Mourning Dove Movements during the Reproductive Season in Southeastern Idaho

Abstract

We determined movements of mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) in relation to selected manmade ponds on the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) in southeastern Idaho using radio telemetry during June-August in 1984 and 1985. Maximum distances were measured from dove feeding and loafing sites to watering sites (? = 3.1 km) for 40 doves and to nest sites (t = 3.7 km) for 12 doves. The daily maximum distances from feeding and loafing sites of individual mourning doves to their known watering sites and nesting sites averaged 0.5-2.0 km (n = 8) and 1.1-3.8 km (n = 5), respectively. Movements of adults indicated that mourning dove populations in desert areas would be enhanced by establishing additional permanent watering sites where distances between existing sites are >6 km. Movements of adult doves also indicated minimal opportunity for transport of radionuclides from contaminated ponds in INEL to areas outside INEL during the reproductive season. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 52(3):477-480 Mourning doves on INEL in southeastern Idaho are dependent on water sources made or manipulated by man. Some mourning doves use man-made ponds on INEL that have been contaminated with radionuclides (Arthur and Markham 1978, Halford and Millard 1978); relatively low levels of Cesium-137 contamination have been reported in some of these doves (Markham and Halford 1982). Because of their potentially high mobility, doves using man-made ponds on INEL are capable of feeding and/or nesting in areas adjacent to INEL. Doves using contaminated ponds may thus provide a potential pathway for radionuclide transport to areas off the site. Our objective was to determine daily movements of mourning doves in relation to their watering sites and nests in a cold desert ecosystem. Particular attention was given to doves that used the Test Reactor Area (TRA) radioactive leaching pond to discern whether they were providing a pathway for contaminant transport to areas off INEL. Mourning doves were also monitored at the Naval Research Facility (NRF) This content downloaded from 157.55.39.107 on Wed, 30 Mar 2016 06:44:29 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 478 MOURNING DOVE MOVEMENTS * Howe and Flake J. Wildl. Manage. 52(3):1988 where none of the ponds were used for radionuclide leaching. Most studies of mourning dove movements have been based on recaptures and band returns. For example, Channing (1979) and Leopold and Dedon (1983) reported movements, based on band returns, of nonmigratory mourning doves in central California. Tomlinson et al. (1960) studied the local movements of mourning doves in Missouri by recording recaptures in walk-in traps placed at 0.4 km intervals over 1,295 ha. Few studies of movements of mourning doves have been conducted using radio telemetry. Hitchcock and Mirarchi (1984) and Grand et al. (1984) did extensive telemetry studies on fledgling doves in Alabama, and Sayre et al. (1980) used radio telemetry to determine daily maximum movements and activity patterns of adult mourning doves in Missouri. We are grateful to O. D. Markham, K. F. Higgins, T. R. McCabe, and C. G. Scalet for project and manuscript review. We thank W. L. Tucker for guidance on statistical design and analysis. We are obliged to INEL staff and technicians who assisted in the collection of data. This research was funded by the Office of Health and Environmental Research, U.S. Department of Energy. This is a contribution of the INEL Radioecology and Ecology program.