When a pair of stock doves discover an empty tree hollow, they settle down to raise their a family inside. But they have no idea just how dangerous their new home is about to become.
On finding the nest, the stock dove wastes no time in laying her first egg. But whilst she is out stretching her wings a jackdaw enters. Thankfully it leaves and the egg remains intact but as she goes on to lay the rest of her clutch more animals threaten this dove's precious eggs. First a grey squirrel comes alarmingly close, then a pair of tawny owls crowd the entrance.
Kestrel attack
But when a pair of kestrels arrive, the stock dove comes under fierce attack. Every year this pair, named Apollo & Athena, raise a brood in this box and, after having only just finished using it for this latest breeding season, they consider Ash tree hollow theirs. The poor stock dove suffers quite a beating!
Jackdaws persist
But the danger isn't over yet. Now sitting on two eggs, the stock dove takes a break and whilst she's out the jackdaws return. She does her best to drive them away, but jackdaws are intelligent and extremely persistent. Tragically, the female stock dove's drive to protect her eggs is so strong and she continues to brood, even though it’s too late. Let's hope she finds somewhere safer.
Athena and Apollo reclaim their nest and they prepare for a new breeding season. So far they’ve been the only species to ward off the threat of the jackdaws
