Joann Merritt's Essays

Home In A Live Oak Tree
May, 1995

Whether by choice or by law Zachry Oil & Gas Properties is an environmentally responsible organization. This information must be known among the avian population who feel secure around this company’s offices where my son John works.

After a decent courtship period a pair of so informed Mourning Doves constructed their second floor home in the foliage of a Live Oak Tree, a mere 3 to 4 feet outside John’s office window. Of their flimsy nest my favorite old book Birds of North America declares “Very likely if the birds employed some of the time and ardor they usually put into billing and cooing in trying to construct a safe and substantial home, the result would be a better nest.” During April and May the one-way glass in John’s office window enabled him to observe (and report to me) nest building, eggs in the nest, the doves incubating the clutch of eggs and finally on Friday, April 28th the newly hatched nestlings.

After our grandson’s Saturday afternoon soccer and baseball games Don and I went with John’s family to visit these new arrivals. Like visitors with faces pressed close to the maternity window we watched vainly for an hour hoping to see some activity on the nest. We did see a Western Kingbird, Mockingbird, a pair of House Finches, some House Sparrows and a hummingbird visit the tree during that time period.

At six o’clock just as we were preparing to leave a dove landed in the oak tree about two feet from the nest. According to information I have read the female dove works the night shift and is relieved by the male who tends the nest during the day. We witnessed this “changing of the guard” as she cautiously looked around and then pigeon-toed down the limb toward the male where he sat brooding the nestlings. As she approached her mate they greeted each other by crossing bills, then pressing their necks close together, sort of a hug and a kiss by human standards! No wonder the Mourning Dove symbolizes love. As the male left the nest we were able to glimpse the altricial (no feathers, eyes closed, helpless) nestlings before the female settled down to care for them during the night. I was thrilled to observe this behavior that heretofore I had only read about. This applies equally to the following happenstance.

Fate decreed that 3 days later we were there just in time for the nestlings mid-morning milk break. First the dove began shifting his position on the nest, then two little heads quickly appeared and began nuzzling his mouth. Since no work was being accomplished anyway the office lights were turned out for optimum viewing of the dove feeding crop milk from his mouth to the nestlings. Both male and female doves produce this milk which according to literature that I have read is brought up from their crop by a violent or spasmodic jerking of the body and wings.

However, the process we witnessed was a smooth undulating movement of the throat and upper body area. The two nestlings positioned themselves on opposite sides of the dove, feeding simultaneously by inserting their bills into the corners of the parents mouth. Since doves are the only birds able to drink without raising their heads to swallow, is this nature’s plan so they receive nourishment in this manner? When their hunger was satisfied the dove again covered them with his body and closed his eyes for a needed rest. If this was filling for the nestlings it was also fulfilling for the assembled naturalists. Office lights were turned on again, the retired Zachrys and Merritts departed while the younger generation went back to their fax machines, telephones, etc.

For the next 10 days both parents continued caring for their young, never leaving them unattended. A few days before they fledged John reported an unusual and amusing sight. One of the doves was attempting to brood the young but could not completely cover the large nestlings with its own body, so this left their heads and tails sticking out on each side. That must have presented a picture of parental determination.

It was a great opportunity to observe the Dove Family in such close proximity and it was equally great to observe them with our own family of Zachrys and Merritts.