Thanks Paul, Their nests are so cool, and VERY hard to see! I found 2 in the Fall one year, but this is the first time I've ever seen one in use. I probably would have gone all summer without seeing it, except that I was walking under a pine tree branch and suddenly heard a hummer take off. That make me look really closely.....and there it was! Even now when I look for it, I have to look for awhile. They're so cool!

Here is a video of an olde guy in England and his Collared Doves. You can easily see the squared-off tails with all the white on them. For me, that's a good identifier for these birds. He has some things to say about them but I can't hear well enuf to know what it is. Just a guy and his bird friends . . . Now about the birds this olde guy has seen in his garden! I was out in the dahlias Saturday and frightened a Mountain Plover out of them! This garden is probably a mile from open water (unless you count some swimming pools ;o). It certainly isn't out in the open. There are not only houses and other buildings around but quite a few trees. I've never seen a plover in my gardens! Kildeer but not shorebirds. . . Aaannd! There is a family of hawks near this garden! Not too unusual but this is quite an urban setting and I can't identify the species. I've always thought of the most-likely hawks to be seen as being Sharp-shinned but these guys are smaller. Not as small as Merlins and with an Accipiter look to them . . . so, I'm kind of at a loss . . . (noisy critters, too :o)! Steve Here is a link that might be useful: A few facts about wild Doves,(Streptopelia Decaocto) UK

Can you tell me more about the scent trail? I didn't know about that. Of course, the baby bunnies I found our by our raised bed which I visit everyday anyways, so the scent trail is always there. I've seen the bunny hopping around the bed...almost stepped on it one day before it ran off (they hide well).. Today it rained and I saw it out there all soaked and shivering. I came close and it didn't hop away, and then I noticed a snail crawling on it (not kidding)--which gave me a big clue something was wrong. I decided to removed the snail and it still didn't hop away, and I noticed ants by it. I thought maybe it would help to get him somewhere dry and warm but since I know his mom is around and don't know where his nest is, I didn't want to take him where she couldn't find him. I remember finding some bunnies his size in shoes my kids left outside on one cold day, and my youngest just outgrew a pair, so I put the shoe next to him and sort of nudged him into it. As I did I notice his bottom had blood on it. So ang...something may have already gotten to him. I took the shoe about 5 feet away to the other side of the raised bed, away from the ants--and also put something over it to shield the rain (not directly over it so he couldn't get out...but leaning on our raised bed like a lean-to with enough room for the mom to get in.) So, any advice on what to do now would be appreciated, or what to do differently next time. Cause, bunnies often make nests in our yard so there probably will be a next time.

Donna, glad to hear your remaing TRES are doing well. Also glad your Sisters are back. The Dragon Flys are finally out so I know "my" babies will be fine. It's so nice to see the parent just have to make a 30 second loop around the house and come back with a bug. Poor thing had been making 30-40 minutes trips there for a few days. I will get one last peek at them tomorrow then have to just listen to them till fledge day. My Dees are a few days behind yours and my Blues are nearly done with the new nest for round 2. Life is good. ;D