Nesting Mourning Doves

This spring I had the pleasure of watching a pair of mourning doves nest on one of the columns of my front porch.

One day I noticed the nest with a bird sitting in it.



I knew she had eggs because she would not leave the nest, and if she did it was for a very short time. Then one day, I saw the little chicks.



I continued to watch. One night when I came home both chicks were there. They were much larger. Almost the size of an adult.


The next morning as I left for work, I noticed that there was only one chick.



And when I got home that evening, that chick was gone, also. I saw them around for a few days. They hung out around the bushes in the front of my house. Now I can't tell the chicks from the adults, so I don't know if they are still here or not. It was fun to watch, and be a part of their start in life, if not more than vicariously.

Sedona, Arizona

Recently I got to go on a small holiday. I took a long weekend and went to Sedona, Arizona, where my fiend Sarah was vacationing for the entire week. It was beautiful out there. Yet I don't feel a draw to be out there.





Here is a picture of Bell Rock. One of the picturesque red rock formations that Sedona is so famous for.






On the drive to Sedona, I got to see lots of cactus. Yet, there are no saguaro cactus in Sedona. The saguaro don't live above about 3000 feet of elevation.



One day we drove about 3 hours to go see the Grand Canyon. It really is impressive. To think that water erosion created this magnificent display of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.