TRANSECT SURVEYS OF COLUMBID NESTS ON PUERTO RICO, VIEQUES, AND CULEBRA ISLANDS1

Abstract

Abstract I conducted transect surveys of pigeon and dove (Columbidae) nests on Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra islands. Nest detection probability and density differed between study areas in January–August 1991 and 1992. Nest detection probability and density did not differ between years or among species, so I used transect data from a larger study (1986–1999) to assess the relationships between nest density and rainfall, food abundance, food diversity, and predator abundance along transects. Food abundance was the most important predictor of annual changes in nest density on the surveyed transects in mesic and xeric habitats during May–June 1986–1999. Positive correlations of annual nest density estimates suggested parallel responses among columbid species to similar or covarying resources in mesic and xeric habitats.