Monday, March 21, 2011

Love Is in the Air

These two Mourning Doves have been doing a lot of necking right next to my rig.


They are determined to build a nest on top of Phil's car under his kayak.


Seems like the perfect spot. Each day they start from scratch, the previous days work having blown away. I tried to tell them that this is NOT the perfect spot, but they just wouldn't listen.


Uh-oh! They need to find a permanent home really soon!


Two days before the big full moon, there was a moonlight hike in Lost Dutchman State Park. I got there early enought to get a shot of the Superstition Mountains as the sun was setting.


This was apparently going to be a very popular hike, as more and more people showed up.


In the end, there were 235 participants! The line stretched out for a good quarter mile.


The leader stopped periodically to speak, and fortunately had a microphone.


There it is - the Supermoon - the biggest moon in 18 years!

18 comments:

  1. Yes the moon was fantastic and what a good way to celebrate it with the hike. We have lots of Jackdaws around here and they are busing going through their courtship routine.

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  2. Egad! 235 people on one hike? Hard to hear or see much in a crowd like that. :)

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  3. WOW what a crowd..glad you got to see it---here we had the clouds, last night I saw it for a few minutes between the clouds but it was 3 am, I rolled over-
    LOL at the Doves--they cant find a tree to build in I guess!!

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  4. I tried shooting the super moon with a tripod and an SLR but it was too windy and the tree branches I was using for framing kept blurring the picture with the slow shutter speeds.

    On another note we have to get clarification on how you pronounce your last name. Dinner is riding on this. One of us thinks it is Tall-er-EE-kow and the other one thinks it is Towl-air-eh-coo. So are either one of us correct?

    John Cortesy
    http://trikepilotadventures.blogspot.com/

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  5. What a perfect spot to be with that gorgeous moon coming up. Great photos!
    I love doves. I hope they are able to build a good nest before the eggs are laid. Your doves are really pretty. The ones in my area are grey.

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  6. Enjoyed the story of the doves...true love! Hope they find some suitable real estate soon.

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  7. I, too, hope your birds find a permanent home someplace safe.

    I think the Superstitions are some of the prettiest mountains ever. I love them and your picture is incredible. I can't imagine that many people on a hike.

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  8. Wow, we probably would have turned around and gone home if we saw that many people on a hike!
    Great dove pics.

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  9. Looks like the doves intend to stay. That is a lot of folks on the hike. Not mush chance of surprising any wildlife :(

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  10. Yup, time for those doves to get a place of their own.

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  11. Sex and moonlight - you covered it all!
    Are these hikes at the Superstitions usual or just for the moon?

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  12. Our dove didn't even try to build a nest. She just laid an egg in the little space where the wipers go, between the windshield and the hood!
    Oops!

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  13. true love for the doves!!..the hike looks like it was a huge success!!

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  14. OMG that is just too cute about the doves lol I watch the doves out here and they are too funny one of them will puff up and chase the other, so maybe they need a home also hehe. I would love to able to go on that hike that just looks so much fun to be outside in such beautiful surroundings like that, thanks for sharing and I hope all is well :o)

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  15. Those Mourning Doves should be called "Determined Doves"!

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  16. We really enjoyed Supersition Mountains and Lost Dutchman State Park when we were there in 2005. We took a picture almost the same as the one you took before your walk and our daughter's friend painted a watercolour of it that we have framed. Can't wait to make it back there one day.

    Kevin and Ruth
    www.travelwithkevinandruth.com

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  17. WOW.... to have been on a hike with over 200 others and share that experience!!!! I will have to put Superstition Mountain and Lost Dutchman State Park on my places to go list.

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  18. Never heard of a 200+ hiker hike .. that's wild. Love the Doves .. they definitely need a room! :-)

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