In Situ Conservation
Americas
See also the publications pages for the contact details of authors of recent scientific papers dealing with the ecology and conservation of pigeons.
Avian Research and Conservation Institute
Gainesville , Florida, USA.
E-mail: meyer "at" arcinst.org
Kenneth Meyers was awarded a research grant through the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund in 2006 for a project entitled "White-crowned Pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala Conservation in the Caribbean". This project addresses the highest international priorities for conservation of this Near Threatened species of pigeon in the Bahamas by training and advising local students and biologists to develop research, management, and education programs.
Ken was previously awarded a Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund grants in 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002 for research on the White-crowned Pigeon:
2005: International Conservation of White-crowned Pigeons
Studying the White-crowned pigeon, which is limited to the Caribbean Basin and threatened by intense hunting and loss of essential mangrove and seasonal deciduous forests. Funding a meeting and training workshop for biologists representing major sub-populations to determine abundance and status, habitat loss and other threats, and priorities for management and conservation. Supporting field research in Cuba, the Bahamas, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic to determine their importance as wintering destinations for U.S. birds, assess hunting impacts, and promote local study of migrant and resident populations.
2004: White-crowned Pigeon habitat in Florida Keys
Addressing the highest priority research and management objectives for highly vulnerable U.S. population of White-crowned Pigeons. Quantifying the composition and patch sizes of foraging habitats, supporting current efforts to improve land-use regulations in favour of conserving tropical hardwood hammocks. Developing an educational program to foster protection of native hardwood vegetation; and organizing a workshop to perform status assessments, draft a conservation strategy, and facilitate cooperative research in the Caribbean Basin.
2003: Winter Ecology of White-Crowned Pigeons in Florida.
Tracking and monitoring White-Crowned Pigeons to determine survival, activity ranges, the proportion that over-winters in Florida, the winter movements and habitat use of the birds that remain in the state of Florida. This will be of immediate use in evaluating the population’s present status and trend, identifying the most immediate and pressing threats, and shaping a feasible course for management and conservation action that might preclude costly and contentious.
2002: Forging behaviour of White-crowned Pigeons in the lower Florida Keys : Identification of critical sites for conservation.
Studying these fruit-eating pigeons in the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges to determine their destinations, activity ranges and dispersal patterns with the goal of protecting not only the pigeons but establishing conservation easements and development rights to protect the deciduous forests of the mainland keys.
Fundación ProAves
Calle 8 No- 3-12 Bogotá D.C, Colombia
Email: fundacion "at" proaves.org
Fundación ProAves is a Colombian NGO that works towards the conservation of Colombian birds and their habitats through scientific research, conservation action and education.
It runs a project on the Endangered Tolima Dove Leptotila conoveri. A project report is available:
Carvajal-Rueda, A. & Urueña, L.E. (2004) Distribución de la caminera Tolimense (Leptotila conoveri) segun el grado se intervención en dos localidades del departamento del Tolima. Fundación ProAves: Bogotá D.C, Colombia [in Spanish but has an English abstract].
Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust
6611 W. Whooping Crane Dr. Wood River, NE
Email: Felipe Chavez-Ramirez: fchavez "at" whoopingcrane.org or Karen Leavelle: kleavelle "at" whoopingcrane.org
The Trust is working for the conservation of the Blue-headed Quail-dove Starnoenas cyanocephala together with its conspecifics, the Gray-headed Quail-dove Geotrygon caniceps , the Ruddy Quail-dove Geotrygon montana and the Key West Quail-dove Geotrygon chrysia in Cuba's newest and one of its largest wetland reserve the Gran Humedal del Norte de Ciego de Avila. They are investigating the species' population trends and limitations, reproductive ecology and feeding preferences in two semi-deciduous forests of the Loma de Cunagua and Cayo Coco with results from two years of study to be made public at the beginning of 2008.
Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
PO Box 906660, Puerta de Tierra Station, San Juan P.R. 00906-6600
Email: webmaster "at" drna.gobierno.pr
Have produced:
Puerto Rico's comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy 2005.
First draft subject to revision - do not cite.
This includes information on the conservation on:
White-crowned Pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala - Near Threatened
Plain Pigeon Patagioenas inornata - Near Threatened
Key West Quail Dove Geotrygon chrysia - Least Concern
Bridle Quail Dove Geotrygon mystacea - Least Concern
Scaly-naped Pigeon Patagioenas squamosa - Least Concern
U.S.Geological survey
Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 6924 Tremont Road, Dixon, CA 95620.
Email: mike_casazza "at" usgs.gov
Band-tailed Pigeon Population Indices and Mineral Site Use: Various surveys have indicated a long-term population decline in the Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata. To help design a precise index to population abundance, USGS scientists examined the effectiveness of existing survey methods in detecting long- and short-term population changes. Research results have indicated 1) three- to five-year trends were most reliably estimated using counts conducted at mineral sites where pigeons congregate, 2) the importance of weather (rainfall) on the surveys, and 3) the importance of adjacent forestland and human use of mineral sites on the likelihood of persistent use by band-tailed pigeons.
Preliminary studies are now being conducted using satellite telemetry are showing patterns of migration and local movements of pigeons that winter in southern Californiain a project called Evaluation of satellite telemetry techniques for migration and distribution of band-tailed pigeons Patagioenas fasciata. For more information contact Mike Casazza (mike_casazza "at" usgs.gov).
Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations (ZGAP)
Bussardhorst 9, D-31515 Wunstorf. Germany.
Email: info "at" zgap.de
Runs a project in cooperation Cuban nature protection organizations that, by investigating the population size, behaviour and threats (more information), is working towards the conservation of three endemic species:
Blue-headed Quail Dove (Starnoenas cyanocephala) - Endangered
Grey-headed Quail Dove (Geotrygon caniceps) - Vulnerable
Plain Pigeon (Columba inornata) - Vulnerable
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