A decrease in the familiar cooing of mourning doves can be concerning. This observation can stem from various factors, including their natural behaviors, seasonal patterns, and environmental shifts. This article examines the habits of mourning doves, localized environmental influences, and wider population trends that could explain such changes.
Understanding Mourning Dove Behavior
Mourning doves communicate through distinct vocalizations, with the male’s “perch-coo” being the most recognizable, a soft coo-oo followed by two or three louder coos used to attract mates. These birds also produce a three-parted “nest call” during nest construction, and their wings create a sharp whistling sound when taking off, possibly as a warning to others.
Mourning doves are prolific breeders, capable of raising multiple broods, sometimes up to six annually in warmer regions. Their nesting season typically extends from early spring through late summer, though in hotter climates, it can begin as early as February and continue into October.
Many mourning doves are partial migrants, with populations in northern areas traveling south for winter, while those in southern regions tend to remain year-round. Spring migration usually occurs from March to May, and fall migration from September to November, with younger birds often moving first. Their presence and audibility in a specific location can naturally fluctuate with these seasonal movements.
Local Environmental Factors
Changes in the immediate environment can directly influence the presence of mourning doves. Alterations to their habitat, such as the removal of trees, shrubs, or open ground, can reduce suitable nesting sites and foraging areas. Mourning doves prefer open or semi-open habitats like farmlands and suburbs, often nesting in trees or shrubs.
Food availability also plays a significant role, as their diet consists almost exclusively of seeds, which they forage from the ground. A reduction in preferred seed sources or the widespread use of pesticides can diminish their food supply, potentially driving them to seek sustenance elsewhere.
Increased noise pollution from human activities can mask the doves’ soft cooing, making them harder to hear even if they are present. Excessive human disturbance or activity in an area can also cause these birds to relocate to quieter, less disturbed environments. These localized changes can lead to a perceived absence, even if broader populations remain stable.
Broader Population Trends
Mourning doves are among the most abundant bird species in North America. While some regional fluctuations and long-term declines have been observed in certain management units, overall population trends have been relatively stable or even increasing in recent years. This widespread distribution means that a perceived local absence might not reflect a continental decline.
Climate change is projected to impact bird ranges, and for mourning doves, models suggest a potential expansion of their range as temperatures warm. While this might mean they become more prevalent in some new areas, it could also lead to shifts away from historically occupied regions due to changes in habitat suitability or food availability. Extreme weather events, such as ice storms, can also directly impact dove mortality.
Disease outbreaks can affect mourning dove populations. They are susceptible to illnesses like trichomoniasis, which primarily affects their digestive tract and can be fatal, especially to young birds. West Nile Virus (WNV) is another concern, though mourning doves are generally considered less susceptible to severe impacts from WNV compared to some other bird species.
Widespread pesticide use, particularly neonicotinoids, presents a significant threat to bird populations, including mourning doves. These chemicals can directly harm birds if ingested and indirectly by reducing their primary food sources, such as seeds and insects. Studies have linked increased pesticide use to declines in grassland bird populations and can also impair a bird’s ability to navigate during migration.
Encouraging Mourning Doves in Your Area
If you wish to encourage mourning doves, providing suitable habitat is a practical first step. Planting native trees and shrubs offers safe nesting and roosting sites, as doves often build their flimsy twig nests in such vegetation. Leaving some open ground in your yard can also benefit them, as they primarily forage for seeds on the ground.
Offering appropriate food sources can attract these seed-eaters. Bird feeders filled with preferred seeds like millet, cracked corn, or sunflower seeds can be effective, especially ground-level feeders or platforms. Minimizing pesticide use in your garden helps ensure a healthier and more abundant natural food supply. Doves consume a wide variety of weed seeds, contributing to natural weed control.
Providing a reliable water source, such as a bird bath, is also beneficial, as doves need to drink daily. Keep the water clean and shallow for accessibility and safety. Reducing disturbances by pets or excessive human activity can help create a more welcoming environment.