Ralph E. Mirarchi

Mourning Dove Hunting in Alabama: Motivations, Satisfactions, and Sociocultural Influences

Knowledge of factors affecting participation in, and satisfactions gained from, hunting is important yet unstudied among mourning dove hunters. We tested the multiple-satisfactions model of hunting and investigated effects of motivational factors and sociocultural characteristics on development and maintenance of dove hunting behavior using a mail survey of hunters in Alabama. Most Alabama hunters appeared motivated by multiple, primarily nonsuccess-based, satisfactions. Dove hunters were more strongly motivated by nonsuccess-based satisfactions and less by obtaining a bag limit than were other types of hunters. Childhood socialization was important in developing hunting behavior among both dove and nondove hunters. Early initiation into hunting and family tradition and mentoring were particularly important in developing dove hunting behavior. Attrition from dove hunting was low (< 20%), and was positively associated with currently living in an urban area, but was unrelated to other sociocultural variables or to motivational factors. Management for multiple hunting satisfactions seems appropriate, given the importance of nonsuccess-based motivations and satisfactions. Lack of family tradition and mentoring may limit success of youth programs encouraging hunting.

FORAGING‐PATCH USE AND WITHIN‐PATCH DIET SELECTIVITY IN MOURNING DOVES, ZENAIDA MACROURA

Past studies of foraging-patch exploitation among granivorous animals largely have focused on mammals, so we sought to test patch-use strategies in an avian granivore, the Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura). Based on available experimental evidence and existing food habits/selection information, we hypothesized that Mourning Doves use a fixed-time patch departure strategy and an expanding specialist within-patch diet-selection strategy (specialization at high resource densities but generalization at low densities). We tested predictions based on these hypotheses and selected alternatives in three outdoor aviary experiments. Mourning Doves failed to equalize food giving-up densities (GUDs; food densities at the point of patch departure) between rich and poor patches, and no indirect interactions took place between multiple foods in patches. The ratio of GUDs between rich and poor patches equaled the ratio of initial food densities. Neither selectivity among, nor ratio of GUDs between, multiple foods varied with degree of patch exploitation. Results of all experiments supported a fixed-time patch-departure strategy among Mourning Doves; this may be a general pattern among open area-foraging avian granivores. A fixed-time strategy in this guild may indicate inability to assess patch resource density, possibly due to lack of olfactory capabilities or to a constant rate of seed intake at most seed densities. Results did not completely support an expanding specialist diet-selection strategy, but this strategy seems a more likely cause of partial diet preferences than does an alternative mechanism, a generalist strategy with unequal encounter rates.

Patterns of food preferences in mourning doves

Patterns of food preference in mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) are not well-established, and the role of seed nutrient content in diet selection by mourning doves is poorly understood. We documented preferences of captive and wild (free-flying) mourning doves for cultivated and wild foods. Additionally, we evaluated relationships between food preferences and specific nutrients and minerals. Captive mourning doves foraged selectively; white proso millet, dove proso millet, and browntop millet were the first, second, and third most-preferred foods, respectively. Wild mourning doves also foraged selectively, although preferences were not as clear as in the captive setting. Food preferences did not vary seasonally. All nutrients varied among foods each year. Food selection was positively related to nitrogen-free extract (NFE) and negatively related to cellulose-lignin (C-L) levels in foods, although contents of these components did not completely explain mourning dove food selection. Seed physical characteristics, secondary compound levels, and/or metabolic efficiencies may have influenced food selection in our study. Managers should evaluate attractiveness of new foods to mourning doves based on relative NFE and C-L levels until the relationships of food attractiveness to seed physical characteristics, secondary defensive compounds, and metabolic efficiency are determined.

Effects of lead shot ingestion on free-ranging mourning doves.

Mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) may develop Pb toxicosis from ingesting spent Pb shot from hunted fields in which they feed. One to 6.5 percent of the dove population may ingest Pb shot based on analysis of gizzard contents. No Pb shot toxicity studies have been conducted on free-ranging mourning doves. Mortality data for Pb-dosed, free-ranging doves would help determine the actual effects of Pb shot ingestion on the mourning dove population. Causes of death of Pb-treated doves also could help to estimate exposure of predators and scavengers to secondary Pb toxicosis. The objectives of this study were to compare mortality and causes of death of free-ranging Pb-treated and untreated mourning doves.

Effects of diet and cold exposure on captive female mourning doves dosed with lead shot

The effects of diet and cold exposure on captive female mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) dosed with lead (Pb) shot were investigated from 12 December 1985 to 2 January 1986. Doves were screened for Pb exposure using a blood delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase assay. A 2×2× 2 factorial design was employed with Pb (1 #8 Pb shot {70±0.5 mg} or seed), temperature (5°C or 22°C), and diet (commercial pelleted ration or mixed seed) as the three factors of interest. Ninetysix doves were assigned randomly to 1 of the 8 treatments, confined individually, and acclimated to their respective diets 3 weeks prior to dosing.No mortality occurred during the experiment. Changes in body weight after 2 and 3 weeks did not differ between Pb-treated doves and controls. Tissue Pb concentrations were higher in Pb-dosed birds than controls. Partially eroded Pb shot were recovered from feces in 89% (39/44) of the Pb-dosed doves. Doves on the pelleted diet retained Pb shot longer and eroded more Pb than did doves on the mixed seed diet. Tissue Pb concentrations, especially in the kidney, were higher in Pb-treated birds on the mixed seed diet. There were no differences in tissue Pb concentrations due to temperature although there was a diet × temperature interaction in kidney Pb concentrations of Pb-treated doves. The increased likelihood of shot expulsion on the mixed seed diet was apparently offset by nutritional and/or other factors which increased Pb absorption and/or retention in body tissues.

