Justification This species is considered Critically Endangered because it has an extremely small and fragmented population which has declined owing to habitat loss and fragmentation caused by hurricanes, fire, clearance for residential housing, roads and other development, as well as grazing and predation by invasive species. A recovery plan (1998) aims to increase the wild population to 200 individuals in four subpopulations and to restore habitat to allow for four self-sustaining sub-populations totalling 600 birds in a further ten years.

Family/Sub-family Columbidae

Species name author (Lawrence, 1884)

Taxonomic source(s) AOU checklist (1998 + supplements), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)

Identification 31 cm. Medium-sized, plump bicoloured dove. Brown upperparts, with white forehead and white breast feathers that extend around shoulder. White underparts with pinkish-brown breast, plain dark wings, tail tipped white, and pale eye. Shows cinnamon underwing in flight. Pinkish red legs, feet and bare skin around the eyes. Similar spp. Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata is smaller, more uniform brown with dark eye and auricular mark, black spots on scapulars and no white in tail. Voice Mournful descending hoooo, repeated at seven to eight-second intervals.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

70 - 120

decreasing

8 km²

Yes

Range & population Leptotila wellsi is endemic to Grenada in the Lesser Antilles. Historically, it was more widespread in coastal and possibly offshore islands⁷, but may always have been rare². The population declined by c.50% in 1987-1990¹, and by 1998 numbered only c.100 individuals⁵, with strongholds on the Mt Hartman estate, and on the Perseverance and adjacent Woodford Estates in the west⁵. The population increased to an estimated 182 individuals by 2003-2004, but in 2004 hurricane Ivan had a devastating impact upon the island and the dove's population. This resulted in declines, particularly severe along the west coast (from 36 calling males to 3-12 calling males), but also within Mt Hartman area (from 55 males to 30-48 males)^9,10. Three years following hurricane Ivan the population has been estimated at 68 calling males with 136 individuals in total^9,11, however this assumes an even sex ratio, and there is a tendency for such relict populations to be male-dominated¹³. The total population may therefore be as small as 100 mature individuals or c.30 reproductive pairs¹³. Of all remaining known territories, 28 are within protected areas, 11 on unprotected crown land and 29 on private land. 43% of remaining birds are thought to occur in the Mt. Hartman Estate.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: It inhabits a successional stage of dry, coastal scrub-woodland in the south-west, which comprises a closed canopy of leguminous (often thorny) trees and shrubs c.3-6 m high, a sparse understorey of shrubs and saplings, sparse to absent ground-cover and much exposed soil¹. On the west coast, its habitat includes some mixed deciduous/evergreen vegetation. It may have been always confined to xeric, coastal areas where climax vegetation was deciduous, seasonal forest and thorn woodland, but frequent natural disturbances (particularly hurricanes) kept the vegetation in a sub-climax condition. This temporary occupation of ephemeral patches and recolonisation of developing patches may be the normal life history pattern. Breeding is limited to the rainy season in the south-west, but is more extended on the less xeric west coast⁵.

Threats Habitat loss due to clearing for small plantations and charcoal production has been replaced in recent years with chronic and continuing habitat loss for residential housing, roads and other development, and population declines may possibly be compounded by introduced mongooses, cats and rats predating fledglings. It is possible that mongooses and cats are able to climb diagonal branches and trunks to reach the birds, but that the birds are safe in vertical-standing trees. If this is the case hurricane damage may have increased the birds' susceptibility to predation¹⁵. Cutting was substantially reduced at Mt Hartman⁷ but, in 1995, 50% of Perseverance was clear-cut for a planned quarry (half the site now a sanitary land-fill)⁶. Increases in squatters and cattle in the 1990s resulted in more disturbance at Perseverance, though currently habitat degradation is due to garbage and toxic fumes invading the site from the garbage dump across the road. Following strong opposition to initial proposals, which would have proved disastrous for the species, modified plans for the development of a Four Seasons resort and golf course at Mt Hartman are now predicted to result in the displacement or loss of four pairs, or 6% of the total population¹⁴. Hurricanes pose a pertinent threat now that the remaining population is so small. Following hurricane Ivan in 2004 calling frequency by males during the breeding season appeared to have fallen significantly, possibly as a result of stress owing to limited resources⁹. The hurricane damaged habitat structure and allowed the invasion of alien vines into suitable dove habitat.

