Doves in Martin houses.

[Siberman]

Y'all ever had doves build in your houses ? I have a pair of small red-eyed ( we call them Mexican doves down here ) sitting on the upper porch of an SKS house every evening.

[Laverne]

No, doves build nests on the ground or open cups in trees or even in hanging plant baskets. They are probably just sitting on your PM housing for the height without being harassed by some Mockingbird or Loggerheaded Shrike or Blue Jay or "whatever"!!

I would be truly surprised if doves attempted to nest in your PM housing. Let us know what you see...

Sincerely,
Laverne

[ToyinPA]

I've had Mourning Doves check out my S&K houses this year. Saw them several times, but none have tried to enter or build any nests.

ToyinPA

[Frank Hargis-IL]

We have a trio castle that Mourning Doves have nested on. We take the doors and sub floors off the house each fall and replace them next spring. One year the doves started building on the porch and in one cavity before we replaced the doors. The female would usual set on the eggs as I lowered the house for nest checks. I had a good picture of her and the young but can't find it.

Frank

[GeneP]

I've had Robins try nesting on the porch. Didn't let it happen.

[Siberman]

I was working in the garden this afternoon and noticed a bunch of twigs on the porch. As I was sitting here in the living room I saw the pair return and enter the house. They're not "mourning" doves but the smaller variety ( just a bit larger than martins).

Cool. No martins in this particular house so I'll leave 'em alone.
I've had them build in azaleas and rose bushes but never in a house.

[Louise Chambers]

We have had Inca Doves build on martin house porch - fine until mites swarmed from dove nest into house. We later had a basket made of wire mesh under the PM house for them, and they used it some times but not always.

[John Barrow]

Siberman,

As Louise mentioned we have had inca doves nest on our Goliad porch--one year--and in a wire basket I attached underneath for one or two more years.

I would like to supplement by adding to Louise's post my suggestion that, if the doves have not laid eggs and are starting to nestbuild, I would tear down the partial nest and discourage them from building there. Inca doves breed 3-4 times a year--mine usually produced two young per brood. They will leave their nest sooner than martins and before they can fly. Having their nests on your martin house will defeat, or restrict, your ability to do nestchecks or access the housing in case of problems. When the young doves reach about 10 days old they will readily jump off of the system if you attempt to lower or access it, without ability to fly or protect themselves. If young enough you can replace them on the nest, which might require a ladder. But while still needing to manage your martin system, they will reach an age where they will bail out and you won't be able to successfully replace them. As Laverne mentioned, there are many other suitable nesting sources---hanging baskets, tree snags, etc., that won't interfere with managing the martin system.