Well, it happened. They finally flew the coop!
Last night I was on the back patio talking on my cell phone with my dear friend, Robyn. The sky was dusky. Two baby mourning doves sat on their usual branch, inches from security . . . their nest. They had been sitting there since late afternoon, so I’m sure they were hungry. When Mama landed a couple of branches away . . . with her secret weapon, food . . . it took no coaxing for her babies to venture to where she was perched. They were hungry and she had food. Literally, they fluttered their way to her and managed not to fall into our fish pond below! And so the process continued over the next 15 minutes or so . . . mama coaxed the babies . . . branch to branch away from the nest . . . into the large maple tree next door.
No more little beaks peeking at me from the other side of my kitchen window. Hmmm . . . I wonder . . . will family #3 be raised in that little nest yet this summer?
As for Sir Oliver, well he's a happy fat cat. He's now allowed to return to his territory.
And so continues life.
P.S. I can't believe my eyes! I just looked out my kitchen window and mama mourning dove, or a new mama mourning dove, is back in the nest . . . tucking twigs back in place and shaping the nest with her body! Will watch and see.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
The Bluejays vacated their nest on June 3rd . . . June 10th, mama Morning Dove moved in. It seemed she sat FOREVER before we finally got our first glimpse of her babies on Sunday, July 3. There were two, and they were fully feathered.
Although the best view of the nest is from my kitchen window, which is almost eye level with the nest, pictures have not come easily. First, Morning Doves are the same color as the tree bark of my crabapple tree; and second, a small leafy branch hangs in front of the nest. Had I known the nest would be used a second time this season, I would have had Ken cut that branch off!
In trying to record the babies’ debut, I took the screen off my kitchen window . . . opened the window . . . stood with one foot on a chair and a knee on the kitchen sink . . . hung my camera out the window as far as I dared to . . . and took pictures one handed. Well, you may think, what is so hard about that? My kitchen window is about 15 feet off the ground . . . I don’t like heights . . . and one slip and there goes the camera for sure and possibly me!
Nevertheless, I did manage to get a few pictures. (Click on the picture for a closer view.)
It’s been quite interesting watching the babies this week. Mama has coaxed them from the nest out onto the branch, where they sat and flapped their wings.
She even tried calling them to the ground . . . BUT . . . they stayed sitting on the branch and eventually went back into the nest.
This morning, Mama sat in the nest and wouldn’t let the babies back into the nest with her, which I thought was rather funny. But, eventually she relented, got out, and back into the nest they went.
Here's a picture of the entire family . . .
I’m sure it will be today or tomorrow . . . which is what I said yesterday and the day before! . . . and they’ll be out of the nest for good. So we’ve secured the area for their first flight by keeping Sir Oliver, our 15 lb. cat, in the garage!
As I’ve watched the Bluejays and the Morning Doves raise their families outside my kitchen window, I’ve been reminded of how valuable and precious we are to God . . .
“. . . not a single sparrow (Blue Jay or Morning Dove) can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31 NLT
Although the best view of the nest is from my kitchen window, which is almost eye level with the nest, pictures have not come easily. First, Morning Doves are the same color as the tree bark of my crabapple tree; and second, a small leafy branch hangs in front of the nest. Had I known the nest would be used a second time this season, I would have had Ken cut that branch off!
In trying to record the babies’ debut, I took the screen off my kitchen window . . . opened the window . . . stood with one foot on a chair and a knee on the kitchen sink . . . hung my camera out the window as far as I dared to . . . and took pictures one handed. Well, you may think, what is so hard about that? My kitchen window is about 15 feet off the ground . . . I don’t like heights . . . and one slip and there goes the camera for sure and possibly me!
Nevertheless, I did manage to get a few pictures. (Click on the picture for a closer view.)
It’s been quite interesting watching the babies this week. Mama has coaxed them from the nest out onto the branch, where they sat and flapped their wings.
She even tried calling them to the ground . . . BUT . . . they stayed sitting on the branch and eventually went back into the nest.
This morning, Mama sat in the nest and wouldn’t let the babies back into the nest with her, which I thought was rather funny. But, eventually she relented, got out, and back into the nest they went.
Here's a picture of the entire family . . .
I’m sure it will be today or tomorrow . . . which is what I said yesterday and the day before! . . . and they’ll be out of the nest for good. So we’ve secured the area for their first flight by keeping Sir Oliver, our 15 lb. cat, in the garage!
As I’ve watched the Bluejays and the Morning Doves raise their families outside my kitchen window, I’ve been reminded of how valuable and precious we are to God . . .
“. . . not a single sparrow (Blue Jay or Morning Dove) can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31 NLT
Monday, July 4, 2011
Oh, Say Can You See . . .
The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
By Francis Scott Key 1814
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
To my father, Army, World War II
To my father-in-law, Navy, World War II
To my husband, Army, 1967-1969
To the men and women who have served from the beginning of this nation
and who are currently serving
THANK YOU!
Because of you . . .
I, my children, my grandchildren, future generations
all who live in the United States of America
may enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!
Happy Birthday, America!
By Francis Scott Key 1814
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
To my father, Army, World War II
To my father-in-law, Navy, World War II
To my husband, Army, 1967-1969
To the men and women who have served from the beginning of this nation
and who are currently serving
THANK YOU!
Because of you . . .
I, my children, my grandchildren, future generations
all who live in the United States of America
may enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!
Happy Birthday, America!
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