Mourning dove (Zenaidura macroura) nesting success in artificial and natural nests was investigated in 1974 on seven study areas in central Minnesota. Nesting success in artificial nests was significantly greater (P\u3c0.05) than that in natural nests. Of 69 nesting attempts in artificial nests, 60.9% (42) were successful. Of 224 nesting attempts in natural nests, 44.2% (99) were successful. Sixty-nine nesting attempts were made in 59 of the 203 artificial nests installed. This represents a 34.0% rate of utilization

Nelson, Gary

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Mourning Dove Nesting Success in Artificial and Natural Nests in Central Minnesota

University of Northern Iowa

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science Volume 83 Number Article 8 1976 Mourning Dove Nesting Success in Artificial and Natural Nests in Central Minnesota Gary Nelson Des Moines Area Community College Copyright ©1976 Iowa Academy of Science, Inc. Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias Recommended Citation Nelson, Gary (1976) "Mourning Dove Nesting Success in Artificial and Natural Nests in Central Minnesota," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 83(3), 112-115. Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol83/iss3/8 This Research is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa Academy of Science at UNI ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science by an authorized editor of UNI ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact scholarworks@uni.edu. Mourning Dove Nesting Success in Artificial and Natural Nests in Central Minnesota GARY NELSON1 NELSON, GARY (Math/Science Department, Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny, IA 50021). Mourning Dove Nesting Success in Artificial and Natural Nests in Central Minnesota. Proc. Iowa Acad. Sci. 83(3):112-115, 1976. • Mourning dove ~enaidura macroura) nesting success in artificial and natural nests was investigated in 1974 on seven study areas in central Minnesota. Nesting success in artificial nests was significantly greater (P<0.05) than that The game bird status of the mourning dove and its aesthetic value as a songbird make it a species held in high esteem. The mourning dove is the most important game bird in the United States in terms of numbers of birds harvested. Over 49 million doves were harvested for the 1972-73 season (Sorensen 1975). Bent (1932) has described the nest of the mourning dove as a flimsy platform of twigs. This frail construction often leads to egg and nestling mortality as a result of storms or crowded conditions within the nest (Nice 1923). Cowan ( 1959) indicated that artificial nests can reduce nest mortality by providing a stable, cone-shaped depression for nesting doves. However, little information is available on dove production in artificial nests. This study compares dove nesting success in artificial nests to that in natural nests. Table 1. Study Area Characteristics. Study Area I II III IV v VI VII Type of Planting Shelterbelt Shelterbelt Woodlot Shelterbelt Shelterbelt and Farmyard Shelterbelt Landscape (cemeteries) Hectares 0.40 0.28 0.04 0.45 0.81 0.24 2.63 Table 2. Nesting Success in Artificial and Natural Nests. Artificial Nests in natural nests. Of 69 nesting attempts in artificial nests, 60.9% (42) were successful. Of 224 nesting attempts in natural nests, 44.2% (99) were successful. Sixty-nine nesting attempts were made in 59 of the 203 artificial nests installed. This represents a 34.0% rate of utilization. INDEX DESCRIPfORS: Mourning Dove, Zenaidura macroura, Nesting success. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was conducted in 1974 on seven study areas in central Minnesota, all located within three miles of St. Cloud, Minnesota. The trees on these study areas were planted to control wind erosion of topsoil or for ornamental purposes (Table I). Artificial nests were constructed from 6.5 mm wire mesh hardware cloth. The nests were constructed by making a cut with a tin snips from the comers to the center of a 25.0 cm square piece of hardware cloth. The cut edges were overlapped and fastened with wire to form a cone-shaped nest with an 8.0 cm depression. Two hundred and three artificial nests were placed in trees in five study areas between 19 March and 18 May. Eighty-six percent (175) Number of Trees 258 93 101 617 336 486 195 Type of Trees Coniferous Coniferous Coniferous Coniferous Coniferous and Deciduous Coniferous Coniferous and Deciduous Natural Nests Study Nesting Number Percent Nesting Number Percent Area Attempts Successful Successful Attempts Successful Successful I 16 10 62.5 28 10 35.7 II 9 7 77.8 24 10 41.7 III 13 10 76.9 24 10 41.7 IV 16 8 50.0 24 15 62.5 v 15 7 46.7 53 29 54.7 VI 23 9 39.l VII 48 16 33.3 TOTAL OR AVG. 69 42 60.9 224 99 44.2 1Math/Science Department, Des Moines Area Community College, 2006 Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny, IA 50021 1Nelson: Mourning Dove Nesting Success in Artificial and Natural Nests inPublished by UNI ScholarWorks, 1976MOURNING DOVE NESTING SUCCESS 113 Table 3. Nesting Success in Minnesota and Adjacent States. Nesting Number Percent State Attempts Successful Successful Investigator IL 940 600 63.8 Hanson and Kossack (1963) IA 3878 1855 47.9 McClure (1946) MI 164 58 35.4 Caldwell (1964) MN 704 459 65.2 Harris et al. ( 1963) MN 69 42 60.9 This Study MN1 224 99 44.2 This Study NE 385 181 47.0 McClure (1946) ND 187 133 71.1 Randall (1955) SD 320 123 38.4 Drewien and Sparrowe ( 1966) WI 110 71 64.6 Mathiak (1953) 1Nesting success in artificial nests. Table 4. Eggs and Nestlings Lost to Various Causes in Artificial and Natural Nests. Artificial Nests Natural Nests Eggs and Percent Eggs and Percent Nestlings of Total Nestlings of Total Cause Lost Lost Lost Lost Unknown 38 64.4 185 70.1 Predation 13 22.0 42 15.9 Wind 3 5.1 23 8.7 Infertile 5 8.5 3 1.1 Human 0 0.0 11 4.2 TOTAL 59 100.0 264 100.0 of the nests were placed in conifers and 14% (28) in deciduous trees. The nests were fastened to the limbs with wire and lined with grasses or pine needles. Study areas were searched weekly for nesting attempts from 10 April to 24 September. Inaccessible nests were observed with binoculars or with a mirror attached to an extension pole. RES UL TS AND DISCUSSION Nesting Success A nest was considered successful if at least one young fledged. Of 69 nesting attempts in artificial nests, 60.9% (42) were successful (Table 2). Of 224 nesting attempts in natural nests in all study areas, 44.2% (99) were successful. Chi-square analysis indicated a significant difference (P<0.05) in nesting success between artificial and natural nests in all study areas. Greater nesting success in artificial nests may be attributed to: (a) resistance of artificial nests to wind destruction and (b) provision of a large cone-shaped depression which prevents eggs and nestlings from falling out of the nest. Nesting success in artificial nests in study areas IV and V was less than that in natural nests in the same areas. Feral cats (F elis domesticus) were regularly observed in study area IV. Placement of some artificial nests in exposed locations may have increased nest predation. No reason could be found for the low nesting success in artificial nests in study area V. Investigators in Minnesota and adjacent states have reported nesting successes in natural nests ranging from 35 to 71 % (Table 3). LaPointe ( 1958) concluded that nesting success even in similar habitats is extremely variable. Several of the investigators listed in Table 3 reported a higher nesting success in natural nests than I found in artificial nests. In spite of this, artificial nests should be viewed as a practical means of increasing nesting success. Nesting success in artificial nests was 16. 7% greater than in natural nests. Few comparable studies of nesting success in artificial nests have been conducted. Calhoun ( 1948) reported a high degree of mourning dove utilization of artificial nests constructed from roofing paper. However, only 12 of 31 (38. 