US Fish & Wildlife Service
Date of this Version
2007
Citation
Dolton, D.D., R.D. Rau, and K. Parker. 2007. Mourning dove population status, 2007. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, Maryland, USA.
Abstract
This report summarizes Mourning Dove Call-count Survey (CCS) information on numbers of mourning doves heard and seen gathered over the last 42 years within the conterminous United States. Between 2006 and 2007, the average number of doves heard per route increased significantly in the Eastern Management Unit, but did not change significantly in the Central and Western Units. Over the most recent 10-year interval, no significant trend was indicated for doves heard in either the Eastern or Western Management Units while the Central Unit showed a significant decline. Over the 42-year period, all 3 units exhibited significant declines in mourning doves heard. In contrast, over the 10-year period, no significant trends were found in any of the three Management Units using the metric of doves seen. Over 42 years, no trend was found for doves seen in the Eastern and Central Units while a significant decline was indicated for the Western Unit.