I’ve posted a few photos and videos of the collared doves’ nest – first the empty nest, then the eggs were laid, the chicks hatched and now we have an empty nest again. On Thursday evening the second young collared dove left the nest and has not returned. I do feel a little sad – empty nest syndrome!
Here is a video showing the final moments as the young bird left the confines of the nest behind the satellite dish for the last time and flew off into the wide world beyond. It looks quite big in the video but in reality it is still very small.
To participate in Alyce’s Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo (new or old) that you (or a friend or family member) have taken, but make sure it’s not one that you found online.
BooksPlease 
I have seen so many doves hatched in one of our terraces, since we moved to this place in 2008. Everyone a tiny dove flies away, I feel a pang. But the cycle continues…
Here is mine:
http://readbookswritepoetry.blogspot.com/2011/07/saturday-snapshot-july-9.html
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Ohhhh…they don’t stay around long, do they? I loved the journey.
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I love how he flexes his wings just a bit and leans from one foot to the other trying to psych himself up for the task of flying. What a fabulous thing to capture on film!
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Margaret, this has been a fun journey with you and your little “chicks”. Thanks for letting us share it!
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Thanks for the video, so sweet.
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I’m a bit sad too… I had got used to look at your videos following their progress. So, is that what it feels like to be a mum?
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Wow, a family journey! I’ve enjoyed your vignettes of the doves, and now you have the photos of remembrance. Thanks for sharing.
Here’s MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT
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It looks like he had to think about it a little bit before he left. I can see why it made you kind of sad.
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So sad to see them leave, but wonderful to have had the experience of watching them grow.
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I can’t believe how quickly they grew! I’m so glad you shared it with us.
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Margaret, so many interesting posts for me to catch up with! We’ve had some lovely sunny weather here recently and when the sun shines in Scotland, you stay out in it as long as possible! So I’ve been neglecting my blogging friends, I’m afraid. 😦
What a wonderful video of the young collar dove! S/he was so tentative at first and then managed to take the plunge (hopefully not literally!) I can inderstand your empty nest syndrome! It’s so sweet that they mate for life, too. Such gentle birds…
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I would feel the same empty nest syndrome, but at least you got to experience their growth. And how quickly they grew!
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Margaret – Thanks for sharing this with us. I feel almost as though I’ve been there :-). How terrific that you got to see the whole process.
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Ha, it is not very eager to leave home, is it? 🙂
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Hi!
Great snapshot/video. I’m so glad they made it out of the nest. Thanks so much for sharing this. I’ve been watching since the first one you posted. Have a great day!
Sherrie
Just Books
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Good luck young doves! I have a few newly fledged ones at my feeder this week. Always a pleasure to see the youngsters learning their way around.
And thanks for posting the wonderful video of the doves as they grew up. It’s an amazing glimpse of nature that until webcams we were unable to observe.
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Wonderful video. Thanks for sharing. I also like your header photo.
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How wonderful to have been able to watch them grow! Thanks for sharing.
Here’s my Snapshot: http://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/2011/07/saturday-snapshot-july-9.html
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What a wonderful experience it’s been. Sad to have the empty nest. Maybe the parents will use it again next year?
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