Nest update - changing of the guard

Still no sighting of new chicks but a couple of cool things happened today. This morning I managed to pour about 1 cup of water in the pot to keep the geranium alive and all the papa bird did was coo and rise up and look at me for a brief moment before settling back down again. Then this afternoon I decided I would try to trim a few dead stalks off the plant and I didn't even get a raised eyebrow from him. These doves never cease to amaze me, they are so laid back I almost expect them to look at me and say "whazzzup?"

Just after dinner I decide to sit on the veranda in hopes that I'd see the parents do their switch over. The mourning dove nesting habit sees the mother on the nest from early evening to early the following morning when the father takes over for the day shift.

This is the father. About 1/2 hour after I took up my observation post - in a lawn chair - the mother arrived to take her turn.

They did a bit of manouvering and some head bobbing and communicating....

and then the papa was gone and mama settled down for the night. She did tuck her head down towards the nest a few times so I think there's some activity goin' on. Stay tuned.

They have a view of this Fuschia plant from the nest. Not bad. Rent free, shaded, in out of the rain and a great view.