The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) banding program monitors and manages populations of mourning dove across the state to ensure population stability of the species. This mark-recapture program also serves as an important Citizen Science opportunity, where approximately 100 staff and volunteers participate each year. From 2008 to 2023 a total of 54,884 mourning dove have been banded, with 10% (n=5,500) having been recaptured and 4.85% (n=2,664) having been reported. A majority (n=2,457) of banded mourning dove reported have been from hunters, including birds harvested in Mexico. These reports account for 4.7% of all banded dove. Banders classify birds to age, which provides information on annual recruitment. Across all years, hatch year to after hatch year ratio was 0.89:1. A subset are classified as unknown age based on stage of molt. The 2023 banding season concluded with 1,684 mourning dove banded across 52 sites. We will present an overview of distance between capture, recapture, and/or harvest location. This program provides critical data for CDFW and the Pacific Flyway to manage the mourning dove population as both a popular yard bird and a sustainable upland game bird for future generations.

Sarah received a Bachelor's degree in Animal Sciences from University of California-Davis. Shew conducted a research project in the Natomas Basin on aquatic and semi-aquatic fauna, and bullfrog diet. She followed that with population surveys of red-eared sliders and western pond turtles. Sarah was hired by CDFW in 2022 to assist with the mourning dove program, and banded doves at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge.