Why are there so many doves in Argentina?

The importance of year-round crops and the availability of grain in the southeast of the province of Cordoba, Argentina, are key factors for doves not to migrate and have a reproduction rate, unique in the world.

 

Large flock of doves flying over Córdoba farmlands, Argentina, thriving due to year-round grain crops and preserved native forest

Agricultural Transformation and Its Impact on Dove Populations

Back in the 70’s, Cordoba was a purely cattle raising area, with a lot of native trees and little agriculture. Although the volume of doves was large, what accounted for the dove reproduction boom was the agricultural revolution with the arrival of soybean production. In those years, up to 80% of the fields were allowed to be cleared, so the farmers quickly transformed their lands into extensive crop fields, leaving 20% of the native forest intact. BINGO! That was exactly what the doves needed for their massive reproduction: grain to feed on all year round and roosts.

Large flock of doves roosting in a native tree in Cordoba, Argentina, supported by abundant year-round crops

Crop Composition and Food Supply for Doves

Speaking of the crops themselves, the proportions are as follows: 15% sunflower from January to March, 5% millet and sorghum from April to May, 40% corn from June to September, and 40% soybeans. Soybean is not primary food for doves, but all the other grain mentioned above, which is 60% of the total crops in the area, is more than enough to feed more than 20 million doves in southeastern Cordoba.

Continuous Food Cycle Supporting Reproductiont

Another important point is that in May, when soybeans are harvested, wheat is planted immediately afterwards, grain that will be ready for the first doves born in September/October. The last three months of the year, the doves feed on wheat stubble and a native grass seed, which closes a complete cycle of annual food supply for the doves.

Sharing Knowledge About Dove Abundance in Córdoba

I wrote this article because year after year the new hunting fellows who visit us are very interested in the crops we have in Cordoba, and their positive impact on the doves’ reproduction. As a nature passionate, I always love to explain why there are so many doves in Cordoba, Argentina, and our abundance of crops is definitely one of the main reasons, but not the only one. We’ll keep posting interesting articles about this in future blog entries!