ZEBRA DOVES – 16. It was only a trial nest
The three birds had been returning to the area of their nesting ever since the two nestlings fledged. At around 6.30 to 7.00 pm every evening, an adult bird would perch high up on a scaffolding pole and vocalise, whereby … Continued
ZEBRA DOVES – 15. Yes, the doves are breeding again!
This morning, I woke up late and missed seeing the three birds stirring from their roost. However, I was pleasantly surprised to hear cooing. The two young adult birds were foraging on the ground while the adult was sitting comfortably … Continued
ZEBRA DOVES – 14. Are the doves about to breed again?
It would appear that every evening a parent would fly on to a high perch and start cooing to attract the fledglings. All three birds would then fly to a tree around the nesting area and settle for the night. … Continued
ZEBRA DOVES – 13. Nearly a month and still they need mummy
The older of the fledglings is now 28 days old. The parent bird arrived this evening, perched high up on a nearby building and cooing a few times to attract the fledglings. After an initial period of greetings, the birds … Continued
ZEBRA DOVES – 12. Twenty four days old and still…
Guess what? Yesterday morning the doves made another return visit. A parent bird and two fledglings, now 24 days old. Late that morning there were repeated cooing by the parent bird (male?) who returned to the original nesting site. It … Continued
ZEBRA DOVES – 11. The return of the doves
I did not expect the doves to return. But they did. Last evening at 7.10 pm there was a faint call of a dove. Suddenly a bird landed on a branch of my Artocarpus tree. Two others followed. Surprise of … Continued
ZEBRA DOVES – 10. Twelve days old fledgling
On the 23rd August at 8.30 am there was a cooing around the old nesting tree. Suddenly a bird flew to a tree nearer to me. It was one of the two fledglings, then 12 days old. One of the … Continued
ZEBRA DOVES – 9. The family is still around
Well, I was mistaken. The saga is not over yet. The family of doves is still around. I have heard the cooing of the parent birds on and off but did not see them until last evening at around 7 … Continued
ZEBRA DOVES – 8. The final saga
The morning after the chicks fledged, they were still on the same branch of the mempat (Cratoxylum formosum) tree. Later that morning the parent bird and one fledgling flew to the roof of my neighbour’s house, leaving the other behind … Continued
ZEBRA DOVES – 7. The chicks have fledged
At around 2.30 pm today, both chicks took their maiden flight and landed on a branch of a nearby tree. The parent dove had not flown into the nest to feed them since 7.30 am. This no doubt provided the … Continued
