I have no idea when Mama Mourning Dove laid her eggs. I first noticed that the nest (which someone had begun to build at the end of April) had occupants on June 7 while I was still preoccupied with other guests. And, as you can see from the following shots, the nest is not easy to spot.

She could have been for who-knows-how-long, silently tending her eggs.

According to AI, it could take up to 15 days for the eggs to hatch and then another 12 to 19 days for the baby birds to fly away. There will probably only be two baby birdies, if we’re lucky. If we can help protect the nest from predators. Like raccoons and squirrels.

I was worried about the poor mother bird because she never seemed to leave her nest. Was she getting enough food and water? And then I read that both mother and father mourning dove tend to the nest and . . . to their offspring. So perhaps Mother takes the day shift and Dad the night shift?

Or I could have the process in reverse. Does anyone know how to tell a male mourning dove from a female?

From 2024 – perhaps the grandparents to be?