While doing vegetation surveys at the Glacial Heritage prairie preserve site
in Thurston County (N. of Rochester, WA) I have been hearing Eurasian
Collared Doves calling to eachother. Today I finally got a good look and
verified the field marks to feel confident (especially a good look at the
black collar.) They are mostly spending the mornings in and near a patch of
Populus alba - White Poplars (alien) a bit north of the entrance to the
preserve, where they mostly perch in the dead poplar snags. The preserve is
not generally open to the public, but the birds can be heard and seen from
the entrance gate. I thought I saw more than 2 birds (maybe 3 - 5), and I'm
not sure just how many there are, but it seemed like a small flock.

Does anyone know the status of this species in western Washington?

I imagine they are likely to get established here and if they do I would
expect they will drive out other species of organisms that they compete with
or eat or indirectly negatively affect.

-Stewart

Stewart Wechsler
Ecological Consulting
West Seattle
206 932-7225
ecostewart at quidnunc.net

-Advice on the most site-appropriate native plants
and how to enhance habitat for the maximum diversity
of plants and animals
-Educational programs, nature walks and field trips
-Botanical Surveys

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