While I wrote about the Red-eyed Dove in October last year, I did not mention that these birds are monogamous and tend to mate for life. The fact that they are territorial may explain why I seldom see more than one pair at a time feeding in our garden.
The nest of the Red-eyed Dove is built by the female, using nesting material brought by the male. This usually consists of twigs and grass and is typically built on a horizontal tree fork, three to four metres above ground.
Now I have read that the nest is a fairly substantial platform of twigs with a shallow central depression, lined with grass and other fine soft material. The one in our fig tree looks anything but substantial – in fact I wonder if it has even been lined with anything other than faith.
I cannot see what the female is protecting in that flimsy concoction of hers – after all, it is practically see-through! There should be up to two eggs which will be incubated by both parents for just over a fortnight, after which we should be able to tell if the chicks have hatched. It will be a wonder if they survive.
Perhaps this nest is the result of a pair of novice parents; time will tell.
Doves are so common in all parts of the world that we tend not even to look at them. But also they are part of the system and worth a closer look. Thanks for this enjoyable post.
Once we take that ‘closer look’ we can enjoy the full beauty of these birds which most of us tend to take for granted. I am pleased you enjoyed this post.
On faith alone, it appears! 🙂 Will wait for further updates from you. I have seen similar looking nests of crows and wondered just how it manages to stay up there and also house the chicks.
Am keeping a close eye on the nest 🙂
Hadeda Ibises also have flimsy nests made of sticks dropped in the fork of a tree. They get stronger – and larger – every year as the pair generally re-uses the same nest season after season.
Gosh, this is a flimsy looking nest. It will be interesting to see what transpires. What a coincidence that we both posted about Redeyed Doves within a day or two!
This might be because the Red-eyed Doves are breeding now and so in a way are attracting attention. I must photograph the nest again soon.