Page:Condor15(1).djvu/25

 Jan., 1913 25 THE OUTLOOK FOR CONSERVING THE BAND-TAILED PIGEON AS A GAME' BIRD OF .CALIFORNIA By JOSEPH GRINNELL WITH ONE MAP (Contribution from the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology of the University of California) Com'TS. Introduction ....................................................................... 25 General Distribution of the Band-tailed Pigeon ....................................... 26 Local Distribution .................................................................. 26 Relative Numbers, 'Past and Present .................... : ........................... 28 Food of the Pigeon .................................................................. 28 Nesting Habits .................................................................... 30 Rate of Increase ....... : ............................................................ 31 Enemies of the Pigeon .............................................................. 33 Factors Favoring the Persistence of the Pigeon ....................................... 34 The Destruction in 1912 ............................................................ 34 The Value of the Pigeon to Man ................................................. /... 35 Legislation Recommended ........................................................... 36 Summary ........................................................................ 37 Bibliography ....................................................................... 38 INTRODUCTION Up to the present time, the Band-tailed Pigeon has been taken practically no account of in the game laws of California. This may have been due to two things: to .its lesser importance as a game bird, as compared with quail and ducks for which California is justly famed, and to its appearance sporadically in large numbers, which has given the impression that it was in no danger of depletion. The unusual slaughter of pigeons in the southern coast counties in the late winter of 9-I2 (see Chambers, I912, p. Io8) has brought forcibly to the at- tention of ornithologists, the possibility of the extermination of our western wild pigeon. We would certainly be forever blamed if we took no steps to prevent a repetition of the deplorably thoughtless treatment which was given the now ex-. tinct Passenger Pigeon of the eastern states. For the purpose of ascertaining the facts in regard to the standing of the Band-tailed Pigeon, and with a view of offering appropriate recommendations at the coming legislature. the writer was asked by the Secretary of the State Fish and Game Commission to coinpile all data obtainable in regard to the Band-tailed Pigeon, both as it exists now, and as it has occurred in the past. This work was undertaken at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, with the assistance of Miss Margaret W. Wythe, and the results are presented in the fol- lowing pages. 'Correspondence with many students of birds throughout the state produced surprisingly little definite information, and the literature of western ornithology proved scarcely more resourceful. We have, of course, exercised dis- ' crimination in getting at the real facts, as contrasted with general and hearsay statements. It is believed that enough evidence is here given to demonstrate beyond any doubt the urgent necessity of the immediate passage of laws giving protection to the Band-tailed Pigeon. Otherwise the bird is plainly doomed to take its place in the growing list of North American animals which have totally disappeared as a result of man's misuse of natural resources.