INTRODUCTION 
The annual survey of breeding mourning doves over a 
system of routes provides an index to the status of the dove 
population in the United States. Through the cooperation of 
State, Federal, and independent observers, call-count routes 
were widely established by 1953. Since 1959, much progress 
has been made toward a comprehensive, randomly distributed 
system of routes. Hundreds of cooperators participate in 
the call-count survey and contribute the data that form the 
basis for this report. 
Before 1960, the annual status of the mourning dove popu¬ 
lation was reported in the Mourning Dove Newsletter , now dis¬ 
continued; since then, status reports have been published 
'’annually in the Special Scientific Report--Wildlife series. 
The 1960 through 1964 reports are numbered 49, 57, 70, 73, 
and 87. 
In 1961, dove call-count routes were set up and run on 
a trial basis in several Canadian Provinces. This trial dem¬ 
onstrated the desirability of a Canadian dove-call census and, 
since 1961, one has been conducted each year. For results of 
this year's Canadian census, see table 5. With the establish¬ 
ment of additional routes, the compilation of sufficient com¬ 
parable data, and the incorporation of suitable weighting 
factors, the data provided by the Canadian cooperators are 
expected to prove valuable in management of the mourning dove. 
The call-count survey is conducted each year during the 
period May 20-June 10. Intensive studies in the Eastern United 
States (Special Scientific Report--Wildlife No. 17, 1952) indi¬ 
cate that dove calling is relatively.stable during this period. 
Publication of regulations before the opening date of the 
dove season is required by law. The Dove Regulations Committee 
must meet by late June to allow sufficient time to fulfill this 
requirement. Status statistics are annually summarized for 
consideration by this Committee which meets in Washington, D. C. 
-1- 
