Expert: Roger Lederer - 5/20/2009

Question
Hello.  I am in Los Angeles and a pair of doves made a nest on my balcony,
had a couple of eggs, sat on them, hatched them and then taught the
babies to fly.  Last year they had 6 or 7 clutches and all were successful!  
But now, they came back after the first clutch was gone this year and laid 2
more eggs...they sat on them for a day or two and now have gone away,
and the eggs are just sitting there.  I don't hear the parent doves cooing at
all as I used to.  I don't know what to do - I don't think I can hatch the eggs
myself?  And they've been exposed for 24 hours already?  And maybe the
parents will come back?  My instinct is to let nature take its course, even
though that's unpleasant - but I think raising wild doves is way beyond
something I should attempt - please send me your thoughts, and thank you.

Thanks.

Answer
I can't tell you why what you observed happened because nests get abandoned for a lot of reasons. It's pretty common, actually. I agree with you - let nature take its course. It is VERY DIFFICULT to hatch wild bird eggs and raise the young unless you are experienced. Maybe the parents will come back. If the eggs have not as yet been incubated, they are still good. Thanks for your concern/