Mourning Dove

Have you ever heard of a sad cooing from somewhere above?  A few years ago when I did, I thought about an owl.  But I was wrong.  Who could it be? 

It was from a Mourning Dove. 

First they were very cautious, so they stayed on the fence to check on me.

When I got a birdbath out on the lawn in spring, they thought they would try it.

By autumn, one got the nerve to get closer to my patio. 

Nowadays, they come to my backyard often to walk around and find seeds.    One even tried to tell me,  "Yes, you have passed our safety inspection.  We will visit you often."