I'm not thrilled about the idea of attaching anything to the siding either. Part of the problem is that the trellis doesn't seem to be able to lean back. I think there is a cane the grew behind the trellis that keeps it leaning forward a bit and then the weight of the rest of the rose is pushing it too far right now. I'd cut off that cane but I can't actually see which one it is. I do have two other trellises on either side, but moving some of the rose to those doesn't seem like it would solve the problem. I thought about doing cement on the feet, but I'm having trouble pushing the trellis into the right spot and I'm not sure that I'd be able to hold it long enough for the cement to set. That's why I don't have it propped up either - the bottom is fairly sturdy but it's the top that leans and won't go back. My temporary measure is actually an extension cord tied to the top of the trellis and anchored rather poorly on the phone box and a door handle.

Talk about bringing back memories. When I was taking care of orphaned birds at Florida Audubon, mourning doves were the number one babies brought in. Even more than mockingbirds. Why? Because mourning doves build the crappiest excuses for nests you've ever seen! Usually just a few flimsy sticks shoved together, with plenty of gaps. The eggs and babies fall out all the time. I guess it's nature's way of making sure mourning doves don't take over the planet! I've raised more babies like these in the picture than I can possibly remember. And in those days, they didn't have a commercially prepared formula for them like I think they do today. Gary is exactly right. All members of the dove family start their chicks with pigeon's milk, regurgitated from the crop of parent. In my day, we had to mix up a concoction of mashed hardboiled egg yolk and canned milk with vitamins, etc, added. Then we put it in a plastic bag with the corner snipped off (like a pastry tube) and the babies would stick their beaks inside and drink it down. It was a royal pain in the neck, but it worked, as the babies thought they were feeding from a parent's mouth that way. They know much more about saving orphan birds today and have better products and formulas available than what we had to make do with. But it is still an enormous job, and with most birds, it only makes US feel better to save them. Most of the songbirds brought in are not in any real danger of decline, but most PEOPLE don't want to see the babies die. So bird folks are still out there saving them, and I can't fault them for that. I did it, too, and would do it again if I had to. Of course, sometimes certain species are at a point when it would be criminal NOT to save every single bird possible. And for me, the whole experience was interesting and educational, and I learned a LOT about birds, wildlife, and the vagaries of Mother Nature. Marcia

Then THAT'S the answer!! I actually saw a sharp-shinned hawk a few weeks ago (first time I'd even seen one in our woods -- I was very pleased to be able to identify it). I didn't see this altercation until the two birds were "wrestling" in the snow and I'd have sworn it was one of the mourning doves atop the jay, but your theory makes much more sense. Whatever it was definitely carried the jaw off -- poor jay (and I don't love jays) dangling by its wing and squawking frantically. They both dropped into the snow (for a better grip?) a short ways from my garden, then took off again and only by chance (or an extreme fight by the jay or maybe, my frantic yelling??) did the jay get released. The jay flew back to our pine tree and seems fine. Is that possible? To get hauled off into the hair, hanging by one wing, and still live to tell about it? Amazing! Just curious, how large a prey will a sharp-shinned hawk take on? What about a small cat? Do I need to worry now that I know there's a sharp-shinned in the area? (My cat goes out midday, never out for long ... maybe I'll keep him in?!) Thanks so much for the information -- I am positive you are right. Now I feel guilty for blaming the doves... :(

Very cute!