Collared Dove - 2003-07

Most people, whether they live in town or village, will be familiar with this pale buff dove with its striking dark collar and monotonous cooing song. Originally a bird of the Orient, it has expanded its range to eventually colonise Britain. It first nested in Pembrokeshire in 1961 and was widespread by the time of the 1984-88 survey. It has been found to have a close association with human habitation, occurring around farmsteads, small holdings and gardens but to be absent from more open countryside. Its flimsy nest is placed in trees, particularly conifers and it is able to breed all year long.

Comparison of the two survey results shows a 15% increase in distribution by the latter period. This compares with an 18% increase in Wales as a whole between 1984 and 2007 noted by the BBS. The estimated Pembrokeshire breeding population of 1,600 – 2,100 which accompanied the survey of 1984-88, was based on a range of six to eight pairs per occupied tetrad, which attempted to cater for higher densities in suburban areas than in isolated homesteads. The same situation prevailed during the 2003-07 survey, so applying the 15% increase to the earlier estimate suggests a breeding population in the range of 1,830 to 2,440 pairs in the county.

Graham Rees

Fieldwork 2003-07 (based on 490 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 69

Orange = breeding probable = 199

Yellow = breeding possible = 41

Total tetrads in which registered = 309 (63.1%)

Collared Dove - 1994

Breeding resident

The Collared Dove arrived in Pembrokeshire in 1961 when one was recorded at St Bride's on 18 April (J.W. Donovan), some six years after the first record for Britain. That same summer a colony of four pairs had established itself at St David's. They had rapidly spread across the county within four years, with further colonisation up to at least 1976. Although widely distributed (see map) there is a degree of patchiness, with substantial colonies in some places whilst being sparse or absent in intervening areas. At an average density of six to eight pairs per tetrad the total population for Pembrokeshire is probably 1,600-2,100 pairs. Flocks of 70-130 became a feature of winter­ time Pembrokeshire from 1967 to the late 1970s, with a gathering of 200 recorded at Porthliski in 1973. Such large flocks ceased to form during the 1980s, though whether this represents a population decrease or a change in habits is not known.

Collared Doves were seen flying out to sea towards Ireland during the major expansion period of the 1970s, mostly in flocks of less than ten, although 26 flew over the South Bishop on 7 May 1976. They still visit the offshore islands as far out as the Smalls, particularly in spring, so although present throughout the year there is a dynamic element at work within the population. Closer study might well show our Collared Dove population to be far from stable.

Fieldwork 1984-88 (based on 478 tetrads)

Red = breeding confirmed = 73

Orange = breeding probable = 113

Yellow = breeding possible = 79

Total tetrads in which registered = 265 (55.4%)

Donovan J.W. & Rees G.H (1994), Birds of Pembrokeshire

Collared Dove - 2008 breeding

Streptopelia decaocto 

Collared Doves nested in Ireland in 1959, two years before the first breeding record for Pembrokeshire, indicating that some outstripped the general westward expansion. A possible link with movement to Ireland was supplied by birds temporarily stopping off at Skokholm from 1962, Skomer from 1963 and at Grassholm in 1969. There were just a few records of birds actually seen flying out to sea, the most notable being 26 doing so at the South Bishop on the 17th May 1976. This contrasts with “heavier traffic” noted departing Anglesey (Jones and Whalley, 2004), even though Pembrokeshire is a little closer to Ireland.

It was recorded as breeding in every 10 Km square in Pembrokeshire by the first breeding birds atlas for Britain and Ireland, covering 1968 – 72, the second, or New Atlas, of 1988 – 91 depicted a similar distribution but a relative abundance lower than for southern England. The Pembrokeshire atlas of breeding birds, 1984 – 88, plotted distribution on a tetrad grid, that is groups of four 1 Km squares,  occupancy being registered in 56 % of them and breeding being confirmed in 73 tetrads. The repeat Pembrokeshire survey of 2003 – 07 indicated occupancy in 65 % and confirmed breeding in 76 tetrads.

Breeding distribution 1984-88

Breeding distribution 2003-07

Breeding surveys	1984 – 88	2003 – 07
Total tetrads where found	265	305
Confirmed breeding	73	76
Probable breeding	113	197
Possible breeding	79	41

Comparison of the two survey results shows a 15 % increase in distribution by the latter period. This compares with an 18 % increase in Wales as a whole between 1984 and 2007 noted by the BBS. The estimated Pembrokeshire breeding population of 1,600 – 2,100 which accompanied the survey of 1984 – 88 was based on a range of six to eight pairs per occupied tetrad, an attempt to cater for higher densities in suburban areas than in isolated homesteads. The same situation prevailed during the 2003 – 07 survey, so applying the 15 % increase to the earlier estimate suggests a breeding population in the range of 1,830 to 2,440 pairs in the county.

Despite a wide distribution in the county the Collared Dove is not evenly spread. It has been found to have a close association with human habitation, occurring around farms, small holdings and gardens but it is generally absent from more open countryside. Although it will eat invertebrates and green plant matter it mainly feeds on seeds. Locally these have included grain, both spilled and strewn for poultry, a variety of seeds put out on bird tables, the seeds of garden plants and grasses and bread put out for birds generally.

Graham Rees

(Covers records up to and including 2008).

Collared Dove - 2008 winter

Streptopelia decaocto

The Winter Atlas of 1981 – 84 concluded that winter distribution was essentially similar to that of the breeding season, having colonised the county the Collared Dove had become largely sedentary. The Migration Atlas (2002) indicated that ring results showed a greater movement during the colonisation years of 1965 – 79 than in later years, a further indication that a large degree of population stability had been achieved.

Flocks of up to 130 Collared Doves were not uncommon in wintertime Pembrokeshire up to the 1970’s, with a gathering of 200 at Porthlysgi the largest recorded. Such flocking died out with grain harvests and storage becoming less wasteful during the 1980’s. There was a later resurgence in winter flocking, with 38 at Saundersfoot in 1990, 30 at both Trefasser and Lleithyr in 1995, 60 at Roch Gate in 1997, 87 at Llanrhian in 2001, 40 at Letterston and 50 at Johnston in 2003, 57 at Mathry in 2004 and 28 at Treleidr in 2008, though what attracted these groupings seems not to have been put on record.

Graham Rees

(Covers records up to and including 2008).

Collared Dove - 1970s breeding

Streptopelia decaocto

Breeding resident.

The Collared Dove originated in the Oriental region and may have been introduced into Asia Minor and the Balkans. It began to extend its range about 1930, rapidly progressing across Europe, reaching Hungary in 1932, Germany by 1943, France by 1950, Belgium by 1952 and began breeding in Norfolk in 1955.

The Collared Dove was first recorded in Pembrokeshire when Jack Donovan saw one at St Bride’s on the 18th April 1961. By May of that year four pairs were nesting at St David’s. It had become widely, though sparsely, distributed across the county by 1969.

Graham Rees

Red = breeding confirmed, Orange = breeding probable, Yellow = breeding possible

Collared Dove - 1980s winter atlas

 

The BTO winter atlas showed that Collared Doves were present in most 10km squares during the winters of 1981-82, 1982-82 and 1983-84.

The darker the colour, the higher the relative total count for each 10km square.  The darkest blue represents over 50 birds in a day, reflecting winter flocking.

Graham Rees