Conservation measures underway A recovery plan was drafted in 1998⁴ and a four-year GEF/WB funded Dry Forest Biodiversity Conservation Project based on stakeholder input was implemented from 2001-2006. In 2008 work began on an updated 10-15 year recovery plan¹¹. It is legally protected from hunting and egg-collecting, but these threats are insignificant. Grenada Dove is the national bird of Grenada and has been a focus of environmental education in schools and ecotourism and it features on stamps. In 1996, parts of the Mt Hartman and Perseverance Estates were declared a National Park and a protected area, respectively⁷. The Four Seasons resort development on the Mt Hartman Estate has been extensively modified to minimise impacts on the dove, and the National Park has been redesigned and will now comprise one contiguous area of habitat, including 50 of 58 doves known from the Mt Hartman Estate within the new boundaries¹⁴. The redesigned park will also include significant opportunities for habitat creation¹⁴. A predator control programme has been agreed to ensure that land disturbance from construction does not also encourage the migration of predators such as mongoose to the Sanctuary. Four Seasons will fund the construction of traps and hire local residents to set and monitor the traps, and the predator control programme will be monitored by the Government of Grenada¹². An upgraded access road has been fenced along the side supporting dove habitat using recommended fencing specifications, and this temporary fencing will be replaced by permanent (dove-sensitive) fencing around the perimeter of the National Park¹⁴. Clearance for the golf course is due to begin in 2009 and the timing and sequence of hole clearing will be designed to minimise disturbance near dove habitat during the breeding season and allow for the movement of doves into protected habitat before territorial behaviour begins¹⁴. As part of the mitigation package the government have made a public commitment to designate another national park for the species at Beauséjour, with 7 males recorded (2007) and 15 males pre-hurricane Ivan, which will also include land suitable for reforestation/habitat creation¹⁴.

Conservation measures proposed Eliminate/minimise further habitat loss. Formally protect habitat at Beausejour and Woodford as one contiguous west coast site with Perseverance. Carry out regular surveys to monitor population trends and determine the sex ratio (and therefore the actual population) of remaining birds. Monitor rates of habitat loss and degradation. Finalise and implement the revised recovery plan. Ensure that the Mt Hartman and Perseverance reserves are effectively protected⁴. Develop incentives/regulations for protection of dove habitat on private residential lots in the south-west (adjacent to Mt Hartman). Restore habitat at existing and new sites⁴. Establish two new subpopulations⁴.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Blockstein (1991). 2. Devas (1943). 3. Rusk (1992). 4. Rusk et al. (1998). 5. Rusk (1998). 6. Rusk and Temple (unpubl. data). 7. B. L. Rusk in litt. (1998). 8. Rank (2007). 9. B. L. Rusk in litt. (2005). 10. B. L. Rusk in litt. (2006, 2008). 11. Rusk (2007). 12. J. Ellard in litt. (2008). 13. N. Collar in litt. (2008). 14. D. Wege in litt. (2008). 15. Cosgrove (2008).

Further web sources of information

Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species/site profile. This species has been identified as an AZE trigger due to its IUCN Red List status and limited range.

Fully detailed species account from the Threatened birds of the Americas: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 1992). Please note, taxonomic treatment and IUCN Red List category may have changed since publication.

Recuento detallado de la especie tomado del libro Aves Amenazadas de las Americas, Libro Rojo de BirdLife International (BirdLife International 1992). Nota: la taxonomoía y la categoría de la Lista Roja de la UICN pudo haber cambiado desde esta publicación.

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International), David Wege (BirdLife International)

Contributors Nigel Collar (BirdLife International), Jennifer Ellard, Bonnie Rusk (Grenada Dove Research Coordinator), David Wege (BirdLife International)

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Leptotila wellsi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

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