Dietary regimen of the woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)

Abstract

Recently, new agricultural policies and European Directives brought to important changes in farming practice, some of which could affect food availability for the wild bird population endangering biodiversity. This study aims to evaluate the consequences of such agricultural changes in France on the woodpigeon's dietary regimen. A total of 1,093 woodpigeons were collected over a four-year period (2014-2017). Voluntary sampling was performed in six regions in the south-west of France by local hunters during this species' autumnal migration and wintering. Ingluvies contents were recovered, macroscopically and microscopically identified, and then weighed before and after drying. Five food groups were identified: acorns, corn, green plant material, cultivated seeds and others. ANOVA testing followed by Tukey's test for multiple comparison were performed (R version 3.5.2). Significance was set at p < .05. A total of 762 woodpigeons met the study's inclusion criteria. Mean weight of total crop contents was less of 9 grams of dry matter. Most frequent food groups were "green plant material" (70.3%), acorns (42.3%) and corn (27.2%). In terms of grams of dry matter, the most important food in the crop content were acorns (62%): these were eaten more during the first two hunting seasons (p < .001), and in region A, lower amount was consumed compared to all other regions. On the contrary, corn intake peaked during the third year (p < .001), and in region A, birds had an increasing intake of this cereal. Cultivated seeds contributed to the diet more during migration (p = .007), while "green plant material" and others more during wintering (p = .011; p = .004). In conclusion, results confirm the opportunistic nature of the woodpigeon, balancing its diet according to food availability. Corn was eaten more in areas where the winter burying of chopped maize stover (mulching), provided by the Nitrate's directive, was in derogation.

Keywords: Columba palumbus; biodiversity; dietary regimen; food availability; nutrition; woodpigeon.