The heat is on! The first dove egg has hatched!

We're finally getting seasonal heat.  I walked Gretchen after sunrise at 60F and didn't need to wear a flannel shirt.  Two hours later and at 70F, I took Hansel, Gretel and Fritz down to the river but had to turn around because a stubborn Gila Monster was in the middle of the trail and Fritz was too curious about the lizard.  He only listened because I turned around right away and gave my usual command "This way!" 

This is the third Gila Monster I've encountered, and all were about a half-mile from the river and all in exposed desert.

We all felt the heat.  Soon starting a hike at 7:30am will be too late.

The yellow glow from a month ago is now gone  The creosote flowers have all turned to seed.  The only blooms left are the sweet acacia balls.

All three dogs were panting hard when I got back to the Honda.  They did three miles in exposed desert with no water until we got home by 9am.  The water trough was their immediate relief.

I watered the plants along the backyard fenceline.  A few hours later, by 1:30pm, I checked in on the dove.  She was positioned sideways on her clutch and didn't move when I got close.  I had noticed a broken eggshell.  Where was the squab?  When Momma Dove flew away I saw the little heap, barely breathing.  It must have just hatched earlier this morning.

I need not have worried.  I googled "newly hatched squab" and Google said the new hatchlings are motionless for several hours as they can't see or hear.  Momma Dove was protective of her new baby but let me photograph it.  I'm excited to watch it grow, but I also don't want to stress out the dove. At least she is off the ground and well-protected from predators.  My strawberry plant is surely traumatized, though.

The second egg should hatch tomorrow and then I'll have two weeks of worry as they will nest for two weeks before fledging, and then I'll worry about predators.