TECHNICAL NOTES

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE

BIOLOGY – 23 OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON

MAY 2003

BAND-TAILED PIGEONS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON

Rachel Maggi, West Area Biologist

INTRODUCTION

Western Washington is home to two species of pigeon, rock doves (Columba livia) and Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeons (Columba fasciata monilis). The former is an introduced species from Europe and is commonly seen around farmsteads and agricultural operations as well as in urban areas. Band-tailed pigeons are a native species that in most cases prefers life away from developed areas, making its home in mixed coniferous forests. Habitat alteration including loss of foraging habitat, early hunting seasons when squabs were still in nests, and unknown factors in wintering grounds resulted in a long-term decline of the west-coast population. After a hunting closure of more than a decade in the western states, band-tailed pigeon populations are recovering to levels that can absorb some modest hunting in modified seasons. Much work needs to be done in the realm of habitat protection, enhancement, and creation to assure the recovery continues. By restoring and enhancing forested areas used by band-tails, landowners will also be improving habitat characteristics favored by a variety of other forest wildlife species.

DESCRIPTION

Standing at 14-15 ½ inches, band-tails are slightly larger than the common rock dove. The head and upper body of the bird is gray in color, with its underside grading from darker purplish-gray at the top of the breast, to near white at the tail. A black band is present across the tail feathers. Adult birds have a thin white band on the back of the neck feathers with several rows of iridescent green and purple feathers below it. The bill and feet are yellow with black tips. Male and female birds are similar in appearance. (Audubon, 1995)

RANGE

Band-tailed pigeons are found in two distinct populations: one in the intermountain west with nesting from Wyoming southward and the other associated with the Pacific coast with breeding from southeastern Alaska south to Baja, California. In Washington the birds range only West of the Cascade Mountains. (Lewis et al, 2003) The majority of Washington’s birds winter from south of Redding, California through Mexico (Schroeder and Braun, 1993). Research in Oregon revealed that some birds live year round in the Pacific Northwest (Jarvis and Passmore, 1992).

LIFE HISTORY

Band-tailed pigeons return to Western Washington during their breeding season (April-September) and feed heavily on the fruits of the plants listed in Table 1. (Lewis et al., 2003). Females build a loose platform nest in the fork of conifer or deciduous tree branches, typically 6-30 feet off the ground. Nesting material provided by the male is often small to medium sized twigs. One egg is laid per nesting cycle, with pairs undertaking 2-3 cycles per nesting season in most years. Both sexes share incubation responsibility. The squabs hatch within 18-20 days, and leave the nest within 30 days of hatching. (Ehrlich, et. al. 1988) The majority of nesting in Washington occurs in areas below 1000 feet in elevation.
HABITAT

In Washington, band-tails are most often found associated with forested habitats that are in close proximity (12-15 miles) to mineral springs, although some pigeons have been documented flying more than 50 miles each way to favored foraging sites (J. Bottorff, Washington Department of Natural Resources, personal communication, Sanders, 2000). Pigeons forage in upland forests, riparian areas, edge habitat between open farm fields and forest, and occasionally forested urban areas. High quality pigeon habitat has high species diversity in both the overstory and understory. Forests containing large numbers of mast (nuts, berries or fruits) producing trees and shrubs are preferred since they make up the majority of the birds’ diet. This is especially critical during the summer nesting season and early fall migration periods. Some food items that are most commonly consumed during the nesting and early migration season are listed in Table 1 below. The primary forage species listed in the table are of particular importance due to their high nutritive qualities, broad distribution, and availability. Band-tails will also make use of waste grain left over from fall harvest (Jarvis and Passmore, 1992) as well as other domestic plants like holly and cherries.

Nesting habitat is another key component in favorable band-tailed pigeon habitat. Western Oregon birds were found to prefer closed-canopy, conifer forests with trees that are 3-10 inch dbh or 5-20 years old (Leonard, 1998).

Mineral springs are critical to band-tail pigeons because they provide mineral salts such as calcium needed for egg production. The salts are also necessary for one of the birds most peculiar adaptations, their ability to produce “crop milk” for their squabs (chicks). Adults produce this milky substance in their crops, which is then fed to their young during the first few weeks of the nestling’s life. Known mineral spring sites in Western Washington are limited. Most are found along marine shorelines and hillside slopes but several are documented in inland locations. Vegetative structure around the springs is also a key habitat component. Birds prefer tall, sturdy trees to land and perch on but have trouble navigating through dense shrubbery (such as non-native blackberry and scotchbroom) located near the spring. (Pacific Flyway Council, 2001, Lewis et al., 2003)

Table 1-Preferred Native Food Plants of Band-tailed Pigeons in Western Washington

Common name /
Scientific name
/ Fruit / Fruiting Time
PRIMARY
Cascara / Rhamnus purshiana / Yellow to red berries, ripening to black / August-September
Red Elderberry / Sambucus racemosa / Bright red berries / May-July
Blue Elderberry / Sambucus cerulea var. cerulea / Blue to blue-black berries / August-September
SECONDARY
Wild Cherry / Prunus sp. / Red, purple or black / June-July
Salal / Gaultheria shallon / Reddish blue-dark purple berries / August-September
Serviceberry / Amelanchier alnifolia / Purple berries / August-September
Madrone / Arbutus menziesii / Orange to red berries / July-September
Red Osier Dogwood / Cornus sericea / Plum-like fruits / August-September
Oregon White Oak / Quercus garryana / Acorns / September-October
Osoberry (Indian Plum) / Oemleria cerasiformis / Blue-black small plums / May-June
Hawthorn / Crataegus sp. / Black-purple clusters of small
“apples” / July-August

