Species-Specific Management (SSM)

Rock Dove or Wild Pigeon

Also see Passenger Pigeon

Rock doves (Columba livia) are one of the two species of wild doves in Virginia. Doves are city dwellers but also live on farms, near bridges, and some industrial sites. They are major prey of some hawks. People love to feed them in parks; they allow urban residents to feel close to nature. They do build to large populations that can create unpleasant and costly conditions. When this occurs, reduction procedures may be needed. There are many steps that the land owner and wildlife manager may take to be sure benefits from the bird are great and that losses and costs are low.

1. The rock dove's favored habitat is buildings, especially large institutional ones like churches, museums, theaters, bridges, barns, and railway stations. They seem to prefer holes and spaces in semi-darkness and ledges with overhead protection.
2. Nests are formed from straw, twigs, roots, grass, and pieces of debris. Any of these may be found in a park or city.
3. Rock doves rely heavily on humans for their food. They feed on house, office, business, and industrial wastes, crumbs of all types, waste grain from trains, wastes from food stores, natural grass and tree seeds. Parks, gardens, public squares, streets, playing fields, and dumps all provide good feeding sites.
4. Bread alone should not be fed to doves; this can lead to paralysis due to lack of vitamin B. The birds will eat cheese, fish, peanuts, seeds, peas, and table scraps.
5. A water source should be placed in each management area. They get water from gutters, puddles, and natural waterways.
6. City doves can get grit from paths and roadway. If enough calcium is not present in the environment, it should be supplemented by adding oystershell or ground bone to grit supplies. (Otherwise mortar from buildings will become a prime target for obtaining their calcium.)
7. Ways to reduce nuisance dove populations include plugging holes in buildings, blocking ledges, having no-feeding regulations in public areas, and barring access to water sources (such as wire around fountains).

Population management techniques include:

1. Developing building or architectural codes that reduce nesting and roosting sites.
2. Using regular baiting, then removing birds (trapping or netting).
3. Encouraging populations of hawks and falcons.
4. Using repellents and scare devices such as "tanglefoot", "porcupine wire", monofilaments, and bright lights and noise.
5. Using toxicants (e.g., Avitrol or Ornitrol).
6. Developing a comprehensive program of sanitation or reducing food supplies is a central, long-term technique.
7. Using combinations of the above.
8. Keep records so that you can determine the best techniques to use and their best timing and sequences. Make sound adjustments to assure cost effective population and benefit management.

Contribution by Tammy L. Wilson (1992), Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0321

This Web site is maintained by R. H. Giles, Jr.
Last revision January 17, 2000.