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Eurasian Collared-Doves Heading Everywhere
Common would be one adjective for describing the abundance of Eurasian Collared-Doves in many suburban areas of Florida. “The Eurasian doves have taken over” was a less-understated assessment by R. Ashmore of Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. For FeederWatchers in other parts of the continent, the Eurasian Collared-Dove is still a novelty-though perhaps not for long. As we discussed in last year’s annual report (available on the web at http://birds.cornell.edu/publications/birdscope/Autumn1999/), FeederWatchers are helping document the spread of this recently introduced species, which is becoming more common in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. In addition to the slower, systematic expansion from the bridgehead in Florida, long-distance dispersers were reported by FeederWatchers from as far away as California, Nevada, Illinois, and Oklahoma. There was also a report in North American Birds (a publication of the American Birding Association) about a bird wintering in North Dakota. In addition to documenting the spread of Eurasian Collared-Doves, we would like to find out how these doves are spreading so rapidly. Does the dove’s range only spread gradually across the continent from its current range, or is expansion hastened by long-distance dispersers establishing outposts far from the current edge of the dove’s range? And what effects are the doves having on other species, such as ubiquitous but (in some regions) declining Mourning Doves? With your continued help we will be able to answer these questions. So, if you haven’t yet seen your first Eurasian Collared-Dove or you have hundreds swarming your yard, please keep sending your observations. And many thanks to all of you who made a special point of noting the doves when they appeared at your feeders. |
