POPULATION,DIET AND THE ANNUAL CYCLE OF THE LAUGHING DOVE AT BARBERSPAN,PART 4. BREEDING DATA AND POPULATION ESTLMATES

Dean, W. R. J. 1980. Population, diet and the annual cycle of the Laughing Dove at Barber-span, Part 4: Breeding data and population estimates. Ostrich 51:80-91.

From 1974–1976, Laughing Doves Streptopelia senegalensis raised an observed total of 436 young in 619 nest attempts, giving a breeding success of 0,70 young per pair nest attempt, or an overall success of 0,35 young per egg. Breeding success, estimated by computing the probability of survival of an egg through the incubation period, and of a chick through the nestling period suggest that the breeding success is about 0,33 young per egg. Nests were found in every month of the year, though there was a tendency for breeding to be concentrated during the late rainy season and the dry season. The mean annual population size of the Laughing Dove in the study area was estimated at 221 adults and juveniles by one method and at 237 adults and juveniles by another method. The number of young produced each year is correlated with the estimated population size for each year.