The Effect of Disturbance on Mourning Dove Nesting Success

Abstract

Disturbed and undisturbed Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) nests were compared for differences in daily survival probabilities and discrepancies in the relationships between nest-site features and nesting outcome.At 3-day intervals, attending adults were flushed from disturbed nests (n = 51), whereas undisturbed nests (n = 50) were checked from a distance so that adults did not flush.Disturbed nests had significantly (P < 0.1) lower daily survival probabilities; this trend was evident during both the incubation and nestling stages, but was significant only during the former.For disturbed nests, two nest-site features (nestbowl depth and nest support) were related to success (P < 0.1).In contrast, success of undisturbed nests was related to four variables (substrate height above nest level, relative light intensity above the nest, nest concealment, and nest width).These results indicate that standard nest-checking procedures influence nesting success and confound interpretation of relationships between nest-site features and nesting outcome.