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We have a pair of nesting doves under our patio roof which are a real joy to watch, until....
The last two times they had a brood something got the eggs. Again, this morning the parents were gone leaving a broken egg with tiny feathers scattered in the nest. Since we live in a condo we are limited to what can do but I did put some dead rose bush branches with plenty of nasty thorns on and around were they left their oily marks probably on the downspout at the front of the roof support post. We have a neighbor who leaves cat food out all the time which seems to be attracting opossum. I have tried to talk to her several times about the disease they carry which is another reason we don't want them on our patio. I examined the area where the rose thorns are but found it was not disturbed and no evidence of animal hair this morning.
In this area the crows and hawks have chased off most of our song bird population so we have tried to protect the doves as much as possible.
Doe anyone have suggestions for keeping the predators away from the nest? Apparently, when we blocked the downspout, it may have found a way to come down to the nest from the roof. Is that possible? I don't know whether the doves will return again this season but if they do, we want them to survive.
We have a pair of nesting doves under our patio roof which are a real joy to watch, until....
The last two times they had a brood something got the eggs. Again, this morning the parents were gone leaving a broken egg with tiny feathers scattered in the nest. Since we live in a condo we are limited to what can do but I did put some dead rose bush branches with plenty of nasty thorns on and around were they left their oily marks probably on the downspout at the front of the roof support post. We have a neighbor who leaves cat food out all the time which seems to be attracting opossum. I have tried to talk to her several times about the disease they carry which is another reason we don't want them on our patio. I examined the area where the rose thorns are but found it was not disturbed and no evidence of animal hair this morning.
In this area the crows and hawks have chased off most of our song bird population so we have tried to protect the doves as much as possible.
Doe anyone have suggestions for keeping the predators away from the nest? Apparently, when we blocked the downspout, it may have found a way to come down to the nest from the roof. Is that possible? I don't know whether the doves will return again this season but if they do, we want them to survive.
Oh, that's so sad, to see birds lose their broods like that. Sounds to me as though other birds are the ones raiding the nest. I don't know of anything you could do to keep the scavenging birds away that would not keep the doves away as well.
I hope someone else will have a good idea for you, Heidi.
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Crows are a scourge, they eat every egg or song bird they can. I doubt you'll like my suggestion but we got our crows to stay away with an airsoft gun.
What ever eats the eggs does it only at night. We didn't think the predator could climb up the adobe post which supports the down spout but after looking around more I'm not so sure because of some marks on the adobe. My neighbor leaves out cat food which attracks all sorts of unwelcome disease carrying predators.
My tomatoes will get "v" shaped bite marks on them if I don't get them picked early - not that we have that many of them this year. Also, one afternoon an opossum walked on to our patio and acting odd so we got it to leave by spraying it with our garden hose.
Our nearby trees are just full of crows at times. I'm not sure what the local regulations are regarding an airsoft gun (don't think I can use them on the squirrels either). Since I live in a large condo complex, we have lots of neighbor who might not appreciate the airsoft gun and would make trouble for using it.
I know they are just birds but we have lost so many song birds in this area that it is really sad.
What ever eats the eggs does it only at night. We didn't think the predator could climb up the adobe post which supports the down spout but after looking around more I'm not so sure because of some marks on the adobe. My neighbor leaves out cat food which attracks all sorts of unwelcome disease carrying predators.
My tomatoes will get "v" shaped bite marks on them if I don't get them picked early - not that we have that many of them this year. Also, one afternoon an opossum walked on to our patio and acting odd so we got it to leave by spraying it with our garden hose.
Our nearby trees are just full of crows at times. I'm not sure what the local regulations are regarding an airsoft gun (don't think I can use them on the squirrels either). Since I live in a large condo complex, we have lots of neighbor who might not appreciate the airsoft gun and would make trouble for using it.
I know they are just birds but we have lost so many song birds in this area that it is really sad.
Thanks for your responses.
Rats, possums, raccoons, owls, even sparrows, snakes, etc. etc.
There are lots of egg eaters out there. Mourning dove don't seem to be very good at selecting secure nesting sites. Their strategy seems to be "lay and pray - and do it often". You could try to put a hanging planter basket with some peat moss arranged in a bowl shape up there; it may give them a little more obscurity - but there's nothing you can do if they choose to lay eggs in a completely obvious crotch of a tree five feet away that's wide open to wind, rain, sun and rats instead
I am on my 6th set of mourning doves nesting babies. I came back from a vacation to find the doves gone and the babies fully feathered all dead next to each other in the nest. I had seen black birds/crows flying around before I left. The babies were in tack, but dead. So sad.
I moved a new hanging planter (used before by doves) closer to the wall in a corner hoping to protect them on my balcony. I had previously put a smaller hanging planter by my window with a plant only to find the doves chose this for their new nest. Now I'm wondering if it would help to put a full greenery hanging plant on the edge of the ceiling of the balcony in front of the dove's nesting place? If this would help hide their vulnerability from these large black birds. The trees out front haven't been trimmed this year and while they give wonderful privacy and quiet to us, they also attract many predators. Any ideas?
crows are very smart! They will find a way. This pair of doves laid one egg, last month and as soon as it was laid, something rolled it off the nest and onto the ground, I put it back in the nest but soon it was gone completely, no remains. So I think it was a rat. Last week, they came back, and yesterday I noticed two eggs.
Just a few minutes ago, I heard a terrible sound and the doves were attacking a crow on the fence right next to the nest. I shouted at the crow because the doves flew away but the crow stayed. When I shouted at the crow to go away, it flew to a place where it could continue to watch me. The doves attacked the crow when it attempted to fly near, and I went out and sat on the patio but stayed clear of the nest. I hear baby birds, but could be across the street in a juniper tree, that is where I watched the crow trying to get at something. I really love nature and all creatures, but the crows outnumber people here, they are noisy, and they attack live tiny baby rabbits right in front of me. I just don't like them! The crows, rats, raccoons, and owls have to eat, but please leave my doves alone. This is their second attempt !!! I want to get my pellet gun.
The doves two eggs are still there, the crow has not returned, but now there is a hawk circling.
The circle of life! The doves have not returned yet. I am on the alert. LOL
I had 1 set of mourning doves that nested 2 eggs on a building in my carport. Only 1 survived tho. It fell out once & I put it back in the nest. They continued to nest it. I found it on the floor again & tried to help it but it flew into the trees. I don’t think it was old enough to do that. I know they do more broods in a season. My question is will they be back after losing this baby?
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