Birding/baby mourning dove

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Expert: - 8/3/2007


Question
Nest destroyed - raining very hard - two babies scattered on ground.  I brought them in - keeping them warm & fed.  Next day finally cleared up a little.  Read that parents will come back before nighfall. Took what was nest and put materials in basket back in spot in tree with babies.  Waited out of sight for parent.  Rat cam instead - took and killed one baby.  Broght the very small one back inside.  Parent was back around this morning - I'm scared to try placing the baby in nest again, it's preety fragile and it's cooler than normal outside.  What should I do?

Answer
I would put the baby back in the nest as the parents can care for it best, in spite of the threat of rats. Second choice is to is contact your local wildlife rehab center, wildlife official, or humane society for experienced help. Raising a baby Mourning Dove is VERY difficult. Thanks for your concern.

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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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