The ritual of May Day has all but faded into the past. The surprise baskets of flowers and treats hung from doorknobs is an intriguing idea. At the end of April I got a surprise that wasn’t exactly a basket but was definitely a treat. I noticed that one branch of the lemon tree was dragging on the ground. On closer look, I could see it had partially split from the trunk. A dove shot out of the tree as I walked around it to take pictures. I slowed down and started looking for a nest. Midway between roots and crown, I spotted a well-built shallow saucer. Not wanting to disturb potential residents, I held up my phone and blindly took some pictures. When I looked at my screen I saw two small feathered shapes wedged together. It was clear from their feathers that they weren’t yet ready to fly.
The yard crew was informed that they couldn’t touch the tree until the birds were out of the nest. I have a perfect view of the nest out my window and have been keeping track of their progress. It’s astonishing how quickly their feathers changed in just five days. What was a mottled dark grey-brown is now a smooth slate grey, much like the adult doves.