Hastings Natural History Reservation

17 Dec, 12 AM - 18 Dec, 04 AM

Band-tailed pigeons in part of their range (Pacific Northwest) have a strong affinity for and use mineral sites during the nesting season. And ionic content of mineral springs, particularly sodium, or possibly calcium, appears to be the principal attractant to band-tailed pigeons at these sites. Pigeons throughout their range along the Pacific Coast and in the U.S. Interior should have similar mineral needs. Band-tailed pigeons are generally thought to have elevated need for Na, and possibly Ca, during the nesting season for egg and crop milk production. Specific accounting of the mineral need and intake for breeding pigeons are unknown, but use of mineral sites seems to be associated with a berry diet of red elderberry, cascara, and or blue elderberry, but could be related to differential availability of mineralized grit, or alkaline soils in the Interior region. The most likely reason that pigeons seek supplemental mineral(s) when consuming these berries seems to be potassium loading, but could also be related to Na deficiency, secondary plant compounds such as alkaloids and tannins known to occur in red elderberry and cascara, acid buffering, and high moisture content. The sodium and calcium deficiency hypotheses have not been tested experimentally. Also unknown are the consequences of limited access to supplemental calcium and sodium ions. Here I propose to evaluate differential content of food items and grit used by pigeons throughout their range, and conduct a feeding trial to experimentally test which food items are associated with mineral site use, the specific minerals sought, and consequences of limited access. The information from this study is expected to have direct conservation implications, and also may be used to more effectively and reliably assess the annual status of band-tailed pigeons by counts of birds at mineral sites. The physiological demand for sodium and calcium, nutrient content of food items, and supplemental mineral sources (e.g., grit) may have a large influence on the use of mineral sites where the status of band-tailed pigeons is evaluated annually by wildlife agencies. This information is particularly timely as wildlife agencies in the western U.S. and Canada committed to an annual survey of band-tailed pigeons at mineral sites to assess the abundance of these birds beginning in 2004, and this survey is the primary data stream for establishing annual hunting regulations.

Visit #19839 @Hastings Natural History Reservation

Approved

Under Project # 20871 | Research

Band-tailed Pigeon use of Supplemental Sodium and Calcium

professional - US Fish and Wildlife Service

Reservation Members(s)

Todd Sanders Dec 17 - 18, 2009 (2 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Bunk House Cottage 1 Dec 17 - 18, 2009