It’s that time of year again, and although the usual signs of spring, like warmth, and budding trees, seem to have been missing this year, the battle of ownership has begun right on time with the arrival of the Mourning Doves. To me, their “woo OO oo oo oo” call incites a reaction not unlike Principal Ed Rooney’s querying eyes – snapped wide open in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Like “Oh no, I’ve got to STOP them now before they build their prodigious breeding nest on my house again!”

Mourning Doves are cute (annoying) and peaceful (noisy,) but they insist on nesting in the rafters over the porch despite all efforts to stop them (fish line, whirligigs, yelling!!!) Then, once they lay their two little eggs, someone maternal seems to appear and declare their removal cruel and unacceptable.

Mourning Doves mate for life, annually claiming a nesting place as their apparent mandate to colonize the planet. Each pair produces up to 6 broods of two “fledglings” each, every season. So the following year, the demand for housing  (!) is that much stronger. They do not pay rent. They just go “woo WO oo oo oo,” breed, and throw their little twigs all over the place. Aside from Calvin the cat, there seems little I can do, but smile meekly…and take pictures like these: The initial “scouting” process; the nesting; and finally – a two week old “fledgling” in it’s first day out of the nest. Cute!

If there is any consolation, however….I was recently the proud recipient of the  “cool picture” award from the fine judges at ViewBug for this final image.  Soo..that’s good.  That’s very good.            …….Maybe they can stay!