Hi Tweets,

I probably should admit this right off the bat. I like Eurasian
Collared-Doves. So, maybe the following is totally biased.

Paul Conover, a birder & ornithologist in Louisiana looked for
correlations in CBC data between Eurasian Collared-Dove & Mourning Dove
numbers, as the former began its impressive expansion through the state. He
found no decline in Mourning Dove numbers during the time period. As far as
I'm aware, nobody else has found any hard evidence that collared-doves
negatively impact MODOs in any way whatsoever, either. The two seem to
coexist because their ecological requirements aren't identical.

Similarly birders in Texas feared the arrival of collared-doves in their
state would impact on the White-winged Dove, which was undergoing an
expansion as the collared-doves arrived. Again, no negative impact was ever
found. Both species are continuing their expansions in numbers. This is
not to say their arrival doesn't impact some species and that we shouldn't
be concerned.

As far as their arrival in the Bahamas goes, I think their origin there
as escaped aviary birds is well documented--definitely *not* a natural
arrival!

And, there is definite evidence that some collared-doves in North
America are paler than the norm. Whether this is because they carry genes
derived from African Collared-Doves or not is open to speculation. I know
of at least one person who is convinced that all North American Eurasian
Collared-Doves carry "Ringed Turtle-Dove" ancestry--I disagree, but I could
be wrong.

Finally, although the Barred Owl's expansion is not a deliberate human
intent, there are a lot of people who feel--rightly or wrongly--it's a
direct result of our modification of habitat.

On my recent visit to your state, I was fortunate or unfortunate
(depending on your point of view!) to see a collared-dove near the Sea-Tac
airport. Really a nice looking bird!

Cheers,

Rob Parsons
Winnipeg, MB
CANADA
parsons8 at mts.net