RE: Eurasian Collared Doves

["Rick Fridell" <rfridell at redrock dot net>]

Tuula,
Very nice investigative reporting!  I concur whole-heartedly with your
conclusions.  I have been reviewing the literature on the spread of the
Eurasian Collared-Doves, and I strongly believe that the influx of Utah
sightings over the past couple of years represent early stages of EuCD
colonization. I know many people disagree and worry recent sightings may be
of escaped or released doves. However, the pattern of occurrence is
consistent with colonization across the southern US and in neighboring
western states (and apparently they are not often kept as captives, unlike
the similar Ringed Turtle-Dove).

I strongly encourage Utah birders to document/report all Eurasian
Collared-Dove observations. I believe they are here, and they may have
potential conservation consequences. We have the opportunity to document
this fascinating colonization.  So I say, count them all, and count them
often!

Again good job.  I hope someone can follow-up and document their nesting
attempts next spring/summer at River Lane.

Best Regards,

Rick Fridell
Hurricane, UT

P.S. On Sunday afternoon (12/01), Steve and Priscilla Summers, Kristen and
I, saw 14 Eurasian Collared-Doves in Washington (on wires at the south end
of 400 East).  Also, as of this evening (12/02), Quail Creek Reservoir still
has six grebe species (including the juvenile Red-necked Grebe, and two
Horned Grebes) and an adult female White-winged Scoter.


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-birdnet@utahbirds.org [mailto:owner-birdnet@utahbirds.org]On
Behalf Of damott@juno.com
Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 2:01 PM
To: birdnet@utahbirds.org
Subject: Eurasian Collared Doves

(Darlene is letting me use her e-mail)

Sunday morning (12.1.02)  I decided to go and investigate the status of
the Eurasian collared doves by River Lane in Utah County. I talked to the
lady of the house where the doves hang out. She was very nice. I think
Barbara talked to her husband last year when Dana first noticed the
doves.
Q: What do you know about the doves on your property?
A: They have always been here. They stay all year round.
Q: How long have you lived here?
A: A couple of years.
Q: Did you bring them here?  Do you know where they came from?
A: WE DID NOT BRING THEM HERE. I COULDN'T SAY WHERE THEY CAME FROM..
Q: Do you feed them?
A: Yes, we leave feed for them. They even come when we call them.
Q: How many are there?
A: About 14. We lost a couple of them during dove hunt this fall. We had
hunters park all along the road, pointing their guns toward our property,
even right at the house. (She was quite upset about this. I would be
too.)
Q: Do they nest here?
A: Yes, they do. ( She pointed out a couple of trees at the back of the
house and one in front). We love the doves. We love to hear them in the
mornings in the summer. They mostly stay in the trees at the back of the
house. Sometimes they sit on the old barn, sometimes in the tree by the
bridge.
(Her teenage daughter called them "fan tail doves".)

My conclusion is that these doves have established a territory around
this farm house where they have ample food and shelter for nesting and
they have become somewhat tame. All this fits with the description of
their habitat and behavior  in my "Collins pocket guide: Birds of Britain
and Europe":
   "In the East, areas with scattered trees and bushes, palm groves,
oases, villages and towns; in the West (meaning west Europe, not the
Americas) as a colonist since 1950s, almost a commensal of man,
especially in towns and villages, sometimes in large flocks where it can
feed on loose grain."
According to Sibley, the Eurasian Collared Dove is a "naturally occurring
species" not a domesticated one like the ringed turtle dove. I don't
think these doves are any more "his birds"
than the house (English) sparrows at my feeders, eating me out of house
and home, nesting in my bushes, are "my sparrows". I am counting them as
wild birds. This is my personal opinion and I am no expert. You can draw
your own conclusions.  Comments, anyone?
Good birding   ~   Tuula




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