New York Dove Hunting
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    • Managed dove fields eyed as key to recruiting small game hunters
    • NY Dove Hunting Answers The Humane Society, et al on Mourning Dove Hunting
    • Mourning Dove Abundance and Distribution across New York State
    • Airplane Strikes
    • Mourning Dove Hunting Background Information
    • Mourning Dove Fact Sheet >
      • Comparative Anatomy of Vocal Apparatus/ Syrinx - songbird vs. non-songbird
    • Let's Talk About Food! >
      • Lets Talk About Food! 2
      • The 9 Step Crab Eating Process
    • Is there a sustainable population of mourning doves in NY to support quality hunting?
    • Why The Passenger Pigeon Disappeared And The Mourning Dove Will Continue To Thrive
    • Mourning Dove Hunting Activity & Harvest Around New York -2012 (2013 for Ontario, CAN)
    • Catalog of Arguments Frequently used by Anti-Hunting Organizations and Activists
    • NY Dove Hunting's Analysis of Garlit and Fearing's Economic Report on Dove Hunting >
      • Bios
    • Summary of Three HSUS Dove Hunting videos/TV commercials
    • Dove Hunting Guest Blog: Larry Graser >
      • About the Author- Larry Graser
    • Seed Dispersal
    • Introduction to First National Dove Hunter Survey >
      • Frequently Asked Questions about the National Dove Hunter Survey
      • National Dove Hunting Survey 2013
    • Eurasian Collared Dove Hunting – Endless Opportunity!
    • NY Dove Hunting Challenges the Humane Society's Pheasant Narrative >
      • Videos: difficulty of hunting pheasant compared to ruffed grouse
    • Wildlife Students Learn About Hunting
    • The Case for State Pheasant Stocking Programs >
      • NYS DEC 2020-2030 Pheasant Plan
      • NYS DEC Management Plan for Ringnecked Pheasants
      • State Pheasant Programs Are Under Constant Threat
      • Hunters Against Hunters
      • Every New York Hunter Should Know Who Patrick Kwan Is
      • Every Bird Hunter Should Know Who Casey Pheiffer Is
    • Cost of Reynold's Pheasant Farm per Hunter
    • Hunting for Groceries with Your Dog
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  • Maps, etc.
    • Cladogram for Columbiformes
    • 2016 DEC Webless Migratory Game Bird Survey
    • Adaptive Harvest Management
    • ​The abundance of mourning doves in New York is comparable to many other states
    • The trend in mourning dove abundance in New York is increasing
    • Map of Dove Hunting Petition Signatures 9/18/15
    • Our Elected Officials in the Field
    • Mourning Dove Hunting Activity & Harvest Around New York -2012 (2013 for Ontario, CAN) LARGE Map
    • Mourning Dove BBS summer distribution map VS. Rock Dove (Pigeon) BBS summer distribution map
    • 2012 New York Christmas Bird Count- Mourning Dove
    • 2013 New York Christmas Bird Count- Mourning Dove
    • 2014 New York Christmas Bird Count- Mourning Dove
    • Eurasian Collared Dove Regulations Throughout the US
    • Spinning-Wings Decoys for Doves
    • Tell these ammo companies that mourning doves are not a gamebird!
  • Dove are Delicious
    • Grilled Dove Breasts
    • Dove and Snipe Tapas
    • Dove Stromboli - Sriracha Style
    • Dove Bean Casserole
    • ​Creamed Dove
    • Fried Dove Breasts in Cream Gravy
    • Dove and Rice Pilaf
    • Dove Royale
    • Dove En Papillote
    • Beer Battered Fried Dove Breast
    • Bird Stew
    • Creamy Baked Dove Breasts
    • Doves in Orange Sauce
    • Dove Pie
    • Groovin' Doves
    • Smothered Birds
    • Oven-Braised Dove
    • Pan Sautéed Dove Breast in Red Eye Gravy
    • Dove Jambalaya
    • Hot Fried Birds Recipe
    • Buffalo Doves
    • Dove & Mushroom Stew
    • Doves Owyhee County Style
    • Baked Doves
    • Doves in Wine
    • Doves En Casserole
    • Stewed Doves in Giblet Gravy
    • Dove Poppers with a Hint of Raspberry
    • Dove Pastry
    • Doves Stroganoff
    • Doves in Mushroom Soup
    • General Kelley's Doves
    • Brochet de Palomas
    • Dove A La Plaquemine
    • Dove/Broccoli Casserole
    • Dove Breast Champignon
    • Deep-Fried Doves
    • Barbecued Doves
    • Dove with Minnesota Wild Rice
    • Dove Video Cookbook
    • Other Game Bird Recipes
  • Petition
  • Milestones
    • Mourning Dove Hunting Milestones
  • Useful Links
    • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Hunting Information Clearinghouse
    • Government Reports about Mourning Doves and Mourning Dove Hunting
  • MISC.
    • Ontario Season
    • Pheasant Farm Complaint (Lawsuit)
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Seed Dispersal

The Nationwide Initiative to Ban Mourning Dove Hunting posted on the website of the HSUS states  that mourning doves are the "farmer's friend" because they reduce nuisance plants by consuming seeds.

Mourning doves certainly do consume the seeds of weeds and a lot of them. As a matter of fact, although they will eat large grain such as corn as well as sunflowers; when foraging on natural foods, they prefer the tiniest seeds. Foraging habits of doves has been studied by dissecting birds and enumerating the contents found in their crops, which is an organ located in the throat of some bird species.

Researchers have found individual birds with as much as 17,200 blue grass seeds; 7,500 croton seeds, and 6,400 foxtail grass seeds. If we multiply the continental population of mourning doves, which is about 500 million by 6,400 it certainly does seem like doves would reduce many plants! However, it is basic knowledge in the studies of plant ecology and ornithology that birds are dispersers of seed and therefore spread plants rather than reduce them as asserted by the HSUS!
Picture
Mourning dove crop contents
Because they are so numerous, widespread, and migrate long distances; mourning doves are more significant seed dispersers than less abundant, less cosmopolitan, and/or non- migratory birds. Furthermore, unlike the fermenting digestive system of ruminants such as deer, cattle, and goats which break down much of the seeds which are eaten; seed often passes through the digestive tract of birds and in certain conditions germinate more freely than seeds that come directly from the plant.

As a matter of fact, in the 18th century the Dutch were unable to sustain a monopoly of the nutmeg trade on Amboina in the East Indies because fruit pigeons dispersed nutmeg seed to other islands.

We are not suggesting that mourning doves impact agriculture by seed dispersal. We also acknowledge that mourning doves are ground feeders and do not feed on crops until they are harvested or felled by wind or mammals such as deer and raccoons. However we want to point out that the premise of the HSUS, that mourning doves reduce nuisance plants; is erroneous and therefore should not factor into policy decisions or influence public opinion about mourning dove hunting. Whether you are a hunter or a non-hunter if your local newspaper publishes this HSUS distortion in an article or a letter from a reader; please let them know that you do not appreciate your time being wasted with erroneous information.

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