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- orphaned desert dove
Birding/orphaned desert dove
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Question
there's a fully feathered juvenile dove under the eve on my covered porch. the mother was there yesterday and today shes been gone all day. i'm worried my dogs might have killed her. how long do they leave their nests at a time and when or if I should intervene. do they leave the nest to lure them out to fly? they've had problems keeping their nests safe this year because of some renegade pigeons that will not leave.
I know that it sounds hard hearted, but it is best to let nature take its course. Predators get the slow, sick, weak and the dumb, thus keeping the species strong. When people try to raise a baby bird it bonds to them, does not learn to forage or to recognize predators and is not able to survive in the wild. One of the parents may still feed it or as it is fully feathered it may be close to stepping out on its own. I would do nothing.
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Answers by Expert:
Bluebird Bob Walshaw
Expertise
I can answer almost any question on Eastern Bluebirds and small cavity nesters such as Chickadees, Titmice, Wrens, etc. Also general questions on other songbirds. No pet bird questions please.
Experience
I have had a 100+ nestbox trail for more than 20 years, I do a lot of writing, public speaking and educational work in this field. My hands-on Bluebird talks include more than 1000 people each year.
Organizations
Oklahoma Bluebird Society, North American Bluebird Society, National Audubon Society, Oklahoma Audubon Society, Oklahoma Fur Bearers Alliance
Publications
Bluebird Magazine, Oklahoma Today, Fur-Fish-Game, Birds & Blooms, Nature Society News,Back Woodsman Magazine, Tulsa World, Broken Arrow ledger, Teaching Tolerance magazine,Trappers World, OK Hole Story, Birders World
Education/Credentials
Degree in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA, Graduate of the Home Study Course in Bird Biology from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Oklahoma Master Naturalist. I am also a pofessional speaker and writer.
Awards and Honors
Chosen as a public speaker for the North American Bluebird Society, Bluebird trail accepted as part of the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail, Chosen as a panel speaker at the 2006 NABS Convention.
Past/Present Clients
Many
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