As newcomers to Northland, we were excited to find our house came with an unexpected backyard bonus – at least 20 wild doves.
Being bird lovers, we weren’t put off by their 6am wake-up coos, albeit were briefly disappointed to discover they weren’t the moreporks they sounded like.
The doves soon got used to us (as we did them), especially the white ones. Bolder than their spotted companions, they often congregated at the back door or casually wandered inside for a nosy at our ageing, sleepy dog.
In summer, when the door was open, it wasn’t unusual to find one perched on the side of the couch, gawking out a window or swaying on a lightshade.
Their indoor pursuits have sadly somewhat diminished since we got a cat.
However, thanks to Grandma’s memories of growing up in Whangārei, we learned that if we stand outside with seeds in our hand, we can still get some up-close-and-personal time with our Barbary doves, which happily land there to feed – even letting us stroke their bellies – all great tricks for visitors!
Their tameness, boldness and sheer numbers got us wondering: what’s the story behind these birds? Are they escapees, descendants of someone’s backyard flock? How exactly did they get here and why is one variety so bold and the other so timid?
It turns out Whangārei has one of New Zealand’s largest populations of wild doves, two species in particular: Barbary (or ringnecked/collared) dove and the spotted turtle (or Malay) dove, both known by a range of aliases.
Their endearing nature is undeniable – and it doesn’t matter that they’re not native. In Whangārei, sick or injured ones still usually end up in the caring hands of bird expert Robert Webb at the city’s Native Bird Recovery Centre.
Barbary doves are creamy-white and buff colours, with a half-collar of dark blue-black feathers on the back of their necks.
Spotted doves are larger with long tails, greyish heads, pink-grey underparts and speckled, greyish-brown upper parts. They have black patches on either side of their necks, flecked with lacy white polka dots. In strong sunlight, their colours take on an amazing iridescence.
Historically, doves and pigeons were kept by wealthy families for food and feathers, and a dovecote (housing for the birds) was a recognisable status symbol.
In New Zealand though, doves were mainly brought in for ornamental reasons.
According to New Zealand Birds Online (NZBO), spotted doves are native to South and Southeast Asia, being introduced to New Zealand in the 1920s when some were released from captivity in Mt Eden, Auckland, likely supplemented by subsequent releases and escapes.
Current records show spotted doves occurring widely from Whangārei south to Tūrangi and Rotorua, and along the Bay of Plenty coast between Katikati and Whakatāne. The only known South Island population is around Charing Cross, west of Christchurch.
Whangārei’s spotted doves really became established after 2016. The population is now expanding rapidly north of the Bay of Islands and into the mid-lower North Island.
Barbary doves are far less common and are believed to have been in Whangārei longer. Some may be semi-domesticated or escaped cage birds.
Spotted doves aren’t known to cause significant ecological or economic harm. Small flocks may feed on spilled grain or harvest leftovers.
They’re known to cross-breed with Barbary doves and common rock pigeons (the kind abundant in London’s Trafalgar Square).
The Barbary dove, NZBO says, is a domesticated form of the African collared dove – native to the Sahel, Ethiopia and the Arabian Peninsula. Domesticated for centuries, these birds are gentle and trusting, but less able to survive for long in the wild.
Barbary doves were first introduced to New Zealand at Nelson in 1867 but didn’t become established. Later releases in Canterbury and Dunedin also failed.
A population introduced near Masterton before 1971 bred successfully in the early 1970s, but recent sightings are scarce.
The populations established in Northland (Kerikeri, Whangārei), Auckland, central Waikato, and parts of Hawke’s Bay are thought to stem from aviary escapes or releases. Sightings continue in New Plymouth, Wanganui, Horowhenua, Wellington, Blenheim, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Their sparse distribution and limited ability to persist in the wild mean they’re currently thought to have negligible ecological and economic impact in New Zealand.
Although the Ministry for Primary Industries doesn’t regard them as a pest species, it monitors them for emerging risks. Overseas, they’re considered pests in South Africa, Mexico, parts of North America, China, Japan, Korea and the Canary Islands.
In Australia, they’re a declared pest in several regions, where they eat newly sown grain and oilseed crops, and sightings must be reported. In the Northern Territory, it’s illegal to keep them without a permit because they compete with native birds and potentially carry diseases. They were successfully eradicated from Alice Springs.
So, while the doves here in Whangārei are generally just peaceful pals, they’re part of a much bigger story – one that spans continents, cultures and centuries of co-existence with humans.
Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years’ experience in journalism, much of which she spent reporting on the courts in Gisborne and on the East Coast.