James L. Ruos
Published: 1977
Total Pages: 0
Get eBook
Mourning dove population indices, as determined from the nationwide Call-Count Survey, decreased from 1973 to 1974 by 3% in the Eastern Management Unit, but increased by 2% in the Central Management Unit, and by 21% in the Western Management Unit. The 1974 indices were below the 10-year means (1964-1973) by 11% in the Eastern Unit and 3% in the Central Unit, but 19% above the long-term mean in the Western Unit. Regression analyses of the call-count data for 1964-1974 indicate a downward trend in dove breeding populations in all management units; mean rates of annual decline were 2% in the Eastern Unit, 1% in the Central Unit, and 2% in the Western. The trends for the Eastern and Central Units were statistically significant. From 1971 to 1974, Western Unit population indices increased by 46%.