Seasonal Precipitation Influence on Mourning Dove Breeding Populations in Iowa

Season, Weather, and Habitat Effects on Mourning Dove Nest Density

“…This is consistent with the suppressive effect of adverse weather on Mourning Dove nest success in the same study areas (Miller and others 2001a), and has been noted elsewhere (Fichter 1959;Hanson and Kossack 1963;Wolfenden and Rohwer 1969;La Perriere 1972;La Perriere and Haugen 1972;Morrow and Silvy 1982;Yahner 1983). Cool-wet weather suppressed the number of pairs and nests, the length of the nesting season, and nest success (Hanson and Kossack 1963;Miller and others 2001a).…”

Effects of weather and landscape use on mourning dove population trends in North Dakota

“…Precipitation can vary widely in localized areas within North Dakota and perhaps inclusion of data more closely associated to survey routes would have produced results similar to other researchers who found precipitation had a negative effect on mourning doves. (LaPerriere 1972, Miller et al 2010). Although mourning doves are known to be cold intolerant (Baskett et al 1993, Tomlinson et al 1994), our results suggest their northern breeding range (Otis et al 2008) appears to be most limited by length of breeding season, the southern extent of the boreal forest, and less by summer climate.…”

“…Miller et al (2010) found a reduction in nest densities during cool and wet years. A negative relationship between breeding mourning doves and precipitation was also detected by LaPerriere (1972) in Iowa. Excessive precipitation during the nesting season potentially limits nesting effort and success for mourning doves throughout their range.…”