Nesting of Japanese Wood Pigeon Columba janthina in Hachijo-Kojima in Izu Islands

Abstract

We summarized the nesting information of the Japanese Wood Pigeon Columba janthina in Hachijo-Kojima in Izu Islands, a breeding site of the species. In Hachijo-Kojima, both tree-nesting and ground-nesting of the pigeon were observed. The pigeon used the bush of dwarf bamboo Pleioblastus simonii, nesting on top and bottom of this species, as well as on branches and vines of other trees, tree branches, and vines and under a rock. The results of automatic camera monitoring of three nests indicated that the pigeons reared chicks for almost the same period as those in captive conditions. Adult pigeons mostly visited the nests for feeding in the morning and evening, which synchronizes with the inter-island movement of many pigeons between Hachijojima and Hachijo-Kojima.