A pair of Collard Doves have been sitting on their nest with 2 eggs under my awning since 25 Jan. rspb website says the eggs should have hatched some days ago - are the poor things wasting their time? They had a successful brood in the same nest summer last year
Hi Steve, welcome to the forum, just been checking and it seems that 14- 16 days is the norm for incubation ... usual nesting time for CD's is March so your pair are a bit early, has it been very cold where you are which may affect viability of eggs? Maybe the eggs are infertile? Do let us know how things progress as I read that they can have up to five broods in a year!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Poor things are still trying 3 weeks on
What a great pic of such an unusual nesting place! Maybe they'll give up incubating soon and return next month for another try ... keep us posted!
Have enlarged your pic a bit, it's so fascinating! Also shows us just how scrappy their nests are
Late June last year - 2 chicks were successfully fledged
Thanks for that pic Steve, must be the best alternative nest site I've ever seen!
Welcome to the forum Steve.
Such a shame, but it does show the dedication that nature puts into future generations.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler