Expert: Roger Lederer - 8/20/2007

Question
I found 2 baby doves under a tree in my backyard. One unfortunately was dead. I contacted the humane society on what do to. I have placed the surviving one in a box and Mom and Dad come regularly to feed it. It has grown too big for the box so I placed a hanging basket under a patio umbrella near the tree to shield it from overhead predators and keep it above ground predators and placed the dove in it. I have had it here for almost 2 weeks. I have been taking pictures of its progress. Mostly quills and down were visible at first but now the feathers are in and the tail feathers are also coming in nicely. He has a lot of mourning dove markings already. He can fly a bit but not very far. He responds to me and will fly onto my shoulder. The Mom and Dad were here again this morning to feed him.I was wondering if I could show you the photos somehow to get an approximate age and to figure out when he is ready to fly away and look after himself. He does seem to be also eating some of the fine millet I placed in the basket.

Answer
If he/she has been in the nest for almost two weeks, it is ready to leave the nest. However, it will jump to the ground and live on the ground with the parents feeding it until it can fly. Please do not allow it to sit on your shoulder and do not make it familiar with you. If it becomes used to humans,and this one is on the way, it will not survive long because it will hang around humans and very quickly get eaten by a dog or cat or shot by  someone. Please do not feed it - let the parents do that. The more you approach the nest, the more likely the parents are to abandon it. You did the right thing by providing the box, but the thing to do now it to leave nature take its course. Thanks for your concern.