The thirteen routes in central and northern Ohio were covered a 
total of hl times; each route was counted from 2 to 7 times. 
Results.--A summary of the results of the hl counts during June, 
July, and August is given in Table 1 and Figure 1. The table shows 
the number of doves heard and seen, while the figure plots only those 
calling. When the calls are separated into those heard before sunrise, 
during the first hour after, and during the second hour after, a gradual 
build-up in calling activity is evident. Not only did more doves call 
in the first hour after sunrise but the frequency of the calls increased. 
This was evident during each of the three months as Tables 2 and 3 ) 
indicate. 
The number of doves observed likewise increased with advm cing 
daylight, especially in June, but a slight drop was noticed during the 
second hour after sunrise in July, and a more pronounced decrease oc- 
curred in August (Table l}). Usually more doves were seen while driving 
between stations than were observed while stopped, as shown in Table 5, 
1951 Investigations 
Methods.--After analyzing the results of the 1950 investigations 
in Ohio and comparing them with counts by investigators in other states, 
it was decided to standardize the call-road count route and method for 
further testing as follows: Counts were to start exactly one-half hour 
before local official sunrise; the route to be of 20 miles, with 20 stops 
of three minutes spaced one mile apart. The number of calls was to be 
recorded at each station as well as the number of doves calling, and the 
birds observed while driving and when stopped were to be separated into 
singles, pairs, and flocks. Consequently all of the 1951 counts in Ohio 
were conducted in accordance with this standard. 
Results.--Forty-one call-road counts were made over 9 routes in 
central and northern Ohio during May and June. The work was conducted 
during these two months so that results could be summarized and sub- 
mitted to the Service Committee responsible for the recommendation of 
appropriate hunting regulations in early July. Table 6 gives a summary 
of the doves heard and seen on the 1 counts, and Figure 2 plots the 
doves heard on 7 routes. 
Two routes in Franklin County, Ohio, were selected for intensive 
study; route number 6 was covered 1) times, and route number 7 ten 
times. Results are plotted in Figure 3, while the doves heard at each 
station on all trips are shown in Table 7. This indicates some discrep- 
ancy between the birds heard at the same station on subsequent counts. 
Perhaps there is an occasional shifting between adjacent stations, but the 
differences in birds heard on different days may indicate the variation of 
calling activity during the nesting cycle. Little effect of climatic 
changes is apparent in the calling rate. 
36 
