FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



Figure 2. — Nest of a mourning dove. Nests are commonly found from March to Sep- 

 tember. A single pair may produce several broods each season. [Photographed by 

 Leo K. Couch, July 27, 1941.] 



dove was found in breeding condition was December 9, but by the last 

 of that month nearly 4 percent of all males examined were found to 

 be capable of breeding. The evidence indicates that the percentage 

 increases slowly through January but by the last of February rises 

 rapidly. During March it rose to 76 percent and in April to 96 per- 

 cent. Throughout the summer montlis all adult doves w^ere considered 

 as potential breeders, and nesting continued until early in September 

 when a decline began. Even in the middle of September, however, 

 more than 40 percent of the males examined were in breeding condi- 

 tion. During October and November sexual activities were virtually 

 dormant. Some nestlings hatched in the spring reached maturity 

 and began nesting in August or September of their first year. On 

 the basis of the number of nests for each month, the average for 

 September was about 15 percent of the maximum, which occurred 

 about June 1. It is doubtless true that most of the bii'ds completed 

 nesting by September but, nevertheless, during that month a rela- 

 tively large number were still engaged in the incubation of eggs and 

 the care of young. 



Late breeding is the main factor complicating dove management, 

 and it would be an obvious mistake to permit sport shooting during a 

 period when, for many of the birds that are killed, two young also 

 will die in their nest from starvation. Not understanding this fact, 

 many hunters in the South continue to insist that the shooting season 

 begin in September. 



