Birding/mourning dove

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Expert: - 4/26/2011


Question
Last year we were blessed with two sets of hatching and fledging mourning doves.  This year the parents looked different but we had two more eggs.  When returning from vacation we learned the parents had abondoned their eggs while we were gone.  It's been over a week since our return and still no parents.  Should we remove the eggs from the nest to encourage furthur nesting in the site?  If so what should we do with the eggs?  The nest is in a secluded spot on our covered patio so it should be safe for reuse.

Answer
If the nest is truly abandoned, you can do anything you want with the eggs. IT's technically illegal to take them, but if they are no good, there is no reason they can't be disposed of. If the parents abandoned the nest, they may or may not use it again - depends on the reason for abandonment.  

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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