Did tragedy befall Pleasanton mourning dove chick?
DEAR JOAN: A mourning dove couple made a nest under the edge of the awning above our deck in the backyard last month. We were excited when one chick hatched and seemed to be doing well. We kept our awning open so that it protected the nest. One day the chick was gone, and the parents kept coming to the nest area and just stood looking. Finally, they built a new nest there, but the next day, the nest materials were all thrown down on the deck, and they left. Then, they tried building a nest a third time under the awning, but up against the house. After a few days, the nest was abandoned, and we saw a few small white feathers scattered here and there on the deck. My husband thought he saw a hawk after the chick disappeared, but we didnt see the hawk later. Also, we had two great cherry trees for years here but they died, maybe at 40 years old. We got a new tree and did have some cherries two years ago, but we found they all were wormy, something we never had before with our cherries. Last year the birds ate them, and we dont have many at all this year. Cathy Moran, Pleasanton  DEAR CATHY: Mourning doves have a well-earned reputation for being wonderful parents, but lousy nest makers. Their choice of materials can be as lacking as their selection of nesting sites. The first chick might have met an untimely end  few young birds of all species make it to their first birthdays  or it could have left the nest on its own and started a new life nearby. After hatching, chicks remain in the nest for about two weeks before they fledge, and then they usually hang around with their parents for another week or two. If the chick disappeared before then, chances are something got it  a hawk or a neighborhood cat being the most likely predator. As for what happened to the other nests, we cant know for certain. Because the doves are spectacularly bad at nest building, a strong wind could have sent it in all directions, or a predator might have destroyed it looking for chicks or eggs  Mourning doves have several clutches every year, so they might have found a different location for the new nest. The worms in your cherries could be from the spotted wing drosophila, which has been in California since 2008. The female pierces the skin of the cherries and deposits her eggs inside. The eggs hatch and the larvae  the worms  eat their way out. Some ideas on the dry vs. wet debate Controlling the insect isnt easy, as chemical sprays must be timed for the right moment, when the adult fruit fly is ready to lay her eggs, but before she does. Once the eggs have been deposited, its too late to save the cherry. Agriculture experts recommend checking your tree and getting rid of any cherries that have been stung. Youll see a tiny indentation or dimple. The fruit should be placed in a sealed, plastic bag and thrown into the regular garbage. Covering the tree in a fine mesh netting also can prevent damage, but you need to do it in early spring. You can learn more here at the University of Californias Integrated Pest Management website, http://ipm.ucanr.edu. For more wildlife, garden and backyard topics, sign up for our new, free Flora+Fauna newsletter. Use this form to submit questions. Photos should be mailed separately to jmorris@bayareanewsgroup.com.