Today's entry deals with events that started about six years ago, just after we'd moved here. On the front of a house on the opposite side of the road to us, a thoroughly misguided collared dove (a hen bird) decided to build a nest. It was built between a rainwater down pipe and an electrical junction box (as shown in the above picture), and right above the pavement on what can become a very busy street at times. She was unable to persuade a male bird to join her (largely, I think, because of the obvious unsuitability of the place from the point of view of hatching and raising a family); and, although she laid two eggs, nothing came of her efforts. The following year she did the same thing, adding to what remained of the previous year's nest, and got the same results. She did exactly the same thing for the next few years, eventually giving rise among our interested neighbours, to the saying "as daft as a dove", which became current among us.
Earlier this year the house was repainted, and the remains of the old nest (by now looking very dilapidated) was removed completely. However, after we returned from our trip to Scandinavia, we saw that she had again started to build, and appeared to be quite convinced that the same spot was (against all the evidence) eminently suitable as a nesting site. The only difference seemed to be that this year she had a male dove in tow (only occasionally though - he didn't appear to share her total confidence about the nesting site, and showed only a tepid interest in her) and anyway it was now much later in the year than doves usually start to nest. This afternoon I glanced at the nest, and saw TWO heads peering over the parapet. I went and got a pair of binoculars and was able to see two young doves (squabs I think is the correct term) in residence. I should think they were about ten days old. If you enlarge the above picture, you should be able to see the heads of the two youngsters.
And if you enlarge this above picture you can see the dove, having finally achieved her ambition of motherhood, feeding her youngsters.
It remains to be seen whether she will be able to get them safely away from the nest when the time comes. I will keep an eye on them and let you know.
5 comments:
I think stupidity is a successful genotype because it takes advantage of all the ludicrously improbable possibilities which intelligent members of the species would never consider utilizing. Hats orf to the daft dove - Success to her daft orfspring! In a cosmos constructed of chaos our concept of order is sadly over-rated. Makes yer fink - Coo!
Hi Carl. I - sort of- see what you mean. It seems incredible to me that she's kept on trying to nest all this time, without any apparent hope of success, and suddenly there are youngsters (and healthy looking youngsters at that) in the nest. I think that spider of Bruce's could take lessons from her.
I exect she wanted you and Ann as neighbours:)
Hi Pat. Thank you; but I don't know that that proves or disproves her loopiness!
Not that she's any trouble as a neighbour, although I think her offspring may be rather a worry any day now.
See blog entry for Friday 27th July.
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