These are beautiful shots, Eric. I know you can't take credit for the subjects (which are really beautiful), but you're capturing them wonderfully. Thanks for sharing their progress!

What do you suppose they're thinking?

Thanks, Beth. I'm glad you're enjoying the photos. It's rare to find such cooperative subjects, especially among birds.

Jim, I suspect it's something like "aaaayyyyyeeee...we're all gonna dieeeeeeeeee! Oh. Maybe not." They're a little less calm when I'm mowing the lawn in their vicinity.

Eric, I was telling Charles about your doves and he thought doves built their nests on the ground. Pigeons, from the same family as doves, build their's anywhere. I've cleaned lots of doves but never looked at their heads. These are so pretty. Glad we don't have many hunters anymore.

Allie, most of the dove nests I've seen have been on the ground, too, but they'll try to build them anywhere it's convenient. I think they end up on the ground because they're not very good at it, and that's generally the only place they can successfully put one together. At least, that's my theory, and I'm sticking to it!

I'll bet all the dove nests in north Texas have been washed away by now.

Your dove photos have been lovely. Are the birds Inca doves? I can't quite tell. My second father always called them Mexican doves.

What, no squirrel? ;)

Deborah, I've always heard them called Mexican doves also. I'm sure there's a more proper name, but that works for me.

Patti, I've got to work with the material I'm given. It could be a whole new schtick for the Gazette. ;-)

ROTFL.

You know the whole 7-7-7 unity theme is expressed very nicely with this picture. ;-)

The dove is a Mourning Dove. Eric... do you mind if we post this series on the Sibley Website?

The dove is a Mourning Dove.

Burr, I knew that. Don't know why I didn't remember it when Deborah asked the question, but thanks for reminding us.

Feel free to use whatever you like on the Sibley website. You just have to convince your lazy webmaster to get off his rear and do something. ;-)