Time to Smell the Flowers and Experience the Wonders of Nature

Jocelyn arrived in Tucson for her annual “Get Out of the Winter Pre-Race Training” on March 16^th this year.  Within a few days of her arrival, Momma Mourning Dove had built a nest in the hanging Boston fern on my patio.

We were amazed at the precise timing Momma and Poppa changed the guard of the eggs – it occurred at 6 pm and then again at 6 am. Shortly before the changing, the egg-sitter would call out “coo coo, cookoo” and the other parent would arrive to sit guard for the next 12 hours.

Jocelyn left Tucson on Sunday, March 27^th to return to the ice and snow in New
Jersey with a third place win at the Foray at the Fort Woman’s Marathon Mountain Bike Race held in Fort Huachuca here in Southern Arizona.

The baby bird was born the following weekend.  I could catch a glimpse of the guard preening the chick every once in a while. I was even lucky enough to be able to snap a picture.

Midweek I noticed the nest being un-guarded for a while and was able to stand on a stool and see inside the nest – there were two little doves sitting in the nest.  Luckily I got a picture before Momma returned to feed the babes.

Sometime between the night of April 11^th and 8:30 am the morning of April 12^th, the offspring flew the nest……sure wish I had seen them taking flight. I had seen the chicks spreading their wings for the past couple of days.  Hopefully I will get a chance to see the next brood take wing.

The very next morning while sitting on the patio having my morning coffee, I saw the two youngsters walking on the ground foraging for seeds.  One flew up onto a bird bath and the other managed to fly up onto the back wall.  All the while, Momma sat in the Boston fern with a watchful eye; Poppa was also nearby perched on the rooftop.  Since then the family of four seems to always be close to my yard, I never knew birds reared their young after they took flight.

So this is what retirement from Corporate America is about – time to smell the flowers and experience the wonders of nature and gather inspiration for my artwork!