A big tentlike canvas structure shades the Overlook, which is where we meet for all Park tours, and where we hold Reptile Ramble. Yesterday I watched a pair of whitewing doves building a nest atop one of the pillars that holds up the shade.
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| White winged doves building nest |
Daddy’s on the left; mom is on the right. She stayed on the nest the whole time I watched, alternately moving the twigs around, fluffing the nest, and resting.
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| Female white-winged on nest |
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Meanwhile, her mate went searching for twigs to bring her. He was very, very particular—one might even say a bit OCD. I watched him pick up and reject dozens of twigs from several gardens around the Overlook. When he found one he liked, he would take it to her and place it on the nest. She always immediately moved it to a different spot while he took off to search again.
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| Male white winged dove |
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“There’s got to be one around here somewhere….”
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| Male white winged dove |
“Nope. Nothing in here.”
Finally, he made his way to the area underneath the nest, where a handful of dropped sticks lay.
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| Male white winged dove |
“Say, these look good!”
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| Male white winged dove |
“This one is perfect!”
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| Male white winged dove with nesting material |
He’s got the goods!
“Here I come, sweetie!”
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| Male and female white winged doves on nest |
Finis.
