This Mourning Dove briefly perched on a log next to a Mayapple and two red trilliums just bast bloom, and in front of the bed of sweet woodruff.
Perched.
Tag: Zenaida macroura
Portrait.
This Mourning Dove remained on the shepherd’s crook long enough for me to take its portrait.
Returned.
During mid-summer the number of birds – individuals and species – that visit the backyard decreases.
Activity is picking up now, and these two Mourning Doves are among the birds that have returned.
A precarious place, revisited.
It is day 14 of the Mourning Dove sitting its nest. While not that cold – it’s 1C – it’s a miserable day with moderate to heavy snow falling and likely continuing for several more hours.
The incubation period is 14 days, according to All About Birds. I hope another two days elapse before hatching; while the snow likely ends tonight, tomorrow nights’ low may dip to -5C.
A very tough time. Fingers crossed. We will see what we see.
A precarious place.
While standing at the door pondering whether to let Fitzi in, a small movement caught my attention. This Mourning Dove had ducked, apparently trying to hide from me. It has apparently made a nest at the very end of the sheds’ eavestrough roughly 3 meters from where I stood just inside the door. It may be a precarious place to build a nest. We will see how this turns out.
Mourning Dove, silhouetted . .
. . . against a grey sky.
Sought
This Mourning Dove sought bits of seed.
Settled down
These two Mourning Doves settled down for a brief snooze outside my office window.
Snared
A Mourning Dove is snared in a tangle of twigs.
Mincing footsteps
With mincing footsteps, this Mourning Dove walked across the shed roof, tolerating my standing about ten feet away, watching and photographing. Patience, slow movements, and gentle enjoyment were the keys.
previouslytexan 