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Journal article
Band-tailed pigeon distribution and habitat component availability in Western Oregon
Northwest science., Vol.77(3), pp.183-193
2003
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/792
Abstract
The abundance of Pacific coast band-tailed pigeons (Columba fasciata monilis) has declined; this decline is thought to be due, in part, to habitat alteration associated with current forestry practices which replace diverse forest stands with even-aged conifer monocultures and control understorey shrubs and food availability. We examined distribution of Pacific coast band-tailed pigeons and availability of habitat components (known mineral sites and potential nesting and feeding areas) in the central Coast Range of Oregon, USA. Also, we evaluated associations of relative pigeon abundance at 323 randomly selected sample points and 97 known nest sites with adjacent habitat component availability. In Oregon, the pigeons nest primarily in Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees in closed-canopy conifer or mixed forests and feed on berries of red elder (Sambucus racemosa), blue elder (S. cerulea) and cascara (Rhamnus purshiana). We detected 1-8 pigeons during a 1-hour point count at 83% of sample points from mid-June to July 1996-98. Eighty-four percent of the study area was classified as potential nesting (66%) and feeding (18%) areas. The maximum distance to the closest known mineral site was 37 km, but 91% of the study area was within 25 km of the nearest known mineral site. Availability of habitat components around known nest sites was similar to that at sample points and reflected availability within the study area. Relative pigeon abundance was not associated with availability of known mineral sites, or potential nesting and feeding areas. Pigeons were 62% more abundant along the western one-third of the Coast Range than along the eastern one-third, however, and this pattern was correlated with the apparent availability of red elder and cascara . Possibly the availability of red elder and cascara imposed a constraint on band-tailed pigeon distribution and abundance.
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Details
- Title
- Band-tailed pigeon distribution and habitat component availability in Western Oregon
- Creators
- T.A. Sanders (Author)R.L. Jarvis (Author)
- Publication Details
- Northwest science., Vol.77(3), pp.183-193
- Academic Unit
- Northwest Science
- Publisher
- WSU Press
- Identifiers
- 99900501824001842
- Copyright
- In copyright ; openAccess ; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ ; http://purl.org/eprint/accessRights/OpenAccess
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article