Summertime Habitat Use and Movements of Hatching-Year Mourning Doves in Northern Alabama

We studied habitat use and local movements of radio-tagged hatching-year (HY) mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) in northern Alabama from July to September 1987. Direct recoveries of 53 HY mourning doves banded from April to September 1986-87 complemented the telemetry data. Radio-tagged birds were located during 4 time blocks (3 diurnal, 1 nocturnal) during nonhunting and hunting seasons. Daily habitat use and movements of radio-tagged HY doves did not vary (P>0.05) between nonhunting and hunting seasons, sexes, or young (29-60 days) and old (90-131 days) age classes. On average, HY doves showed no preferences for specific habitats regardless of time of day or season. Diurnal habitat use patterns were related to the proximity of feeding habitats to perching habitats. Residential areas were frequently used at night for roosting, and 24-hour use of these habitats increased (P<0.05) during the hunting season, indicating their potential importance as refugia. Daily home ranges (x=217±19 [SE] ha) of radio-tagged HY doves were smaller (P<0.05) than total home ranges (956±118 ha), indicating that the daily use of space shifted in time. Hatching-year mourning doves quickly moved from less to more productive feeding areas. Most radio-tagged and banded HY doves reported as shot were harvested during the first week of the hunting season. Local HY populations appeared to be subjected to heavy gunning pressure that probably caused temporary but locally severe population reductions or «burn-outs»

Mourning Doves and Salt: Is There an Attraction?

Baiting with sodium salt (hereafter salt) to attract mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) for hunting has been illegal since 1931, yet no comprehensive study of the relationship between mourning doves and salt in the environment has been conducted. We measured consumption of freely available salt by captive male and female mourning doves, and we tested effects of season, grit availability, and reproductive status on salt consumption. Additionally, we evaluated the attraction of wild mourning doves to salt by comparing dove use among resource patches containing food and salt baits, salt bait, food bait, and no bait at 2 sites in eastcentral Alabama. Captive doves consumed 20 + 3 (x t SE) mg salt/day. Salt consumption did not vary between genders, among seasons, or with availability of another grit source. Grit consumption by females during April-May was greater than during other periods, and greater than consumption by males during any period. Pairs of doves successfully hatching young consumed more salt/dove/day than did unsuccessful pairs or unpaired doves. Among successful nesters, mean salt consumption was highest during the week following hatching. Wild mourning dove use was similar between patches containing both food and salt and those containing food, and between patches containing salt and unbaited patches. Results confirm that mourning doves will consume salt in their environment, particularly during nesting, apparently in response to physiological demand for sodium. However, salt did not appear to attract wild mourning doves, perhaps due to physiological sodium-conserving mechanisms or the availability of natural sodium sources. Salt does not appear to function as grit in the diet of mourning doves. Grit may be an important source of calcium for doves during reproduction. Regulations prohibiting salt baiting for dove hunting may not be necessary, although additional research should be conducted in other areas to test our results. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 66(2):425-432

Molt of after-hatching-year mourning doves

We studied molts and plumages of 28 captive and 112 wild after-hatching-year (AHY) mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) in eastcentral Alabama to better understand the timing of, processes involved in, and factors affecting annual molt Captive doves were paired and reproduced in outdoor flight pens exposed to natural photoperiod and weather. We evaluated molt progression in captive doves at 28-day intervals. During the weeks we examined captive doves, we also trapped and evaluated molt in wild doves For captive and wild doves, time (sampling period) was the only consistent factor affecting inolt (P < 0.001). Body molt of captive and wild doves began in August, peaked in October, and ended by December Tail feather (rectrix) molt coincided with body molt in captive but not wild doves. Molt of primary feathers (remiges) in both groups followed an orderly outward sequence and was initiated by May and completed by December. The complete body molt initiated in late summer resulted in the drab plumage typical of mourning doves in winter. Males had visible olive-colored tips on the crown, hind neck, and, to a lesser degree, the chest. Gradual deterioration of the margins of these feathers revealed the more colorfnl breeding plumage by late winter and early spring Although the winter plumage of females also was olive-tipped it did not contrast enough with the spring plumage to cause a noticeable seasonal color change. Apparently, AHY mourning doves compensate for molt-breeding overiap by spreading wing molt over ≥6 months by initiating annual body head and tail molt when food is abundant in autumn, and by timing the majority of molt concurrent with, or following, the final clutch of the season, just prior to the stressors of winter.