Expert: Roger Lederer - 8/12/2007

Question
We have been watching a mourning dove raise her 2 babies for several weeks now.  Last week we had a horrible storm.  I watched as the mother, both babies and nest went tumbling to the ground.  I ran outside, scooped up the babies and what was left of the nest.  Mom was nowhere to be found.  We kept them in a box under a lamp that produced heat until the storm passed.  I then got a basket and put what was left of the nest in it.  We ran shoestrings through the nest and tied it securely to the branches where it had been.  About an hour later we saw mom in the area so we hurried out and placed the babies back in the new nest.  About 20 minutes later she was back with them.  Today, a week later, I went out in the morning to check them and everyone is gone.  They were there last night.  I am assuming it was time for them to leave and there is no evidence of harm as I don't see any scattered feathers.  They were pretty big, completely feather...almost reminded me of little ducks!  What happens next?  Will they hang around the area somewhere?  I have lots of different bird feeders including grounds feeders out.  Is this sufficient?  I walked the backyard looking but did not see them.  Thanks for your info!

Answer
Congratulations to you for doing the absolutely right thing and it sounds like you were successful. It appears that the young fledged (left the nest on their own). But they will not be able to fly for another week or so so they will live on the ground where the parents will feed them. To avoid predators,they become very secretive at this time, which is why you can't find them. When they begin to fly they will probably begin their fall migration and not hang around. Food is plentiful now, so don't worry about feeding them.