Use captive breeding to increase or maintain populations of pigeons

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 1
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

69%
Certainty

21%
Harms

0%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Key messages

A review of a captive-breeding programme on Mauritius and in the UK found that 42 pink pigeons, Nesoenas mayeri, were successfully bred in captivity.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A review of a captive-breeding programme on Mauritius (Jones et al. 1992) found that at least 40 pink pigeons, Nesoenas mayeri (formerly Columba mayeri), were successfully bred in captivity, fostered under African collared doves, Streptopelia roseogrisea, (formerly S. risoria) and released. A further two birds were raised at the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust (Jersey, UK) and released. This study is also discussed in ‘Provide supplementary food to increase adult survival’, ‘Release captive bred individuals’, ‘Provide supplementary food after release’ and ‘Predator control on islands’.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Jones C. G., Swinnerton K. J., Taylor C. J. & Mungroo Y. (1992) The release of captive-bred pink pigeons Columba mayeri in native forest on Mauritius. A progress report July 1987-June 1992. Dodo, 28, 92-125.

Please cite as:

Williams, D.R., Child, M.F., Dicks, L.V., Ockendon, N., Pople, R.G., Showler, D.A., Walsh, J.C., zu Ermgassen, E.K.H.J. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Bird Conservation. Pages 137-281 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Bird Conservation

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Can captive breeding have deleterious effects on individual fitness? Action Link	Evidence not assessed	3	Synopsis Link
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