A comparison of the reproduction of collareddoves Streptopelia decaocto and turtle doves Streptopelia turtur in the Ziban Oases (Biskra, Algeria)

Abstract

The expansion of the palm groves of the southeasterly oases of the Ziban (Biskra, Algeria), from 2 to 4 million palms of it spaces in the last decade seems to have permitted a fast colonization by the Colombidae. During five and half months in 2008, from the end of March until the end of August, we led the observations and a regular follow-up in order to surround the main parameters of the nest building and reproduction among the doves Streptopelia decaocto and S. turtur. We followed the activity of two samples of reference, composed of N1=21 nests of S decaocto and N2=30 nests of S. turtur. The nests were constructed by two varieties of date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera): Mech degla and Deglet nour. The respective mean heights of the nests for S. decaocto were HST1 = 6, 11± 1,006 m (N=14) and HST2 = 4, 57± 1,12m (N=7). While, the mean heights of S. turtur were HSB1 = 5, 28± 1,15m (N=16) and HSB2 = 4,rn04 ± 1,29m, (N=14). The global breeding success for the two species of doves was homogeneous enough; it oscillated between 0, 50 for S. decaocto and 0, 56 for S. turtur. It was in the same way for the rates of daily survivals (ŝT = 0, 9424 S. decaocto and ŝB = 0, 9511 for S. turtur).