Mourning dove in backyard

There is a pair of mourning doves that seem to be taking up residence in my backyard.  I have seen them a few times now, and this morning I thought they were involved in some hanky-panky.  They like to nest in a secure place, likely a tree or bush, that has a simple platform structure.  You can build one out of hardware cloth.

OK, I had to look that up.  What is hardware cloth?  It is a fine mesh steel "fabric", really being something like chicken-wire with a very tight woven form that will prevent eggs or chicks from falling through.  According to a Home guides website (click here), you construct it in a conical nature, probably something akin to a shallow bowl.  

Mourning doves spend a lot of time on the ground, as suggested by the photo I took yesterday.  They are fond of smaller seeds, such as millet, and have been foraging around my empty garden and very dead-looking lawn.  I have yet to determine if they will, in fact, nest in the area, but so far am hopeful.

I may even try to build a platform using plywood and hardware cloth (still getting used to that name) for them.  If I do, I will put it up today and let you know what happens.  Oh, the suspense is killing me!

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com