The National Mourning Dove Banding Program began in 2003 to better understand dove populations and the effects of hunting, according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.
Each July and August, banding takes place across most of the lower 48 states. Hunters report band recoveries during the September through January hunting seasons, providing data on survival, harvest rates, and population trends.
Banding goals for each state are set by Bird Conservation Region, or BCR. These targets are based on a power analysis to ensure sufficient data collection for accurate population estimates. The information collected guides long-term management efforts to sustain healthy dove populations.
For more details on the dove program, visit the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks website.
