US Fish & Wildlife Service
Date of this Version
2009
Citation
Dolton, D. D., T. A. Sanders, and K. Parker. 2009. Mourning dove population status, 2009. Pages 1–22 in T. A. Sanders, editor. Mourning dove, white-winged dove, and band-tailed pigeon population status, 2009. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, Maryland, USA.
Rabe, M. J. 2009. White-winged dove status in Arizona, 2009. Pages 25–32 in T. A. Sanders, editor. Mourning dove, white-winged dove, and band-tailed pigeon population status, 2009. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, Maryland, USA.
Sanders, T. A. 2009. Band-tailed pigeon population status, 2009. Pages 33–42 in T. A. Sanders, editor. Mourning dove, white-winged dove, and band-tailed pigeon population status, 2009. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, Maryland, USA. All
Abstract
Mourning Dove Population Status, 2009
This report summarizes information on the abundance and harvest of mourning doves collected annually in the United States. The focus is on results from the Mourning Dove Call-count Survey, but also includes results from the Breeding Bird Survey and the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program. According to the Call-count survey, the mean number of doves heard per route over the recent 2 years (2008–2009) increased significantly in the Central Management Unit, but did not change significantly in either the Eastern or Western Units. Over the most recent 10 years (2000–2009), there was no significant trend in doves heard for either the Eastern or Western Management Units while the Central Unit declined significantly. Over the 44-year period (1966–2009), there was no significant change in doves heard for the Eastern Unit while the Central and Western Units declined significantly. Based on the mean number of doves seen per route, however, there was no significant change for any of the three Management Units during the recent 10-year period. Over 44 years, there was no change in doves seen for the Eastern and Central Units while the Western Unit declined significantly.
White-winged Dove Status in Arizona, 2009
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) has monitored white-winged dove populations by means of a call-count survey to provide an annual index to population size. It runs concurrently with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Mourning Dove Call-count Survey. The index peaked at 52.3 mean number doves heard per route in 1968, but fell precipitously in the late 1970s. The index has stabilized to around 25 doves per route in the last few years; in 2009, the mean number of doves heard per route was 27.9. AGFD also monitors harvest. Harvest during the 15-day season (September 1-15) peaked in the late 1960’s at ~740,000 birds (1968 AGFD estimate) and has since stabilized at around 100,000 birds; the preliminary 2008 Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) estimate of harvest was 95,300 birds. In 2007, AGFD redesigned their dove harvest survey to sample only from hunters registered under HIP so that results from the AGFD survey would be comparable to those from HIP. The preliminary 2008 Arizona harvest estimate was 79,488.
Band-tailed Pigeon Population Status, 2009
This report summarizes information on the abundance and harvest of band-tailed pigeons collected annually in the western United States and British Columbia. Annual counts of Interior band-tailed pigeons seen and heard per route have not changed significantly since implementation of the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) in 1966; however, they decreased (P