(Lewis et al. 2003, Leigh, 1999)

LIMITING FACTORS

Some limiting factors described by Lewis et. al for WDFW (2003) that can be remedied by landowners leading to the continued and sustained recovery of band-tailed pigeons include:

·  Degradation of and lack of accessibility to mineral springs due to habitat destruction and invasion of non-native species

·  Protection from forestland conversion and adverse habitat modification of suitable nesting habitat

·  Loss of mast producing shrubs from forest succession, land development, and excessive use of herbicides in foraging areas

·  Intensive hunting, especially at mineral spring locations

·  Outbreaks of Trichomoniasis which is known to kill band-tailed pigeons. This parasite can be transmitted through contaminated feed at backyard bird feeders. Regular cleaning of feeders can help prevent outbreaks.

HABITAT RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT ACTIVITIES

Objective #1: Preserve habitat in and around known mineral spring sites.

Method:

1.  Preserve large trees used for perching around the springs.

2.  Ensure spring accessibility to birds by removal of dense vegetation within and immediately around the seeps and springs. This may be necessary to provide unhampered access to the mineral-laden waters.

Objective #2: Encourage growth of mast producing trees and shrubs

Method:

Existing Habitat Type / Methods / Practices
Forest areas composed of a single tree species (i.e. Douglas fir saplings, red alder, vine maple, etc.). / Thin or remove clumps of the existing species and interplant with species listed in Table 1. Planting rate should be 250-300 mast producing species per acre. Underplanting may require overstory thinning in some situations to assure adequate sunlight is available for planted mast-producing shrubs. Bareroot seedlings or direct seeding can be utilized. / 490-Forest Site Preparation
612-Tree/Shrub Establishment
644-Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management
645-Upland Wildlife Habitat
Management
660-Tree/Shrub Pruning
666-Forest Stand Improvement
Forest stands with mixed species overstory and limited understory diversity. / 1.  Underplant the stand with species from Table 1. Seeding rates should be 250-300 stems per acre. This may require overstory thinning in some situations to assure adequate sunlight is available for planted mast-producing shrubs.
2.  Create small clearings within the forest landscape. Clearings can range from 0.25-1 acre in size. Seeding rate is 500 stems per acre. Landowners can also utilize existing clearings (roadsides, logging landing areas, etc.) for establishment of the mast producing plants. / 490-Forest Site Preparation
612-Tree/Shrub Establishment
660-Tree/Shrub Pruning
644-Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management
645-Upland Wildlife Habitat Management
666-Forest Stand Improvement
Open farmland setting / Plant hedgerows and field borders composed of species from Table 1. Consider planting a diversity of plants that will continue to provide fruit throughout the breeding season (April- September). See Table 1 for fruiting season of the preferred plants. Livestock should be excluded from these areas. / 382-Fence
386-Field Border
391-Riparian Forest Buffer
472-Use Exclusion
490-Forest Site Preparation
422-Hedgerow Planting
612-Tree/Shrub Establishment
644-Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management
645-Upland Wildlife Habitat Management
666-Forest Stand Improvement

Objective #3: Incorporate mast producing trees and shrubs in o other conservation practices

Method: When planning vegetative practices that will improve other resource concerns such as streambank erosion, wind erosion, and riparian buffer enhancement, include species from Table 1 in the planting plan.

1.  Plants preferred by band-tailed pigeons can be incorporated into NRCS conservation practices listed in the FOTG.

REFERENCES

Audubon, J. National Audubon Society field Guide to North American Birds, West Region. Miklos D.F. Udvardy. Revised by John Farrand, Jr. 1995. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 822 pp.

Ehrlich, P. R., D.S. Dobkin, and D.W. Wheye. 1988. The Birder’s Handbook: A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds. Simon & Schuster Inc., New York. 785 pps.

Jarvis, R.L., and M.F. Passmore. 1992. Ecology of band-tailed pigeons in Oregon. Biological Report, 6, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C.

Leigh, Michael. 1999. Grow Your Own Native Landscape: A Guide to Identifying, Propagating & Landscaping with Western Washington Native Plants. Washington State University Cooperative Extension. 116 pps.

Leonard, J.P. 1998. Nesting and foraging ecology of the band-tailed pigeon in western Oregon. Ph.D. Dissertation, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA.

Lewis, J.C, M. Tirhi, and D. Kraege. 2003. Band-tailed pigeon (Columba fasciata). In E.M. Larson, N. Nordstorm, and J. Azerrad, editors. Management Recommendations for Washington’s Priority Species, Volume IV: Birds [online]. Available http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/hab/phs/vol4/band pigeon.pdf.

Pacific Flyway Council. 1983. Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeon management plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon, USA.

Sanders, T.A. 2000. Habitat availability, dietary mineral supplement, and measuring abundance of band-tailed pigeons in western Oregon. Ph.D. Dissertation, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA.

Schroeder, M.A., and C.E. Braun. 1993.Movement and philopatry of band-tailed pigeons captured in Colorado. Journal of Wildlife Management 57:103-112.

PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS

Jim Bottorff, Forest Stewardship Wildlife Biologist

Habitat Management Division

Washington Department of Natural Resources

Olympia, Washington