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Patricia's Porch Talk: Mother's Day goes out on a limb
By Patricia Paris
May 12, 2008

My curiosity was piqued yesterday when I noticed a dark, shadowy spot in the willow oak that grows by the driveway.   Closer examination revealed a makeshift nest that appeared to be constructed of several small twigs haphazardly arranged in a forked branch.  What appeared to be a long bird's tail protruded from one side.

 I got all excited and pranced around and craned my neck, trying to see the nest from a better perspective.  Finally, I saw her.  The Mourning Dove raised her small domed head and peered at me over the side of the nest, as if to say, "So, exactly 'what' are you staring at?  Now if you don't mind, I'm busy!"  And with that, she retreated low into the nest, leaving only her tale-tale tail showing.

I quickly backed away to give her some privacy.  I didn't want to upset her.   I've waited too long for baby birds to take any chances with these. 

A few years ago, I worked in an old building on the south side of town.  A pair of doves tried for days to place two twigs and a piece of yarn on a steeply sloping window ceil, but each time the female fluffed her wings and attempted to sit on the twigs, they rolled off.  But the doves were determined to nest in that window and retrieved the two twigs and foot long of orange yarn over and over again.  One day, catching them away, I opened the window and hurriedly applied a drop of super glue to the window ceil and mashed the two twigs down onto the glue.  It seemed to hold.  Then I applied another drop and mashed some lint from my clothes dryer into the center and waited for the doves to return.  They had a real nest with a soft, fluffy lining that wouldn't roll off if they would accept it.

When the doves returned and saw the nest, the female immediately sank down on it and set about arranging herself for a long sitting spell while the male strutted back and forth, cooing, no doubt bragging that he had built the best nest on the south side, by golly.  A few days later, I spied two eggs and the expectant parents began taking turns keeping them warm.  All went well for a few days until I heard a loud commotion at the window.  Grackles attacked the birds and drove them from the nest.  Soon after that, I noticed the eggs were gone.

Last year, a plump little wren that I named Darlene entertained the idea several times of nesting in one of the birdhouses in my back yard but just couldn't get her act together.   While tidying up this Spring, I was surprised to find two of Darlene's abandoned eggs. 

But it looks as if I'll finally get my wish this Spring for baby birds.   The doves placed their nest directly over the walk near the door so I'll have a perfect spot from which to observe and follow the babies' progress.   However, now that my excitement has died down, I'm also beginning to realize how messy it's going to be over the next few weeks.  Perhaps I should wear a large hat to and from the car.

I'm a little uneasy about the nest.  It looks pretty flimsy but it's too high to reach so they're on their own.   However, I could place some dryer lint on a nearby limb and hope Momma Dove takes the hint that if she's going to sit that long, she may as well be comfortable.

Storms and wind moved through the area during the night, and I rushed out this morning to see if that flimsy nest was okay.  It was.  Momma Dove had hung on tight. 

"Happy Mother's Day, Momma Dove", I said.  "You'll have your babies soon."  She blinked her bright little beady eyes.  I think she understood.

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