Jim and Tweeters,

I am now better prepared to provide information on Band-tailed
Pigeon decline and recovery. Washington State closed Band-tailed
Pigeon hunting seasons beginning in 1991. Neither Oregon or
California closed their seasons though they reduced the length
of their seasons and the bag limit (I believe both states have
had 9 day seasons with 2 bird limits). Call count surveys in
Washington indicate increasing numbers of pigeons since the
hunting season closure (corroborated by the oberservations of
several notable Tweeters). Therefore, harvest was likely
playing a role in depressing the population. However, there
are other issues, including a disease, Trichomaniasis (spelling?),
which is always present in the pigeon population but tends to
cause excessive mortality during drought conditions when the
birds concentrate more. Pesticides have always been another
suspect in the declines, including forest management uses of
herbicides which removes broadleaf trees and shrubs that provide
important food resources.

I think that is a better discussion of Band-tailed Pigeon issues
than what I provided earlier. My thanks to Rob Conway who pointed
out that California has retained a hunting season and to Don Kraege
who gave me additional details.

Kelly McAllister