Grenada Dove

Grenadataube ( Leptotila wellsi )

The Grenadataube ( Leptotila wellsi ), also called corrugated dove is a species of pigeons birds. The species is found only on Grenada. It was considered one of the most endangered extant species of pigeons in the world.

Appearance

The Grenadataube reaches a body length of up to 31 centimeters. The head is mostly pale pink, only the top of the head is dull brown. The neck plumage is yellow-brown with a slight pink tinge. The throat is white. The chest is brownish pink. Abdomen and under tail-coverts are white. The jacket and the back and wings are olivbräunlich. The beak is dark gray. The iris is yellow-brown with blue rings around the eyes. The feet and legs are carmine.

Distribution and population

The Grenadataube is a little known species that is endemic to the island of Grenada in the Caribbean. She comes here at altitudes up to 150 meters in dry forest areas with thorn bushes before. You preferably, the areas that have both a largely closed canopy as well as a mixture of open terrain and dense vegetation.

The Grenadataube got even in historical times also on these islands that lay in the coastal waters of Grenada. The number of animals of the species are probably never been high. On the basis of development measures and the associated habitat changes the Grenadataube was becoming increasingly rare. In 1977, she was already extinct in the north of the island and felt only in the west and southwest of the island. What is certain is that the way between 1987 and 1991 declined by about 50 percent. In 1998 there were only about 100 Grenadatauben. Until 2003/2004, the stock had recovered to approximately 182 individuals. Hurricane Ivan, who took over the island in 2004, but also had a devastating impact on the population numbers. The stock fell to 136 individuals. 2007, the total population was estimated at about 100 mature birds. The number of males in such a relic populations tends to be higher and higher, so that one starts from about 30 fertile breeding pairs.

Behavior

Very little is known about the life and the reproductive behavior of the Grenadataube. It is regarded as a ground-dwelling species that lives mainly of fruits and berries. In the field, only one nest was observed from Grenadatauben until now. The nest was occupied from January to February and found himself in a dove. Young birds have been observed on the ground and photographed by employees of the Forestry and National Parks Department. A nest was not found there.

Due to the higher call activity of Grenadatauben June to December, it is assumed that the propagation time falls within this period. But there are also observations. Differences in behavior among populations in the west of the island and the point in the southeast On the west coast the cries of Grenadataube can be heard throughout the year. On the southwest coast of the Rufhäufigkeit seems to be influenced by the season.

Grenadatauben were probably bred in 1926 in England. The couple killed conspecifics that were placed in the aviary. Compared to other species of pigeons pigeons behaved peacefully, however. In the rearing of nestlings parents birds fed is a relatively high proportion of animal food. It is not quite certain whether it was indeed Grenadatauben and not White-fronted doves in the held pigeons.

Causes of stock decline and protective measures

As a key component of the inventory decline is considered the destruction of the habitat of this forest-dwelling pigeon. The main reason is mainly the conversion of forest areas to settlements and agricultural land, grazing by livestock, as well as an increased logging to collect firewood. A hunting by humans is now no longer as significant was threatening factor. The dove however, has been hunted previously stronger. But an influence on the population size, the introduction of mammals. Already by indigenous people of Grenada, the Common Opossum has been introduced. This kind threatens the Grenadataube in all stages of life. The also introduced in this period dwarf opossums are potential nest predators. The European settlers have introduced a number of other species, which are also predators of Grenadataube. This includes the little mongoose, the Mona monkey, rats and domestic cats.

The Government of Grenada has two protected areas established in 1996 in collaboration with the World Bank that contribute to the conservation of this species. A protected area is located in the west of the island ( Perseverance and Woodford Estates ) and another on the Mount Hartman Estate in the south. Parts of this reserve have National Park status, so that further interventions in this habitat are at least prohibited by law. In the area of Mount Hartman Estate may be about 50 percent of the total population live. Around the year 2006, however, the government's plans were known to take the property, an old and very large cattle ranch in one of the most beautiful and built the least areas of Grenada 's protection status again and it along with the surrounding grounds to the hotel consortium Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts to sell. Were planned on the site of the construction of more than 200 villas, 100 hotel buildings and a golf course with 18 holes. The government presented the subject in November 2006, together with the Four Seasons a controversial and is undoubted of environmental organizations environmental assessments before, in which neither alternative development proposals discussed nor the Grenadataubenreviere were mapped. Even as has been discussed on this environmental assessment, parts of the site have already been leveled by bulldozers.

The actions of the Government of Grenada and the Four Seasons has been an issue in the international press and meant that finally an accurate inventory process has been commissioned. Result of this study was that more than half of the surviving population in the region around Mount Hartman lived and that the original development plans would have significant consequences for the deaf population. They finally agreed on a compromise. The planned development was somewhat reduced in scope. The boundaries of the national park were cut so that 50 of the 58 known pigeons areas were in the area. It replacement surfaces were also provided, which should be reforested, that they would offer the pigeon habitat. The Government of Grenada also committed itself to establishing a national park on the west coast, where at least seven Grenadatäuber lived. Four Seasons funded a fishing program for introduced mammals, in order to increase the reproduction rate of Grenadataube.