Hi. We have collared doves who nest each year and have a camera set up to watch them. This year they’ve laid their usual two eggs and one hatched 4 days ago but they are still taking it in turns to sit on the other one (&the chick too). Previously I’d thought both eggs had always hatched within a day or so of each other so is this one likely to be unviable? Also I’d thought by the time the chicks were 4 days old the parents would be coming and going rather than still staying on the nest. Presumably they’re staying there in the hope of hatching the other egg but soon the chick is going to be too big for them to sit on so I wondered when they’re likely to give up on the egg?
Good to hear that there is one successful hatch but only the parents can decide when to give up on the other egg, could be a while yet, you can only watch & wait!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr