Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) Harvest and Population Parameters Derived From a National Banding Study

The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura; dove) is the most harvested migratory game bird in North America and a ubiquitous species that is valued and easily recognized by the general public. Informed harvest management of this important recreational resource requires knowledge of harvest attributes and population vital rates, several of which are estimable from banding and from hunter-harvested birds. We conducted a national-scale banding program in 2003 - 2005 to generate such data for estimation of band reporting rates, harvest rates, distribution and derivation of harvest, and annual survival rates. The study required training of a new cadre of biologists in field techniques and establishment of data collection and management protocols, as well as providing an opportunity to evaluate logistics and costs associated with the large-scale study design. During 2003 - 2005, biologists in 29 participating states banded nearly 100,000 birds, and hunters have reported almost 5,000 bands to date from harvested doves. In 2004 and 2005, a proportion of the trapped and released doves received an extra reward band which allowed estimation of the probability that a hunter reported a band from a harvested dove to the United States Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory. This reporting rate varied considerably among geographic regions (range: 0.40 - 0.85). Weighted average adult harvest rates for the Eastern Management Unit and Central Management Unit were similar. Adult harvest rates were greatest in the Western Management Unit, but this estimate was influenced by the single large estimate from California in 2005. Juvenile harvest rates were greatest in the Eastern Management Unit and similar in the Central Management Unit and Western Management Unit. With the exception of only a few states in the northern U.S., at least 80% of the harvest of banded adults and juveniles occurred in the state of banding. Similarly, with only a few exceptions, nearly all recoveries in each state were derived from banded cohorts in the same state. Average adult subregion survival rates were generally greater than corresponding subregion juvenile survival rates. Comparison to results from reporting rate studies conducted more than 30 years ago suggests a large average increase in reporting rate, probably due to the availability of the Bird Banding Laboratory toll-free telephone number for reporting bands. The last national-scale dove banding study was conducted more than 30 years ago, and a comparison of harvest rates suggests current harvest rate estimates for both age classes in Eastern Management Unit and Western Management Unit states are generally less than previous estimates, while estimates are greater or about the same in Central Management Unit states. Survival rates from the earlier study were significantly greater for both age classes in the Eastern Management Unit and the Central Management Unit, but no differences were found in the Western Management Unit. We did not find any important changes in harvest distribution or derivation patterns within the management units. This study provided the foundation for an operational long-term banding program that is critical to the implementation of the National Mourning Dove Strategic Harvest Management Plan (Anonymous 2005), which describes the conceptual framework for an improved, informed system of harvest management for doves.