Two Turtle Doves...

(photo by Tim Cooper)

The first week we moved into our house, we discovered (using our telephoto lens) that we had two Turtle Doves living in the tree in front of our house. A day or two later, my sister-in-law stopped by with her girls and noticed that a baby dove had fallen from the the nest and was under the tree flopping around in the hot sun.

We weren't sure what to do, but with all the animals that roam free in our neighborhood and the blistering hot sun, we knew he probably wouldn't last without his parents help. So, Tim went to the garage and found a 2x4 and nailed a little cardboard box to one end, pulling a flap down on one side, so as to slide the baby bird into the nest. He wore gloves and carefully placed the baby in the box and lifted it high into the air.

The mother dove in the nest flew away with a start after seeing a shoe box full of baby bird coming towards her. It didn't work QUITE as well as we'd hoped, but after a few tries, he succeeded in replacing the baby bird in the nest. And we waited...for some sign that the baby was okay. A couple days later, I came home from the store to find the mother dove sitting very still in the yard. I walked closer and saw that she was sitting next to a lifeless baby bird. I ran inside, grabbed Tim and we both walked closer to be sure that nothing could be done. The mother sat VERY still as we came closer and closer and then flopped away down the driveway.

She'd obviously been injured and couldn't fly. There are kites everywhere in Oklahoma and we both were concerned about how exposed the nest had been in our little tree. We assumed that she'd been attacked, possibly by a kite or even by a neighborhood cat. We realized that we couldn't really do anything else, and scooped up the lifeless baby and started to walk to the garage trash bin. Then we noticed ANOTHER lifeless baby bird on the side yard of our neighbors house. Apparently this was NOT a good week for our little turtle dove family.

Anyway, after disposing of the baby birds, we both sat around pretty morose about our little avian tragedy. It's tragic that the babies died, but sadder still that the mother was injured. Turtle doves mate for life, and if she doesn't make it, her partner will be alone. So, we are watching anxiously to see both of them together again soon...And hopefully, the next round of babies will be more successful.