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A Sense of Disappointment and Saddness on This Mother's Day.

I wrote a post that I was personally excited to offer my readers. It was titled My Real Estate Has Gone To The Birds And They Are Loving It!

It was all about a couple of Morning Doves that decided to bring there family into the world here at my home in a specially prepared nest that I provided for them. I have been keeping my eye out on them as the mother has been sitting on her two eggs for several days in anticipation of the little ones she would rear until they were ready to go out on their own.

I heard out there this morning huge screech and I opened the door to see a large black crow had attached the mother and robbed her nest of one her eggs.

The mother of course flew off and I feared she she might not return. She has returned to nest to find that one of her eggs is gone and she has literally torn the nest almost completely apart in trying to find the missing egg.

I have never seen a Dove in such a distressful frenzy as she has learned the fate of her missing unhatched egg. Both she and the father have returned and each time ignoring the one egg that remains, as they in distressful actions and sounds are still looking for the missing one.

While I understand the laws of nature, one can not but help to feel the anxiety of these would be parents in understanding they have lost one of their own. I also feel her sadness. I can only hope the future Mother will accept the current situation and come back to rear the one egg that remains. As I am writing this, I just looked out at the nest and she has returned and is sitting the one egg that remains. But the Crows are flying near by and I fear they know there is one egg left and will return to take it.

I have hit a couple of close by Crows with the water hose to chase them off. I hope this works for the longer period while the mother and I try to protect the one that is left.

Posted by San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson GRI CRS e-Pro CDPE on 05/10/2009 02:28 PM

Comments (27)

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morning doves

Post is included in group: POSITIVE ATTITUDE for the Weary Soul
Post is included in group: Diary of a Realtor

27 Comments on A Sense of Disappointment and Saddness on This Mother's Day.

MAY

Wow, William. Would a scare crow help? Or how about a rubber snake or owl to scare the crows away? Keep us posted.

Hi Maria, The crows that we have here don't seem to be scared off by much. Last year at Christmas time they attacked a beautiful white owl and chased it into our Christmas mesh lights on the hedges where it got tangled and they are swooping over to kill it. Thankfully I saw it in time and I was able to get the owl lose and help it until it was stable and able to make it ways out of danger. These crows are pretty vicious.

William, it is survival of the fittest out there and Nature has that battle going on between predator and prey all the time. Sorry this story didn't have the happy ending you wanted. In my backyard a hawk ripped a baby squirrel up to shreds. Just dinner in the jungle to him, and I see this stuff all the time. Thankfully with sheer numbers, species survive. It is all about balance in nature. Almost like some real estate agents falling by the wayside. Crows are very aggressive you are right.

I always hate it when something happens in nature. Cats catching baby robins is a bummer around here.

Hi Gary, Yes I know this from the intellectual side but I also saw the mothers reaction to it and one has see and feel it to fully appreciate it. I wish I could prevent the crows from disturbing her because she is like a sitting duck up there and I half expect that because they know she is there, they will be returning for the easy taking. Not much can do abut it now. Though, I keep trying to think of ways to prevent it. Maybe futile trying but it think it might be just an ingrained part of my character. .

The exact same thing happened to us last Mother's Day with a family of hummingbirds and some large vulture like bird -- that poor mama hummer tried and tried and tried to defend her little nest but she was unable and her 2 babies were soon lunch for the vulture bird. Very sad.

Hi Steven, Thanks for dropping by. It was very disappointing not to be able to prevent it but it was a fast swoop by the crow and that was it.

Hi Bob and Carolin, On Mother's Day no less. Ironic isn't it.

OH what a sad, sad story. Our birds built up in our roof eaves, and everytime we open the door to let our dogs out barking, the mother flys away. Each year they come back and move the eaves away and build there again.

Yea and on Mothers Day.

Hi Missy, I was so upset to see that happen. I have been checking on the Mom all day. I know it most sound a bit silly but she was so visibly upset. She scratched through the nest so hard believing she find it. Disappointing to say the least.

Hi William-It is sad to see when wild critters do this and we all know it happens and why but it still doesn't make it any easier. Back in NY I had lots of songbirds and hawks would wait til the perfect opportunity to strike and it was always mourning doves she would catch. Hope the dove is able to have her baby hatch. Squirrels are another example of bird nest thieves. Sorry this happened so close to home. Hope your Sunday was a great one. <SMILE>

Hi Sharon, Thanks and I hope you had a beautiful day. The crows here are so fierce they even go after the golden tail hawks we have here. They also kill a lot of cats I am told. They show up in large groups and make the attack. This one this morning seemed to be just one of a couple. But I kept squirting them with a garden hose and they finally moved off. Thankfully the mother returned to sit on her one remaining egg. But she remains very nervous. But I still feel bad for her.

Yeah...I would be standing guard myself. Make sure you get the jet stream setting on your hose...that ought to knock them out lol.

That really is sad....when Gary watches NATGEO and there's lions running around chasing bambi I tel him to change the channel. Nature...still doesn't make it pretty.

Oh, William! How sad. I hope Mama is able to save the remaining one. Do keep us posted.

Woo Hoo, Happy Mothers Day. I think the danger has passed for todyay but I know the crows are always watching my liitlest 2.5 lb Yorkie. So I am always watching out and these crows are quick as well. I know what you mean about turning the channel, watching the weaker being overcome by the stronger is not pleasant but I suppose at least some like it. I am not one of them. When I was at the Zoo I did watch big Crane sort of crash land in the wild Tusked Boar pen. Had it not stunned its leg causing it to limp, it would have made it out there. Ugly.

Me too Sharon. I keep waching her and hopefully she will be OK and the same for her hopeful offspring.

William, You really captured the sadness of this situation. Poor Mama...hope she can save her remaining baby. I know you will keep us posted.

William, how sad. We have a Finch feeder in our back yard and love to watch them feed. Hope the Mama is able to save her babe.

William - There is something about nature that is at the same time both beautiful and sometimes cruel. I know what it is. to become emotionally invested in looking after these little gifts and to not always have things go the way we had hoped for. Somehow, I know you and mother dove, will prevail over that crow! I had no idea that crows could be that mean. Great picture by the way!

MAY

What a sad thing to witness on Mother's Day. We have a scrub jay's nest right outside our kitchen window. We've become so attached... I can't imagine witnessing them be attacked like that.

But it speaks volumns about you.....

William,
I know it's "survivial of the fittest" but like you, I would be taking up arms for the doves.

Wow that is too bad William. Maybe it is time to get a scare crow:)

William,

Wild creatures, are a joy to watch! The picture is beautiful, and I wish them luck trying to raise the little one that will hatch.

I hope you have taken care of the crow!

Dang it anyhow... I have a lot of crows around my place. They're always ganging up on the sparrows and robbins. Nothing against crows, but they always seem to have an attitude with their squaking. I like the hose idea. Water, the great equalizer. Good luck...

Rene'

William, How sad! Isn't it amazing watching this so close. You will have to keep us posted on the one remaining egg.

William,

What a story. My former Moscow boss love birds. His office is in the heart of downtown Moscow. He told me that there are two eggs in crows nests. When they pop up, the parents figure which one is stronger, and throw the other one out of the nest. Usually the die. My friend was walking in the old parks and squares looking for those troubled little crows.

His employees told me that this was a huge problem with the landlord because of that.

MAY

William,

So sad to hear about this. It is quite a story to recognize how the doves have responded, their concern for the lost egg. Wonder what Jesus would have done with that parable.

Hoping that the crows can be put off from further destruction. Is it possible for the doves to find a door through a screened cover?

Richard

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