Wednesday, April 20, 2011

They've hatched! Peep and Cheep or Scrambled and Benedict?

Can you see the little guy? Look very closely I know that the picture is small but his little head is right up against his mommy's stomach. He is that tiny dark grey ball right above the top of the nest. Do you see his little eye barely open and his first feathers starting to grow. Deke captured this picture and I am sorry but I think it is absolutely precious. It kinda makes my heart burn. He is tiny and barely starting to get his feathers. She has been very protective of them so we were lucky even to get these few pictures. It is so cute the way he is snuggled up to her. On Sunday Deke walked out front to help Grandma get some things from the car and came back in holding something very carefully. When he opened his hand sure enough there was a tiny eggshell all cracked open. The kids were so excited they each wanted to hold it and look inside of it. I couldn't believe how tiny it was. After doing some research we found out that dove's usually only have two eggs per clutch and can lay up to six clutch's a season. We also found out that they are monogomous and that they usually return to their same nesting grounds repeatedly for a long span of time. We are all so excited that they are finally here. It has been such an amazing process to watch and be part of and to have the kids get to experience. The other day we watched her from Hunter's window reaching down into the nest to feed them. She is very protective over them and usually as soon as we come outside she hurries and sits on them to cover them. We have to watch from the window to get a glimpse of them. We read that they will have their feather in about a week. They won't start learning to fly until days 21-28 so we will have that to look forward to. I have to admit I am already worrying about them learning to fly off the top of that column. That is when I have to remind myself that they are capable and will be just fine. I may not be able to watch the process because I think I will worry to much about their safety. It will be neat to watch them grow and hopefully start to see and hear them more. We are still undecided on names since they were born a week before Easter it seems fitting to name them something Easter related. We like Peep and Cheep or Scrambled and Benedict. I have to admit the first time I saw the picture of the one little guy he definitely looked like a Benedict to me. However the thought has crossed my mind that those names while funny to us may be a little offensive to them :) Any suggestions let me know.

1 comment:

Erin said...

I like peep and cheep. Benedict and scrambled makes them sound like food. Which, of course, THEY ARE NOT! (Don't eat the baby birds, guys.)