publications
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004

data
nest records

methodology
methods

links
links

Bächler, E. (erich.baechler@vogelwarte.ch), Liechti, F. (2007). On the importance of g(0) for estimating bird population densities with standard distance-sampling: implications from a telemetry study and a literature review. Ibis 149(4): 693–700.

Collins, B.T. (2007). Guidelines for using double sampling in avian population monitoring. Auk 124(4): 1373–1387.

Diefenbach, D.R. (ddiefenbach “at” psu.edu), Marshal, M.R., Mattice, J.A. and Brauning, D.W. (2007). Incorporating availability for detection in estimates of bird abundance. Auk 124(1): 96–106.

Lee, D.C. (d.lee “at” mmu.ac.uk) and Marsden, S.J. (in press) Adjusting count period strategies to improve the accuracy of forest bird abundance estimates from point transect distance sampling surveys. Ibis (includes data on White-eared Brown-dove Phapitreron leucotis).

Marques, T.A., Thomas, Fancy, S.G. and Buckland, S.T. (2007). Improving estimates of bird density using multiple covariate distance sampling. Auk 124(4): 1229–1243.

Rivera-Milán, F.F. (frankprivera "at" fws.gov), Ruiz, C.R., Cruz, J., Vázquez, M., and Martínez, A.J. (2003). Population monitoring of Plain Pigeons in Puerto Rico. Wilson Bulletin 115(1): 45–51.

When using distance sampling methods to survey pigeon populations it is not always possible to use straight transects. A solution is offered by:

Hiby, L. (hiby "at" ntlworld.com) and Krishna, M.B. (mbkrishna "at" gmail.com) (2001). Line transect sampling from a curving path. Biometrics 57: 727-731.

Using perimeter counts to determine how many pigeons use agricultural fields is a reliable field method as demonstrated in the UK:

Atkinson, P.W. (phil.atkinson "at" bto.org), Fuller, R.A., Gillings, S. and Vickery, J.A. (2006). Counting birds on farmland habitats in winter. Bird Study 53(3): 303-309. (Includes information on Woodpigeon and Stock Dove.)

Weather conditions and bird surveys:

Santos, M. (mgsantos “at” utad.pt), Travassos, P., Repas, M. and Cabral, J.A. (in press) Modelling the performance of bird surveys in non-standard weather conditions: General applications with special reference to mountain ecosystems. Ecological Indicators (Woodpigeon Columba palumbus).

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 in the Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata. 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. Bias caused by weather patterns preceding survey counts (link):

Casazza, M.L., Yee, J.L., Miller, M.R., Orthmeyer, D.L., Yparraguirre, D.R., Jarvis, R.L. and Overton, C.T. (2005). Evaluation of current population indices for Band-tailed Pigeons. Wildlife Society Bulletin 33(2): 606-615.

Kirkpatrick, C. (kirkpatr “at” email.arizona.edu), Conway, C.J., Hughes, K.M. and Devos, J.C. (2007). Probability of detecting band-tailed pigeons during call-broadcast versus auditory surveys. Journal of Wildlife Management 71(1): 231-237.

Overton, C.T. (coverton "at" usgs.gov), Schmitz, R.A. and Casazza, M.L. (2005). Post-precipitation bias in Band-tailed Pigeon surveys conducted at mineral sites. Wildlife Society Bulletin 33(3): 1047-1054.

Overton, C. T. (coverton "at" usgs.gov ), R. A. Schmitz, and M. L. Casazza. 2006. Linking landscape characteristics to mineral site use by Band-tailed Pigeons in Western Oregon: Coarse-filter conservation with fine filter tuning. Natural Areas Journal 26:38–46.

Urban surveys of pigeons:

Breeden, J.B. (?), Hernández, F., Bingham, R.L., Silvy, N.J. and Waggerman, G.L. (2008) Effects of traffic noise on auditory surveys of urban White-winged Doves. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 120(2): 384–389.

Schulz, J.H., Millspaugh, J.J., Washburn, B.E., Bermudez, A.J., Tomlinson, J.L., Mong, T.W. and He, Z.Q. (2005). Physiological effects of radiotransmitters on Mourning Doves. Wildlife Society Bulletin 33(3): 1092-1100.

Scientists at Oxford University, UK have used precision GPS technology to track pigeons along their homeward routes to determine whether they use visual cues along the homeward flight over terrain they had previously flow over:

Meade, J., Biro, D. and Guilford, T. (tim.guilford "at" zoo.ox.ac.uk)(2006). Route recognition in the homing pigeon, Columba livia. Animal Behaviour 72(5): 975-980.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists at the Western Ecological Research Center are evaluating satellite telemetry techniques for migration and distribution of Band-tailed Pigeons Patagioenas fasciata (link).

In 2005 Eva Rose completed a PhD on the spatio-temporal use of the rrban habitat by feral pigeons (Columba livia) at the Institute of Conservation and Environmental Protection / Biogeography, University of Basel.
Publications arising from this research:

Rose, E. (eva.rose "at" bluewin.ch), Nagel, P. and Haag-Wackernagel, D. (2005). Suitability of using the global positioning system (GPS) for studying Feral Pigeons Columba livia in the urban habitat. Bird Study 52(2): 145-152.

Rose, E. (eva.rose "at" bluewin.ch), Haag-Wackernagel, D. and Nagel, P. (2006a). Practical use of GPS-localization of Feral Pigeons Columba livia in the urban environment. Ibis 148(2): 231-239.

Rose, E.(eva.rose "at" bluewin.ch), Nagel, P. and Haag-Wackernagel, D. (2006b). Spatio-temporal use of the urban habitat by Feral Pigeons (Columba livia). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 60: 242–254.

Research looking at homing pigeons:

Wiltschko, R. (wiltschko “at” bio.uni-frankfurt.de), Schiffner, I. and Siegmund, B. (2007) Homing flights of pigeons over familiar terrain. Animal Behaviour 74: 1229-1240.

Dell’Ariccia,G. (gaia.dellariccia “at” access.uzh.ch) Dell’Omo, G., Wolfer, D.P. and Lipp, H.-P. (in press) Flock flying improves pigeons’ homing: GPS track analysis of individual flyers versus small groups. Animal Behaviour.

Rivera-Milán, F.F. (2001). Transect surveys of columbid nests on Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra Islands. Condor 103(2): 332-342.

Pierce, A.J. (andrew “at” pdti.kmutt.ac.th) and Pobprasert, K. (2007) A portable system for continuous monitoring of bird nests using digital video recorders. Journal of Field Ornithology 78(3): 322-328.

Shapiro, B., Sibthorpe, D., Rambaut, A., Austin, J., Wragg, G.M., Bininda-Emonds, O.R.P., Lee, P.L.M. and Cooper, A. (alan.cooper "at" zoology.oxford.ac.uk)(2002) Flight of the Dodo. Science 295(5560):1683.
Supplementary Material

Seki, S.I. (seki “at” ffpri.affrc.go.jp) (2006). Application of molted feathers as noninvasive samples to studies on the genetic structure of pigeons (Aves: Columbidae). Journal of Forest Research 11:125–129.