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Re: White-winged Dove Status

From:

Bill Hubick

Reply-To:

Bill Hubick

Date:

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 04:09:57 -0800

Winger & Co.,

As already pointed out, the Migratory Bird Treat Act prohibits capturing or owning any native birds except where specifically noted. White-winged Dove is a protected species. (Ref: http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/migtrea.html)

There are exceptions: "There are exceptions for non-natives and exotics such as the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Domestic Pigeon or Rock Dove (Columba livia), Monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus - the only parrot that doesn't nest in cavities), Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto), and Canada Goose (Branta canadensis - egg and nest removal without a permit, and hunting), and for some captive-bred birds like mallards." 

There are also provisions for "Game birds that don't migrate, and are managed by the DEC (such as turkey, quail, pheasant, and grouse)"

Some additional Internet searches found that "White winged Dove" is a very common name applied to any all-white or mostly white dove kept in captivity. Do we blame Stevie Nicks? I discovered with amusement that I was humming that song on my drove home from Kemptown. 

I expect that we'll find that 1) the lost doves were a common domestic breed or 2) that someone in the know was having some fun and messing with birders. I expect #1 is far and away the most likely explanation. A more distant possibility is that someone has an illegal collection or runs some sort of permitted rehabilitation or other legal collection. If this were the case, it seems unlikely that the owner would have many incidents with escapees. 

Those are my initial thoughts. While its worth asking around, I wouldn't get too concerned just yet!

Have a good weekend!

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com


--- On Sat, 1/22/11, Winger and June West <> wrote:

> From: Winger and June West <>
> Subject: [MDOSPREY] White-winged Dove Status
> To: 
> Date: Saturday, January 22, 2011, 2:42 PM
> Today, while looking for the
> Harlequin Duck at Fort Armistead, I ran into two Anne
> Arundel County Park Rangers; Rangers S. Payne and C.
> Winton.  They had recently returned from Monrovia
> looking for the WWDO.  While at the corner of Kempton
> Church Road and Sandra Lee Court this morning, a gentleman
> stopped and asked if they were looking for one of the
> escaped White-winged Doves.  Escaped?  The
> gentleman said he lived near the intersection of Route 94
> and Old Annapolis Road, not far away as the dove
> flies.  He said his neighbor lost 8 White-winged Doves
> from their cages on 5 January.  Several of the doves
> are at feeders in that area.
> 
> Unfortunately, the rangers don't recall the gentleman's
> name or the individual who lost the doves.  If any
> birder lives near the intersection of Route 94 and Old
> Annapolis Road, they might inquire if this story is
> true.  I hope not, but since another WWDO was allegedly
> seen a few miles east of the Monrovia dove, this adds
> veracity to the story.  Sorry.
> 
> Winger West
> Millersville, MD
> 
>