Subject: Band-tailed Pigeon Phobia?
Date: Mar 2 10:49:58 1995
From: "Nunnallee, Dave" - DNUN461 at ecy.wa.gov



I've been a little surprised by several remarks made recently about
Band-tailed Pigeons; folks expressed concern with their ravenous appetites,
cleaning out bird feeders, competing with other feeder visitors. Some are
apparently trying to keep the Band-tails away?

For several years, we have had sizeable flocks of Band-tails visiting our
feeders. We have had up to 50 or so at a time, with 30 common on a daily
basis. And yes, it does stress our bird feed budget.

But I still feel a little shiver down my spine whenever these handsome birds
begin raining down in numbers from the big fir trees to our feeders. Even
though they visit our feeder frequently, sometimes several times a day, they
are still among my favorite local birds, and I would feel a real loss if
they were not here.

Several years ago, I recall that the (then) State Game Dept severely reduced
hunting seasons for Band-tails because of population decreases. In late
1991, I received a listing from the (then) Dept. of Wildlife, titled "PHS:
Priority Habitats and Species - Forested & Urban Growth Areas". This was a
draft listing and I have not seen the final document, but its intent was to
list species of concern in the State. Band-tailed Pigeons were on this list
because of the following (and I quote selectively here):

"Uncommon species...that may be affected by habitat loss or
change...that are vulnerable to urbanizing influences ... for which the
maintenance of a stable population and surplus for recreation may be
affected by habitat loss or change..."

Whatever their status, I feel very fortunate to live in an area where
Band-tails can be seen on a daily basis. Bear in mind, too, that this is a
western specialty species, and that birders in some 80% of the US never see
Band-tails. Indeed, this species is often on the "want list" of many
eastern visitors.

Dave Nunnallee
dnun461 at ecy.wa.gov
Bellevue, WA