Over the last six weeks, we’ve had a first-time experience in our city backyard.  A pair of doves built their nest six feet high in one our palm trees.  We watched the doves sit on two eggs for over two weeks. 

The mother dove, we assumed, weathered the many April storms that we had last month.  Their nest was much more sturdy that we had first thought. 

On one occasion, Frank was able to get photos of the two eggs.  Then, we were able to watch the two chicks sitting with their mother.  Somehow, they all three fit in that nest. 

We got so excited when they moved to the ground.  Frank erected first a large fence using lawn furniture to protect them from our two big dogs.  As the chicks got bigger, he replaced the furniture with a small border fence.  Gradually, this was no longer needed.

Then, they advanced to the sky, but still both the parents and the children live in our yard.  Today, the mother dove started sitting on the nest again.  A sturdy tree in a safe yard to raise babies. 

photography by Frank Guzman