7%) nesting attempts were successful. Cowan ( 1959) also reported mourning dove use of artificial nests, but did not present data on nesting success. Only one other species attempted to nest in artificial nests. Two nesting attempts were made by American robins (Turdus migratorius) in artificial nests. One attempt was successful in fledging four young. Egg and Nestling Mortality Egg and nestling mortality in artificial nests was less than [that] in natural nests. Causes of egg and nestling mortality were difficult to determine. Over 60% of the causes of mortality were unknown (Table 4). However, predation and strong winds were thought to be the major factors involved. Predation accounted for 22.0% (13) and 15.9% (42) of the losses in artificial and natural nests respectively. Feral cats were the most destructive nest predators. Cats were seen frequently in five study areas. Predation by cats was evident from scattered feathers of adults and nestlings at the nest site. The second most important nest predators were red squirrels, (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), which were regularly observed in the 2Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, Vol. 83 [1976], No. 3, Art. 8https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol83/iss3/8114 PROC. IOWA ACAD. SCI. 83 (1976) Table 5. Utilization of Artificial Nests in Each Study Area. Study Area I II III IV v TOTAL OR AVERAGE Nests Installed 40 33 23 71 36 203 Nesting Attempts 16 9 13 16 15 69 Percent Utilization 40.0 27.3 56.5 22.5 41.7 34.0 Table 6. Nesting Attempts in Artificial and Natural Nests in Each Study Area. All Nests Artificial Nests Natural Nests Total Percent of Percent of Study Nesting Nesting Total Attempts Nesting Total Attempts Area Attempts Attempts in Area Attempts in Area I 44 16 36.4 28 63.6 II 33 9 27.3 24 72.7 III 37 13 35.1 24 L 64.9 IV 40 16 40.0 24 60.0 v 68 15 22.1 53 77.9 TOTAL OR AVERAGE 222 69 31.1 153 68.9 Table 7. Nests Initiated and Young Fledged During Each Month of the Nesting Season. Percent Cumulative Percent Cumulative Nests of Total Percent Young of Total Percent Month Initiated Initiated Initiated Fledged Fledged Fledged April 12 4.3 4.3 May 115 40.8 45.l June 73 25.9 71.0 July 52 18.4 89.4 August 30 10.6 100.0 September 0 0.0 100.0 TOTAL 282 100.0 100.0 conifer shelterbelts. Smashed eggs with jagged edges were evidence of red squirrel predation. Occasionally red squirrel hairs were found sticking to wet, broken egg shells. McClure (1943) identified blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) predation by the presence of large puncture holes in eggs. Blue jays nested in several study areas, however, few signs of predation were recorded. Other possible predators included eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) and eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus). Harris, et al. ( 1963) and Drewien and Sparrowe ( 1966) found common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) predation to be an important factor in nest mortality. McClure ( 1943) found grackle predation to be insignificant. In this study, nesting grackles were present on all areas, but seemed to have no detrimental effect on nesting doves. Actually, doves benefited by utilizing abandoned sturdy nest structures of grackles. Of all dove nesting attempts in natural nests in this study, 14.7% (33) were made in common grackle nests. Nesting success in grackle nests averaged 57.6%, 15.1 % greater than the average nesting success in dove nests. A grackle nest is similar to an artificial nest in 0 0.0 0.0 22 9.3 9.3 93 39.2 48.5 60 25.3 73.8 43 18.1 91.9 19 8.0 99.9 237 99.9 99.9 that the cone-shaped depression of the nest prevents eggs and nestlingi; from falling out. Strong winds were responsible for 5.1 % (3) and 8. 7% (23) of the losses in artificial and natural nests, respectively. Three nestlings in artificial nests died as a result of winds breaking the limbs to which the nests were fastened. Winds caused mortality in natural nests by blowing the nest contents or entire nest out of the tree. In Iowa, McClure (1943) reported that 22% of all nesting attempts were destroyed by wind and severe weather. Utilization of Artificial Nests Mourning doves attempted 69 nestings in 59 ( 10 nesting attempts occurred in nests previously used) of the 203 artificial nests installed (Table 5). This represents a 34.0% rate of utilization. The high degree of utilization of artificial nests (56.5%) in study area III was probably due to the high density of nesting on this area. Fifteen nesting pairs were estimated to be using this small study area. Only 22.5% (16) of the artificial nests in study area IV (shelterbelt) were 3Nelson: Mourning Dove Nesting Success in Artificial and Natural Nests inPublished by UNI ScholarWorks, 1976MOURNING DoVE NESTING SUCCESS 115 utilized. However, 40.0% (16) of the nesting attempts in this study area were made in artificial