Colonial Breeding of the Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) in Northeastern Brazil

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Abstract
Eared doves (Z. auriculata) migrate into the semi-arid Brazilian northeast toward the end of the wet season where they breed in huge colonies of millions of birds and then disperse. Colonial breeding is clearly restricted to the thorn-scrub formation known as caatinga, and only occurs during the 4-mo. period following the end of the rainy season. During their stay in the area, the doves depend primarily on Croton spp. seeds which are abundant but are an extremely clumped and unpredictable resource due to the extreme irregularity of the rainfall. Colonies are markedly short-lived and well-synchronized; the adults stay for about 60 days which is long enough to complete only 1 successful breeding. Although the wooded vegetation would clearly permit nesting in trees, nests are built only on the ground; this practice is interpreted as an adaptation for speed in breeding. Eared doves might perform a sort of itinerant breeding, in which individuals attempt to nest again in a different locality where a favorable seed production has occurred, following the geographical movement of the wet season. Because of the dependence of caatinga eared dove populations on Croton productivity patterns, the management policy for the conservation of the species should not rely soly on protection of the breeding colonies but should also take into account the complex interrelationship among climatic irregularity, land use and Croton seed productivity.

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