Mama Mourning Dove and Her Babes

[Fire0725]

These were just melting my heart!! I spotted the nest about 2 weeks ago for the first time with the nesting mother. Two or three days prior to when i found this nest, there had been no nest, no mama around in that tree! Then I was there and saw the mama sitting on the nest... so I kept going back every day to check on her. Suddenly on Saturday morning, I could see there was one baby with her (my last check on the friday morning, I didn't see one). Then today, there were two babies! I don't know how old they are - best guess is a few days. I know mama incubates for 2 weeks, and then cares for them for about 2 weeks after they are born.... they haven't ventured out of the nest yet on my watch anyhow.

Mama and one of her babies by Fire0725, on Flickr

 
Mama Mourning Dove & Her Two Freshly Hatched Babies by Fire0725, on Flickr

[Photoman]

Very sweet capture. Awsome photos.

[Palo]

Beautiful subjects and gorgeous shots!  Thx for sharing Fire.