A pair of doves moved on to my balcony. I wanted them gone – then they started nesting | Nova Weetman

Two years ago , when I moved into the apartment where I’m still living, a pair of doves moved in too.

They started nesting on top of the air conditioning unit on my balcony.

I could hear the cooing, the flapping of their wings and the splat of their poo as it hit the concrete below.

I started dreaming about pigeon germs floating in through the air conditioner and souring the air.

I went to the hardware store and stocked up on everything they sold to deter birds.

I waited until the doves were out on their hunting mission for more sticks and then placed my ladder under the unit.

And I can’t possibly disrupt a family of three . - Nova Weetman is an award-winning children’s author. Her memoir, Love, Death & Other Scenes , is published by UQP .