Now I Know It's Spring!The Morning Doves have made a nest in the same place that they have been making a nest for about 13 years....!
Amazing!
This, of course is the close-up of the sweet morning dove....but I want to show you how big this plant actually is...and marvel at how these smart birds somehow have found their spot, once again...
So, here is a far away shot of as much of the plant as I could get into the frame.
The city in the background and the Horizon which is actually the Pacific Ocean.And then, below this photo is the bottom half of this plant where we can just about see our dear little morning dove sitting patiently on the eggs....
Like a statue. Birds are amazing in their constant devotion to their eggs...and sometimes it's the male sitting on the eggs and sometimes it's the female. They seem to take turns though I have never caught the exchange of body warmers with my camera....I would love to get that photo, you know? This Euphorbia Amak Verigated is about 30 to 35 feet tall.....I was standing at the top of my stairs that go down by the right side of my house...then I moved down about halfway to photograph the rest of this plant and show you where the Dove's nest is....
So, here's the bottom half---coming up right now! And as you can see our bird is just about in the lower third of the photo right in the center.
And then we get in a little closer on our dear bird as she/he sits protecting and warming their precious eggs...
And then....a little bit closer so we start to really define this dear bird...
And then, finally, another close-up of this sweet devoted morning dove who's only purpose in life, right now, is to protect these growing eggs...
OH, OH, OH, I believe there was a changing of the guard since I took that earlier photograph...Wow.Nature. It's the best!
- had this to say:
Love these photos, Naomi. Many doves here in my garden have been making a nest for about 7 years at the same place! I will try to take a picture some day.
Your view is just amazing! Really beautiful. The cactus is so impressive and is a "safe harbor" to the doves.- Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 5:39:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Wow! You really have a talent in photography. That is a really cute bird.
Cheers!- Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 6:02:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
What great pictures Naomi!! I didn't think about birds building in cacti like that. I love mourning doves, they are so sweet.
- Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 6:54:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
What a great post and series of photos! Reminds me of two very nice things: One is a children's book called The Saguaro that has gorgwous illustrations of the life cycle of a saguaro and all the creatures that make their home there (you would like it, I'm sure) and the other is a post that SRP did about a year ago on mourning doves nesting by her place. Ask her for a date because she also had a series of photos.
This is delightful and now I ask you: What cracked up State would make mourning doves a game bird with a regular hunting season? Oh, that would be, ah, Michigan. I'm so embarrassed to live here...- Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 8:03:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
I wish I would have taken a picture, but your post today reminds me of a scene I saw about a month ago.
We still had snow, but there was one patch of green about the size of a city block. There was a carpet of robins in that patch. And nowhere else.
Of course, it's 70 some and sunny today. In MN that's high summer!- Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 9:02:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
These are great photos, Naomi. I love the soft green color of the cactus and there is a definite color difference in the birds.
- Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 12:10:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
What beautiful pictures! I love morning doves, we have several here in our backyard!
Glad you are feeling better!!- Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 3:34:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Oh, those pictures are BEAUTIFUL! We are currently besieged by red-headed woodpeckers; at night, it's like being surrounded by snare drums.
- Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 4:24:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
The mourning doves here in Virginia Beach build nests in a variety of bushes, brush, pine trees, even our fig tree last year. Who would have known they like cacti too? And I saw the first female cardinal this week.
- Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 9:03:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
[speechless]
SO amazing......
[blinks]
cq- Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 10:19:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
That is really cool. Thanks!
~Mike- Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 12:02:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
You really are good in taking pictues. It was nice that this morning dove allowed you to take her photo. She's lovely.
- Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 12:51:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
What an awesome progression of photographs.
We have those same doves here in the spring and summer. I often startle them when I am driving down my driveway :)- Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 1:03:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
That is SO cool....... [looks impressed].
- Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 2:00:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
This is a lovely post with beautiful pictures! I like thinking of the birds there in the city; nesting so safely for so many years.
Thanks for visiting my blog via Michele!- Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 2:13:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
HA! That's too funny...I posted a picture of a bird in a nest on Wednesday, and I thought it was a bluejay...looking at your pics, I'm certain now it's a mourning dove!
