Jon Anderson wrote:

> I have never handled Rock Doves - C. livia - Do they
> likewise have this extremely loose body plumage?
>

I have banded quite a few Rock Doves back home. The British Trust for
Ornithology allows the "wild" population to be banded. Town Pigeons - quite a
separate species in my mind :-)) are only good for Peregrine bait. Alas, using
them in such a way in the UK would result in a lifetime ban from banding.

Rock Dove feathers tend to stay on the bird. They are certainly no worse than
any other species. Collared Doved (latin name please, Serge :-) are a
different matter entirely. It seems that just looking at the bird causes
clouds of feathers to fly. When banding, holding the bird firmly but gently,
so it doesn't struggle is the best way to avoid it. In the limited experience
I have banding Collared Doves, it seems that it does not matter how many
feathers are shed (not that there was that many involved) the birds plumage
seems unaffected :-))

Getting a trainee to band a Collared Dove, is enough to test their handling
abilities and resolve, especially when they disappear in a cloud of body
feathers !!!! In this case it's the human which is totally stressed by the
experience. Once the bird flies off, lands in the nearest tree and starts
preening, and basically does not look too much the worse for wear. Things get
a bit less anxious. First hand experience here !!!!!

Stuart MacKay