Mourning Dove Breeding Population Status

This report includes Mourning Dove Call-count Survey information gathered over the last 36 years within the conterminous United States. Trends were calculated for the most recent 2- and 10-year intervals and for the entire 36-year period. Between 2000 and 2001, the average number of doves heard per route decreased significantly in the Eastern and Central Management Units. No change was detected for the Western Unit. Over the most recent 10 and 36-year periods, significant declines were indicated for doves heard in the Central and Western Units. Additionally, in the Eastern Management Unit, a significant decline was detected over the most recent 10 years while there was no trend indicated over 36 years. In contrast, for doves seen over the 10-year period, a significant increase was found in the Eastern Unit while no trends were found in the Central and Western Unit. Over the 36-year period, no trend was found for doves seen in the Eastern and Central Units while a decline was indicated for the Western Unit.

Nationwide dove population indexes presented in the 1966 Mourning Dove Status Report were obtained, using several important in data gathering and analysis. Data analyses suggest that 1966 dove populations have fully recovered from the 1965 decline in the Eastern and Central Management Units, and partially recovered in the Western Management Unit. Present populations approximate those of the 1956-1965, 10-year means in all units.

Mourning dove population indices, as determined from the nationwide Call-Count Survey, decreased from 1972 to 1973 by 7% in the Eastern Management Unit, by 8% in the Central Management Unit, but increased by 8% in the Western Management Unit. The 1973 indices were below the 10-year means, 1963-1972, by 9% in the Eastern Unit, 6% in the Central Unit, and 4% in the Western Unit. Regression analyses of the call-count data for 1963-73 indicate a statistically significant downward trend in dove breeding populations in all management units; mean rates of decline per year were 1% in the Eastern, 2% in the Central and 4% in the Western Unit.

Nicely published (apparently with subsidy) by the Wildlife Management Institute, Washington, D.C. Comprehensively deals with the most numerous, widespread, and heavily hunted of North American gamebirds. Among the topics covered in 29 contributions: classification and distributions, migration, nesting, reproductive strategy, growth and maturation, feeding habits, diseases, survey procedures, population trends, care of captive mourning doves, and hunting. The final chapter identifies research and management needs. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR