(no subject)

[rattfan]

This post is to let anyone in Perth who might possibly visit me know that there's a nesting dove on my verandah :-) Earthshattering news, I know. I'm hoping the dove is aware that there'll be human activity in and out but am not sure; doves aren't exactly avian Einsteins. This is the species that walks on your cat, right, satyapriya?

stephen_dedman, I think you or chaosmanor - who isn't on LJ any more so please pass this on - are the only LJers likely to darken my front door. Knock quietly if that's possible :-)

Does anyone know how long it takes a dove to bring up babies from egg stage?


Ratfan

Comments

[satyapriya.livejournal.com]

yeah, doves walk on Missy. THey are too pin-headed to know better, and Missy's too stupid to stop them. It's quite a sight, Missy blending in the with the soil, doves blending in the tree, it's all one.

[ratfan.livejournal.com]

How...ah, unfortunate.

Wait a minute. Is this message from a cat?


Ratfan

[leecetheartist.livejournal.com]

Well, belay thar a minute and let me just consult th' big tome o' landlubber birds.

Well, if it be the smaller type dove that hangs about th' suburbs, The Laughing Turtle-
Dove, it'll sit on th' eggs for 13-15 days and the young 'uns get their feedin' in the nest for 21-23 days.

If they be the larger, darker birdies, with the purdy blacknwhite on the necks, the Spotted Turtledove, they'll be 14 days hatchin' and 14 days bludgin' off the parents in th' nest.

Arr! Belike they taste bettern' seagull when rations are low!

[ratfan.livejournal.com]

Hm. I'm getting advice on birds from a pirate?

It's the smaller kind. I'm not even sure if she has eggs yet or is just checking out the real estate but I've seen her there a couple of times now.


Ratfan
alias bewildered landlubber

[leecetheartist.livejournal.com]

Good luck with yer birdwatchin'!

(In th' last throws of talk like a pirate day!)

[ratfan.livejournal.com]

Aarrrrghhhh!

[last spasm of pirate talk, actually clearing breakfast down throat]

Landlords say she (or her family) have been nesting there for years so I won't be too worried about upsetting her now!

[chaosmanor.livejournal.com]

I will approach the dove with caution, and leave the cat at home.

[ratfan.livejournal.com]

To the disappointment of Grey, I'm sure. I think the cat-walking requires an unusually dense feline who doesn't realise cats are supposed to chomp small brainless birds.

The nest site (end of verandah, on top of post under roof) is actually pretty good; cats can't reach it and larger aggressive birds aren't going to know it's there or want to fly up there. If the dove is ok with me going in and out, which she seems to be, she should do all right.