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Mating season the male and female share the responsibility and work of building their nest, protecting
their eggs, and raising and feeding their babies.
The male will collect twigs and sticks, and bring
them to the female, who uses them to build a nest.
Doves will seldom leave their eggs. The parents take turns sitting on the eggs. The male will sit
on the eggs during the day, and the female guards them and keeps them warm through the night.
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A symbol of Peace and Love, the dove is a contributing, committed and responsible member of this
world of ours.
Doves feed on seeds and small insects, and humbly live their lives without creating any negative
impact on our environment.
Doves mate for life. Their life span is 7 - 11 years in the wild, but their survival
rate is low due to human predators.
Dove nests are loosely weaved. Usually a dove will lay two eggs, often a day apart. A set of
eggs is called a clutch, and a dove may have 4- 5 clutches in one season. The nest will be used for the whole season,
with new twigs added here and there between clutches.
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Eggs hatch in about 14 days. The baby chicks are born blind and featherless. The parents share
the work of protecting and feeding their chicks.
Baby doves are fed "Pigeon Milk", a milky substance that the parents regurgitate. As the
babies grow and get close to leaving the nest, the "Pigeon Milk" may become more solid and seedy, introducing seed
into the chicks diet.
Baby chicks will leave the nest usually around 14 days. They grow very fast! But the babies do not
take off.
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