it's springtime and the birdies are singing

Our mourning dove family has come home to roost!

Every springtime, a pair of mourning doves takes up residence in a planter in front of my neighbor's door. (As seen through my kitchen window. The yellow arrow points to their nest.)

A little closer:

This year, things have changed a bit. My neighbor decided to move to San Diego. Unfortunately, her move coincided with the dove pair laying their first clutch (two eggs) of the season. Dove eggs take 14 days to hatch. Her moving day was on the 12th day. Since they chose a pot right in front of her unit, we knew the nest was going to have to be moved, albeit just for the day, while the movers came and went with big pieces of furniture.
There just wasn't enough room to get around them.
With her breath held, my neighbor moved the plant, with the nest and two eggs, downstairs to the middle of the courtyard, while the movers moved. Momma bird was freaking out! She was flying all around the complex, but didn't go near the nest. We thought for sure that either a crow would see it and swoop down (no!!!!!!!) or Mom and Dad would abandon the eggs.
After the moving was complete, we put the planter back where it was...

...and waited.

Fortunately, it didn't take too long. Within 5 minutes, here comes Momma bird, swooping down from the sky and landing on the balcony rail, about 10 feet away from the nest.
She sat there for what seemed like eternity! Looking all around with her little birdie eyes. When she finally felt safe enough...she walked along the rail, over to the nest, and plopped right back down on her eggs.

Everyone let out a deep sigh of relief.
Now, we just hoped that the eggs didn't get fried, during their adventure, down in the courtyard.

It was meant to be!
2 days later, the eggs hatched!
Mourning dove babies grow up in 14 days.
These pictures were all taken on their 12th day alive.

Mealtime

Fly like an Eagle!

Check out my flickr page to see them practicing their little wings.

Today, they left the nest around 10am.
Tonight, they were a big happy family, hanging out in the courtyard, eating seeds!

Job well done, little birdies!
Til next time.