Birding/mornin doves

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Expert: - 5/11/2007


Question
I have had a pair of wild mornin doves that built a nest on my back porch. They had been taking care of their eggs for about 2 weeks. Then one day the doves left and have not come back. Could the eggs be unfertile.

Answer
If the Mourning Doves left and have not returned, there are several possibilities:
The adults got eaten by predators
The eggs are infertile
The doves were disturbed by activity around the porch
Or, who knows. All are possible.
Roger Lederer at Ornithology.com

Birding

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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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