Thursday, July 13, 2006

Proudly Presenting ... White-winged Dove Baby

Tucson, Arizona - I've been watching a pair of White-winged Doves nesting in a mesquite tree outside my studio. This is their third attempt to produce babies this season. The first time they added to a nest formerly built by Mourning Doves. I found the eggs smashed on the ground one morning. They returned and built a nest in a different branch of the tree in early May. The eggs they laid disappeared. When we returned from vacation on June 27, the doves were again sitting on the nest. Yesterday, the male came by several times in the morning and tried to preen the female. She paid no attention.This morning, I noticed the male arriving with more nesting materials. Later, I saw the female shift and spread her wings over something. Eventually a little one emerged.I'm photographing these doves from under the porch roof, so my photos may be a bit fuzzy - they're cropped pretty tightly - and they will all be from the same angle, since I don't want to walk out into the yard. I did that once a couple of weeks ago and the dove flew off her nest. I don't want her to be concerned about me, so I'll stay away from that area for a while.

UPDATE: July 16 - Feeding the nestling:
See also
White-winged Dove Baby - Updates (July 22)
White-winged Dove Fledgling - With mom and dad, alone, and ... gone! (July 26)

7 comments:

Rain Trueax said...

How totally neat and what an uplifting story and pictures

robin andrea said...

How beautiful, Pam. We're watching a momma Tree Swallow feed the babies in a nest box in the yard. There is nothing quite like this view into the tender side of nature.

Lené Gary said...

!!!! no words but joy !!!! :)

Pam in Tucson said...

To all -- I rejoice to see this beautiful family. I'm only allowed glimpses of the little one from my hiding place, and that only through binoculars or a telephoto lens - but what a privilege! I echo lené: "no words but joy!!"

Taradharma said...

great sequence of photos -- so beautiful and sweet. A new lil' baby has come into the world! Nicely done, Pam!

Pam in Tucson said...

tara dharma - Thanks! I'm only getting tiny glimpses of movement underneath the sitting doves. Since the temperature here hit 113 yesterday, I imagine they're trying to keep that little one cool.

Anonymous said...

We have a pair in our barn and have watched them raise them two young dove. This morning I walked out to literally catch one in her first flight (the other was still in the nest, not quite ready). I have to say, its pretty amazing what these birds do to raise these guys!