A pair of collared doves has built a nest in a large conifer alongside my coachhouse which has an old netball ring on it that they love to use as a perch. Unfortunately I think they are struggling to breed as squirrels are taking the eggs. I have started to build a basic dovecote which I thought I could mount on the coachhouse above the netball ring giving them a safe place to lay their eggs. Does anyone have any idea if this will be successful? Am I likely to disturb them too much by putting a new structure up not far from their existing nest? Would they use such a thing?
Hello Anna, and welcome to the forum.
From what I have read about collared doves, they don't make very good nests at the best of times. A couple of twigs is about all they manage. In areas where there is a lot of housing, they often use the bit behind satalite dishes!! I really can't answer your question, but I wish you all the best in trying to help these lovely birds, and hope you get some chicks.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Hi Anna
What a shame as Collard Doves are real cuties. You could try distracting the squirrels. There is a huge Connifer in our next door neighbour's garden that is basically a block of flats for the local birds. There are all sorts breeding in there, doves, woodpigeons, starlings and dunnocks. We also have squirrels that visit the garden that used to make a bee line for the Connifer which I assume was for the eggs as the birds usually went mad as soon as they arrived. I now feed the squirrels monkey nuts which I put in a pot tied to an old apple tree that is below the Connifer. Since I've been doing this, I haven't noticed them make a determined effort to get to the Connifer. The monkey nuts are now food for the squirrel and also the local jays, magpies and the odd Jackdaw.
As to the dovecote, I'm not entirely sure, as squirrels can climb so could access it to get to the eggs anyway. If the bird already have a nest then putting a new structure so close may cause them to abandon the nest but to be honest I'm not an expert but realise that the nest is pivotal in their survival so birds will be sensitive to any intrusion within the imediate the area.
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Hi Annatar -
Many people come to us at Wildlife enquiries wanting to put up a dovecote to encourage doves. However, collared doves and wood pigeons would not use a dovecote, as they prefer an open cup nest (often on or behind satellite dishes!?) and never go in confined spaces. Instead, a dovecote would most likely only encourage feral pigeons, which often move in even with 'captive' fancy doves in residence.
The only real reason to keep a dovecote is to keep fancy breeds of dove. The most commonly seen are the white fan-tailed doves, which are widely kept as ornamental birds in dovecotes in many ordinary gardens.
I would say save your money and effort - they'd probably nest on top of it, but unlikely inside........
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