Minerals in gastroliths and foods consumed by band‐tailed pigeons

Sanders, Todd A.; Braun, Clait E.

doi:10.1002/jwmg.22145

Cited by 1 publication

(10 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Pigeons were provided ad-libitum fresh tap water, mineral solution, and red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa var. arborescens) or cascara low concentrations of sodium (0.002-0.025%) and high concentrations of potassium (0.31-2.70%) Jarvis 2000, Sanders andBraun 2022).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This behavior could be most prominent among some Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeons because of the number of natural mineral sites known to occur throughout the species range, particularly during the breeding season in the Pacific Northwest. Band-tailed pigeons congregate at and use supplemental sodium sites when they are available (Sanders and Jarvis 2000, Sanders and Jarvis 2003, Sanders and Koch 2018, Sanders and Braun 2022). However, band-tailed pigeons may survive and reproduce (Sanders and Braun 2022) without access to supplemental mineral sites when consuming berry diets with low sodium and high potassium.…”

Section: Rock Pigeonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Band-tailed pigeons congregate at and use supplemental sodium sites when they are available (Sanders and Jarvis 2000, Sanders and Jarvis 2003, Sanders and Koch 2018, Sanders and Braun 2022). However, band-tailed pigeons may survive and reproduce (Sanders and Braun 2022) without access to supplemental mineral sites when consuming berry diets with low sodium and high potassium.…”

Section: Rock Pigeonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Band‐tailed pigeons are ubiquitous across habitats in the Pacific Northwest regardless of distance to supplemental mineral sites (Sanders and Jarvis 2003), and some pigeons do not use supplemental mineral sites (Sanders and Koch 2018). Band‐tailed pigeons in the interior region of the U.S. (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico) do not use supplemental mineral sites to any extent despite a similar diet high in potassium and low in sodium (Sanders and Braun 2022). The band‐tailed pigeons' use of supplemental mineral sites in part of their range is not well explained by minerals in grit or minerals and moisture in food items consumed (Sanders and Braun 2022).…”

Section: Author Year Contribution Toward Understanding Supplemental M...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…band-tailed pigeon, calcium, Columba livia, feeding trial, mineral site, Patagioenas fasciata, rock pigeon, salt, sodium, supplemental mineral use Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeons (Patagioenas fasciata monilis) congregate at and use mineral sites (mineralized water or soil) primarily within their breeding range, but interior band-tailed pigeons (P. f. fasciata) generally do not exhibit this behavior (Sanders and Braun 2022). The band-tailed pigeon's use of supplemental minerals has been the focus of at least 9 peer reviewed research publications since 1998 following earlier work in 1947, 1968-1975, and 1992 (Table 1).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Feeding trial evaluation of supplemental sodium and calcium use by pigeons

Sanders

2022

Wildlife Society Bulletin

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The Pacific Coast band‐tailed pigeon's (Patagioenas fasciata monilis) conspicuous and well documented use of supplemental minerals has allowed wildlife managers to conduct counts of pigeons at sites with minerals to index their abundance; but despite at least 9 associated peer‐reviewed research publications since 1998, the reason that band‐tailed pigeons use mineral sites and necessity of that use remains unknown. I conducted feeding trials with pigeons during summers of 2009 and 2010 to evaluate maintenance and reproductive performance associated with access to supplemental minerals: one with 24 pairs of wild‐caught band‐tailed pigeons, and one with 30 pairs of wild‐caught rock pigeons (Columba livia). Data indicate that red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa var. arborescens) and cascara (Rhamnus purshiana) berries (natural food items) are high energy food sources for band‐tailed pigeons, and that band‐tailed pigeons can thrive on these berries without access to supplemental sodium and calcium. However, access to supplemental sodium could offer band‐tailed pigeons advantages in body weight maintenance or gain when consuming a diet low in sodium and high in potassium. Band‐tailed pigeons did not nest in this study; thus, it remains unknown if there are benefits to reproductive performance from access to supplemental minerals. Rock pigeons with access to supplemental sodium fledged ≥33% more young than those pigeons without access to supplemental sodium, and this was primarily associated with the increased number of clutches and increased fledging rate. Also, fledgling mass was greater (truex̅ $\mathop{{x}}\limits^{̅}$ ± SE = 35.5 ± 7.9 g, 95% CI = 19.3–51.8) for rock pigeons with access to supplemental sodium at fledging in 2010, but the difference was not statistically significant in 2009 (5.9 ± 22.9, 95% CI = − 43.2–55.0) possibly because of the nutritionally limited diet that year. Access to supplemental sodium could offer band‐tailed pigeons advantages in fecundity and hatchling survival rates (recruitment) through increased efficiency in food conversion. Natural mineral sites used by band‐tailed pigeons should be conserved until additional information is available for evaluation. Also, comparison of counts of band‐tailed pigeons at mineral sites over time and among sites must be interpreted cautiously until the factors (e.g., diet, weather, accessibility, supplemental mineral concentration, etc.) that influence the proportion of the local band‐tailed pigeon population that uses mineral sites can be determined.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%