New Data on Migration Time, Breeding Phenology, and Breeding Success of European Turtle Doves in Their Highest Breeding Habitats in North Africa

Abstract

The migration dates, breeding phenology, and reproductive success of the European turtle doves were studied in the highest breeding habitats at Midelt (1400 to 1600 m), Morocco. Data were recorded from March to October between 2015 and 2018, using the Common Bird Census methodology. Results showed that, at high-altitude breeding sites (n = 20), turtle doves arrived on 28.25 ± 2.05 March, while departure dates were on 28.00 ± 1.47 September. On the other hand, nesting activity began on 26.5 ± 0.64 April, and laying dates were only two days after the nest construction date on 28.00 ± 0.7 April. First fledged chicks were 17.50 ± 2.72 May, and chicks started flying on 3.50 ± 2.33 June. In addition, breeding chronology, including nesting and chick’s flight, was influenced by altitude and rainfall and more particularly controlled by temperature. For breeding success, among the 467 monitored nests, 73.87% survived during the nesting period and 71.16% of eggs have survived during incubation. Chicks' survival rate was higher with 79.56%. Failure factors during breeding success were diverse. Predation caused the loss of 18.89% of eggs during incubation periods and 10.54% of chicks during the nestling phase. A few portions, including 4.41% of eggs and 4.39% of chicks, were deserted by their dove parents. Finally, our study highlights that the turtle dove breeds in high-altitude habitats with late and shorter breeding periods, which might allow this bird to avoid the vigorous climate conditions at mountains and their effect on reproductive success.

Breeding Biology, Chronology, and Reproductive Success of the European Serin (Serinus serinus) at Moulouya High Plain (Morocco)

“…Centurion software, version XVI.I, and results were given as sample size and mean ± SD. Moreover, breeding success rates were evaluated by the calculation of success nests (active nests/built nests), hatching eggs (hatched eggs/laid eggs), survived chicks (chicks leaving their nests/fledged chicks) [15][16][17]. Clutch size was calculated as the number of eggs/total active nests.…”

Timing of migration dates and detection of first wintering sites for the Turtle Dove in Northwest Africa

“…From 2015 to 2022, Turtle Doves arrived in Northwest Africa (spring migration from South to the North) in late March. These arrival dates agree with Turtle Dove's prenuptial migration reported previously in different North African breeding and stopover sites (Eraud et al, 2013; Lormee et al, 2016; Marx et al, 2016); In Morocco, arrival dates vary around the end of the third week of March (15, 19, 28 March at Haouz, Tadla, and Midelt respectively) (Chedad et al, 2020; Hanane & Maghnouj, 2005; Mansouri, El Hassani, et al, 2021; Mansouri, Ousaaid, et al, 2021; Mansouri, Squalli, et al, 2021), in Algeria, Turtle Doves return to breeding sites from the end of March to the early of April in Ouargla (Northeast) and Ghardaïa (North) (Boukhemza‐Zemmouri et al, 2008; Hanane & Baamal, 2011; Kafi et al, 2015), and in Tunisia, breeding Turtle Doves occur at the end of March near the city of Gabès (south‐east of Tunisia). Furthermore, the arrival date was late in Morocco compared with Tunisia and Algeria, which is in paradox with the results stated by (Hanane & Baamal, 2011), who reported an early arrival in Morocco.…”

Spatial and Temporal Monitoring of North African Turtle Doves Streptopelia turtur arenicola (Hartert, EJO, 1894): First Migrants Arrive Early and Select Nesting Trees next to Foraging Resources while Second Breeders’ Wave Breed around Earlier Nests

“…In Europe, Streptopelia turtur is mentioned as a breeder in Spain, France, the UK, and Germany in the west [1,4,5], as well as in Turkey, Greece, and Bulgaria in the East [6,7]. In Africa, the species is recorded in North Africa as breeding migrant [8][9][10], while in Sub-Sahara it is considered as winterer [2]. On the other hand, Turtle dove is the remarkable example of a European long-distance migrant bird that has sufered a rapid and severe decline across its western European range (−78% in Great Britain from 1980 to 2020 as well as −70% in the Iberian peninsula, mainly in Spain from 1980 to 2017) [11].…”

“…Morocco hosts an important breeding population of Doves, mainly Streptopelia turtur arenicola (Hartert, 1894) [8]. In Moroccan grounds, Doves are mostly dispersed in woody environments [9,26,27] that represent 12.7% of the national surface [28] and farmlands that represent 1.5% of the total land area of Morocco [29,30]. Tey are most commonly found in farm landscapes with irrigated perimeters [17,31,32], with olive, orange, and apple orchards being particular favorites [17,33].…”

“…However, in forests, studies were limited to habitat use [46,[47][48][49] and feeding resources [41,46]. Tese studies revealed variable results concerning breeding performances and clarifed the main threatening factors [9,31].…”