nests. Of the 222 nesting attempts in study areas I through V, 31.1 % (69) were in artificial nests and 68.9% (153) were in natural nests (Table 6). This represents a ratio of approximately one nesting attempt in an artificial nest for every two nesting attempts in natural nests. Considering the abundance of natural nest sites offered by the conifers in these study areas, this represents a high degree of utilization of artificial nests. Nest Site Selection Twelve species of trees were present on the study areas. White spruce (Picea glauca), blue spruce (Picea pungens), red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) and box elder (Acer negundo) comprised 79.6% (1660) of the total number of trees present. Of 213 nesting attempts in natural nests, 85.0% (181) were made in these four species of trees. Eleven nest sites were found in locations other than living trees. Four were found on leaning dead tree trunks, three in lilac bushes, two on building roofs, and two on farm machinery. Of 203 artificial nests installed, 78.3% (159) were installed in the same four tree species. Fifty-one or 73.9% of the nesting attempts in artificial nests were made in nests installed in these tree species. The growth form and the high availability of white spruce, blue spruce, and red cedar were considered to be the most important factors influencing mourning dove nest site selection. The high density of cover and availability of spreading horizontal branches in these trees provided excellent nest site locations for artificial and natural nests. The Nesting Season Nesting began 16 April and ended 20 September. Nest initiation was greatest in May (Table 7). The peak period of production occurred in June. Of 282 nesting attempts, 89.4% (252) were established by 31 July. No nests were initiated after 1 September. Of 237 young, 91.9% (218) were fledged by 31 August. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This study was supported in part by a George W. Friedrich Conserva-tion Scholarship from St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN 56301. I acknowledge Dr. Alfred H. Grewe, Jr., Department of Biological Sciences, St. Cloud State University under whose direction the study was conducted. Dr. David C. Kramer and Dr. Philip L. Tideman made helpful suggestions concerning the preparation of this paper. REFERENCES BENT, A. C. 1932. Life histories of North American gallinaceous birds. U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 162, 537 pp. CALDWELL, L. D. 1964. Dove production and nest site selection in southern Michigan. J. Wildl. Mgmt. 28(4):732-738. CALHOUN, J. B. 1948. Utilization of artificial nesting substrate by doves and robins. J. Wildl. Mgmt. 12(2):136-142. COWAN, J. 1959. "Pre-fab" wire mesh cones give doves better nest than they can build themselves. Outdoor Calif. 20(1):10-11. DREWIEN, R. C., and R. D. SPARROWE. 1966. Nesting and production of the mourning dove in eastern South Dakota, 1965. S. Oak. Bird Notes 18(2):38-44. HANSON, H. C., and C. W. Kossack. 1963. The mourning dove in Illinois. Tech. Bull. No. 2. Illinois Dept. Conserv. 133 pp. HARRIS, S. W., M. A. MORSE, and W. H. LONGLEY. 1963. Nesting and production of the mourning dove in Minnesota. Am. Midi. Nat. 69(1):150-172. LaPOINTE, D. F. 1958. Mourning dove production in a central Nebraska shelterbelt. J. Wildt. Mgmt. 22(4):439-440. MATHlAK, H. A. 1953. A mourning dove banding project. Pass. Pigeon 15(1):7-9. McCLURE, H. E. 1943. Ecology and management of the mourning dove, Zenaidura macroura (Linn.) in Cass County, Iowa. Iowa Agr. Expt. Sta. Res. Bull. 310:355-415. ----· 1946. Mourning doves in Nebraska and the West. Auk 63(1):24-42. NICE, M. M. 1923. A study of the nesting mourning doves. Auk 40(1):37-58. RANDALL, R. N. 1955. Mourning dove production in south central North Dakota. J. Wildt. Mgmt. 19(1):157-159. SORENSEN, M. F. 1975. Personal communication. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Off. Migratory Bird Mgmt., Laurel, Md. 4Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, Vol. 83 [1976], No. 3, Art. 8https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol83/iss3/8

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Mourning Dove Nesting Success in Artificial and Natural Nests in Central Minnesota

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