Albert E. Bivings, IV

Little information is available on the success of single-parent mourning dove (Zenaida macwura) nests after 1 September, the time period when hunting usually begins. To answer this question, data from single-parent nests were collected on the Texas A&M University Campus during September 1979. Data for 44 nests where 1 parent was removed were compared to 31 control nests. Success of single-parent nests with young 0-6 days of age was reduced. We did not observe significant reduction in success for nests containing young exceeding 6 days of age, or for single male versus single female...

Predicted hatching distributions of mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) derived from post-juvenal primary molt data obtained from (1) trapped samples throughout the year and (2) trapped samples from September-October only, were compared to hatching distributions observed in nesting studies during 1981 and 1982. A good fit of the predicted distribution to the observed was obtained in 1981, but not in 1982. It appears that sampling intensity and uniformity are major factors influencing how well primary feather molt data predicts hatching distributions. As a result, sampling of molt data during...

Mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) were banded pre-season (May-August) on the Texas A&M University campus as nestlings, free-flying juveniles, or adults. Analysis of direct hunter recoveries revealed no differences (P> 0.05) between the 3 banding classes and recovery distance. Calculation of survival rates from capture-recapture data indicated that adult survival (46.2%) was higher (P < 0.0001) than first year survival of immatures (free-flying juveniles 18.0%, nestlings 19.5%).

Recaptures of mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) banded with spiral plastic leg bands revealed these bands were constricting and resulting in loss or severe damage to the legs of doves. Analysis of data from an experiment to determine the effects of color, environmental exposure, and treatment with acetone on the shrinkage of bands indicated that all 3 variables affected (P < 0.01) band shrinkage. Black bands experienced the greatest shrinkage of the 8 colors tested. Bands exposed to the environment shrank more (P <0.01) than bands kept at room temperature or in a freezer....

Nesting success and production of mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) was studied on the Texas A&M University Campus during 1978 and 1979. Data indicated that mourning dove nesting and production were highly variable between months within years and monthly between years. Nests initiated in August were the most important both in quantity (20% of total) and rate of success (32% of total).' Although September-initiated nests contributed only 5% of total nests and 6% of fledged young, August-initiated nests still active during early September contributed 20% of the total fledglings in 1978...

The accuracy of Lincoln Index estimates for a wild population of mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) of known size was examined. Data indicated there was a tendency to overestimate population size regardless of the percentage of the population that was marked. Learned trap-escape behavior apparently caused the observed overestimations. A similar bias probably exists for other studies on birds.

Adult mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) were live trapped on the Texas A&M University Campus during August through December in 1978 and 1979. Known adult doves were examined to determine the sequence of primary replacement. A linear regression of primary molt on time indicated that less than 1 percent of adults completed molt by 1 September. All adult doves had completed molt by 1 December. Classing all doves which have completed molt in September as hatch-year birds would cause no significant aging bias in Texas.

A total of 1,648 mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) was trapped on the gravel-topped roofs of buildings on the Texas A&M University campus during the period from February 1978 through January 1979. An average of 84.5 new doves and 52.8 recaptures per month were trapped in a maximum of 13 modified funnel traps baited with a combination of grain sorghum and cracked corn. The new captures were 74.3% adults of which 59.7% were males. Roof-top trapping minimizes human disturbance and travel while maximizing time available for trapping.