The nesting chronology of mourning doves in Knox County, Tennessee

The nesting chronology of mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) was investigated on a rural area in Knox County, Tennessee from 1 February to 31 October, 1979 and 1980. The proportion of annual recruitment occurring after 1 September and regional ecology in terms of habitat, nesting distribution, and productivity were investigated. The first nests were initiated 24 March 1979 and 22 March 1980. Nest initiation peaked in April in 1979 and 1980. The last nests were initiated 3 August 1979 and 5 September 1980. The first young fledged the nest 22 April 1979 and 26 April 1980. The proportion of young recruited after 1 September varied widely between years. In 1979 no young were produced after 1 September. In 1980, 5 young (33.3%) were recruited after 1 September. Six nests (35.3%) were successful in fledging at least 1 young in 1979 and 10 nests (32.3%) were successful in 1980. Mourning doves made 2.8 nest attempts per pair in 1979 and 3.9 nest attempts per pair in 1980. The fledgling production was 0.6 young per nest attempt and 1.7 young per breeding pair in 1979. In 1980, production was 0.5 young per nest attempt and 1.9 young per breeding pair. Most nests (41.7%) were located in wooded fencerows.