pamelonian

I have noticed these juvenile Mourning Doves wandering around the grounds around my apartment. They don't seem to be at all afraid of humans, which is not at all a good thing.

One day when I came home the doves were sitting on the hitching post outside my apartment.

When I walked by, they did not spook. I asked my neighbors if they had seen the birds and they said they often passed them on the sidewalk just sitting there unconcerned. I began to worry about them, fearing that they had been orphaned at too young an age to learn to fly or take care of themselves. Doves are not the smartest of birds, unfortunately.

Twilight was keeping vigil in the front window.

Thankfully, today I spotted their mother. They were wandering around together pecking rocks and having a wonderful time. When I walked by, the mother spooked and flew away. Later this afternoon, I watched the young ones fly a few feet onto a low tree branch. Then I looked a few hours later and saw all three of them on the roof. The mother flew over to the next roof and was trying to encourage them to fly to where she was.

I was so relieved to find the juveniles were not abandoned and that the mother was actually quite attentive. It is rare to get to witness a mother bird rearing her young. I love that I had the experience.