008 11:06
John, there is something to say for trains. In awhile they just become part of the surroundings and you won't even hear them until a visitor makes mention of them.
revjohn
Posted on: 05/09/2008 10:22
Hey All,
Forget rabbits! Man do those Morning Doves ever get their groove on!
Momma's back in a new nest with another clutch of eggs.
I'll check the fence-line to see if the other women in this harem have rebuilt and are sitting on more eggs.
The little suckers grow fast too!
Grace and peace to you.
John
abpenny
Posted on: 05/09/2008 12:26
I had to read my "birds of Alberta" book...it says the mourning doves incubate 2 eggs for 14 days but doesn't note how many times in the season. It does note that the male provides the sticks that the female uses to build the nest...kool...
revjohn
Posted on: 06/03/2008 12:41
This is for abpenny.
Find the baby!
abpenny
Posted on: 06/03/2008 13:18
thanks revjohn...I had a great ramble through your photos on the other site as well. I was shocked...shocked, I tell you...at how puffy those mourning doves look! I hear them and see them at our place...but not roosting. They puff up real good.
revjohn
Posted on: 06/04/2008 13:57
abpenny,
Hi,
You wrote:
I was shocked...shocked, I tell you...at how puffy those mourning doves look!
They are prbably a little smaller than a cornish game hen but not, I think, that much smaller.
Anyway, the little doves are fledging today. Well one of them is. The other must think it is still too chilly out of the nest.
Grace and peace to you.
John
Serena
Posted on: 06/04/2008 23:12
Unfortunately, the crows have taken over my backyard and chased away the two doves that were going to nest and the bluejays that kept coming back year after year. :( My useless cats are scared of the crows because they are so aggressive. I saw a nest of baby crows in my tree and did not have the heart to knock it down because they were so little.
I am glad that some of you have nice birds in your backyards.
revjohn
Posted on: 06/18/2008 21:28
Hi All,
I have been waiting and waiting for our Orioles to return. Well they came back, picked the bower apart and left which is disappointing. It means we will not have the beautiful orange and black male darting about.
I think I know why.
That morning dove is back and is sitting on another clutch of eggs.
That's the third brood this spring.
I wonder where they are all going?
Grace and peace to you.
John
snow
Posted on: 06/18/2008 22:07
what a wonderful thread, john and all, a joy to read