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RE: Eurasian Collared Doves

Dear Utah Birdwatchers,

In March of this year, Eurasian Collared-Doves were reported from Dove
Creek (Dolores County) Colorado.  When I mentioned the sighting to a
Cortez friend, she told me they sounded like what she had been seeing
around her neighborhood in Cortez.  The next day, my husband and I
confirmed EuCD in Cortez, Montezuma County, Colorado.  We were therefore
not surprised to find what appeared to be a nesting pair when we visited
Blanding, Utah, in April of 2002.  At that time, we did not sub scribe to
Utah birdnet and did not know how to report the sighting---or, indeed, if
there would be interest in it.  So...if someone is mappping the EuCD
distribution in Utah, I am reporting the Blanding sighting.

The point has been made that while the EuCD seem to stay in the towns with
trees and greenery as they are used to, there must be some real pioneers
among them that push on, over deserts and dry grasslands, to reach the next
town.  I would certainly be surprised if the birds were released in Dove
Creek or Cortez or Blanding.

Mona Hill
Lewis, Montezuma County, CO

At 05:40 PM 12/2/02 -0700, Rick Fridell wrote:
>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: [birdnet] 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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>
>"Utah Birds" web site: http://www.utahbirds.org
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