Hi, Michele sent me :-)- Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 9:58:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Hi Michele sent me. We used to have birds that coo-ed every morning. A neighbor said they were morning doves. THey havenn't been around for a while and I miss them
- Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 1:28:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
I'm here, I'd never skip you deliberately, you know that :-)
- Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 1:28:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
beautiful. such lovely dusky feathers.
thanks for stopping by. you should photograph me pins! your pictures are always lovely*- Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 1:32:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
There are two doves that come back every year and nest on my balcony. At first I didn't like it, but my 5 yr. old and 9 yr. old just love it. So, I don't fight it anymore. Isn't the weather glorious today?? We're off to the beach this afternoon to watch the sunset and I'm going to be photographing my boys there, too. Have a great day...before the 'supposed' rain gets here tomorrow. lol
- Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 1:37:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
I enjoyed this post so much. The pics really tell the story. The doves are smart to nest there. That HUGE plant is ominous to would be attackers and the eggs look well sheltered.
Great photos!- Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 4:44:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Here I am again, but this time, Michele sent me.
- Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 6:59:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Michele sent me back, Naomi. I just posted some photos of the tulips. Come and see.
- Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 7:00:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Back again to admire the mourning doves. Here from Michele this time.
- Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 7:08:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Naomi--
Many thanks for visiting my www.hollywoodthoughts.blogspot.com site. I very much enjoyed your comments. I'd write you directly, but couldn't find an email address.
I was VERY honored to be recognized by Ray at his Past Deadline site; I've long admired his writing.
Good to read your comments about the Garden of Allah. I cannot tell you how many folks I talked to about its -- and Schwab's -- location. You've finally settled it. I'm embarrassed, though, as I really tried to nail it down the first time around. I'll try and correct it in the post tomorrow.
I love your blog-- I'll be back! --Jon- Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 8:17:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Hello Naomi. I am a big bird lover so you just made my night with your beautiful pics. Have yourself a very Happy Easter!
Oh, and Michele sent me, but I would have come anyways.- Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 9:01:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
It's truly amazing - isn't it? We, too have morning doves. For 2 years they have made a nest in our herb window box. I have seen the changing of the guard as well as the little ones hatching. My favorite is watching mama feeding her babes. Enjoy it!!
- Friday, April 14, 2006 at 12:14:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
What great photos!!!
She's a cute little bird!!!
Thanks for sharing!!!!
Michele sent me today.- Friday, April 14, 2006 at 12:55:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
i think our doves would be too chicken to sit in a cactus plant at all!!! Seriously, the pigeons and doves and top knots are such woosies over here... that could be from all the guns waving around *im speaking about my dads farm at the moment* so honestly im sure they'd give it a go!!!
Thanks for the change of guard too.. was an achievable event! *salutes!*
Michele sent me today!
Have a great day too!!!!
PS HAPPY EASTER!- Friday, April 14, 2006 at 1:21:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
OOL! Those are some great pictures. My parents have a couple of birds that come back every year. It really is amazing, isn't it??
Michele sent me, but I feel like I'm here all the time anyway- Friday, April 14, 2006 at 8:11:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
what beautiful photos, and lovely easter wishes.
here from michele's- Saturday, April 15, 2006 at 12:34:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
oh wow!! these are really neat pictures
- Saturday, April 15, 2006 at 2:24:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
I love the way birds will come back to the same place year after year. We had a trio of ducks that have been coming each Spring for the past eight years. A green mallard, a white male, and a brown mallar. This year the trio has been absent, and I am so very sad just thinking what may have become of them.
- Saturday, April 15, 2006 at 6:15:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Your pictures of the Morning Doves are really nice, Naomi. Yet again I marvel at the size and scope of your landscaping. Having cactus that big is just amazing--and dedicated birds that return to them year after year is amazing also.
I just bought a new camera and I hope to be taking lots of bird pictures too--but I don't have a setting that can compare to yours.- Sunday, April 16, 2006 at 3:12:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Hi Naomi,
Those are adorable photos of the morning doves!. I love to paint and photograph birds.
How lucky of you to have found a nest! How luck of US to see the progression. Sweet signs of spring! MMMMMM! :)
(I'll be back to read. I'm over a month behind in my blog rounds.)
So glad you're feeling better! Last I read, you were down with a nasty virus.
Hugs- Sunday, April 16, 2006 at 9:27:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
That's such a beautiful bird. You're right about nature. It seems there's so much we humans should learn from animals. How to live in harmony, to share & take care of each other, and to live & let live.
I love seeing pictures or watching nature shows; animals just get it so right.
I can't wait to read your 101 things!- Monday, April 17, 2006 at 1:38:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Very cool to have your own bird mascot =0)
btw, there are pics of my bratty dog buddy now on my page, I added a flicker box.- Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 4:38:00 PM PDT
x4
