A few weeks ago, while we were getting the back deck ready for Spring, we realized that we weren’t the only ones. A pair of doves had also decided that The Curious Peddler was a wonderful place to be. They were creating a nest in the top of one of our displays. At first, they would fly away when the Peddler was working outside, but it wasn’t long before they realized that she was a friend. And not long after the nest was finished, two precious little eggs were laid.
We decided to name the doves Peddles, and if you’re a Facebook fan, you’ve already followed their progress. Here’s our proud grandparent photo album…
Doves are fascinating, the Peddler has found. Here are some of the facts that she’s learned:
- Doves are monogomous; they mate for life.
- Doves make their nests in the same place year after year. (YAY!)
- The nest to empty nest cycle is about one month.
- Mourning doves lay two white eggs that hatch in 14 days.
- After hatching, the young are fed crop milk for about three days. They then advance to seeds.
- Crop milk is a special nutrient rich secretion produced in the gullets of both the father and the mother.
- A pair of doves averages three broods per summer.
