Welcome back, Mourning Doves

For the fifth year in a row, Mourning Doves are nesting on a wooden platform outside my daughters’ bedroom window. The birds have been sitting on the nest round-the-clock for about 10 days. Incubation takes 14 days, so we should see little doves soon.

Having an active nest right outside the girls' window is great for two reasons: It's a perfect way to teach them a little about nature, and when they fight or get too loud, my wife and I have a novel excuse for telling them to pipe down. ("Be quiet so you don't scare the birds.")

I took the photo above looking through the window. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the birds. In the first and second years, the eggs hatched, the chicks grew right on schedule, and they fledged. But for the last two years, the chicks disappeared well before they were ready to fly. I assume something ate them but don't know what. It takes about 15 days for the chicks to fledge. Stay tuned. — M.M.