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The Eurasian collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto) has expanded its range into South Texas, bringing it into contact with native columbid species. We studied urban columbid breeding ecology at three study sites, representing five South Texas towns, in 2006 and 2007. Columbids began nesting in April and peaked in late spring, followed by a secondary nesting peak. A positive relationship occurred between nesting vegetation type and mean nest density of each columbid species but was inconsistent within and among study sites. Eurasian collared-doves also utilized human-constructed structures for nesting sites. Columbids were nonselective in choosing nest placement within trees except for Eurasian collared-doves nesting in Rio Grande ash (Fraxinus berlanderiana). White-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica) and Eurasian collared-doves tended to nest higher in trees than mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) or Inca doves (Columbina inca) where all four species co-occurred. Eurasian collared-dove, Inca dove, mourning dove, and white-winged dove productivity was 1.3 ± 0.1 (SE) fledged young/nest, 1.3 ± 0.2, 0.9 ± 0.1, and 1.1 ± <0.1, respectively. Overall, urban nesting columbids used a generalist habitat and nest site association strategy, which negated interspecific competition for available nest sites. We provide some of the first information on nesting ecology and productivity of the Eurasian collared-dove associated with native columbid species within North America. La paloma de collar turca (Streptopelia decaocto) ha expandido su área de distribución al sur de Texas, poniéndose en contacto con especies columbidas nativas. Estudiamos la ecología reproductiva de columbidae urbana en tres sitios de estudio, representando cinco ciudades del sur del estado de Texas en 2006 y 2007. Las palomas columbidae comenzaron a anidar en abril, alcanzando su pico máximo a fines de la primavera, seguido de un pico secundario de anidación. Se produjo una relación positiva entre el tipo de vegetación de anidación y la densidad media de nidos de cada especie columbina, pero fue inconsistente dentro de sitios individuales y entre ellos. Las palomas de collar turcas también utilizaron estructuras construidas por humanos para sitios de anidación. Las columbidae no fueron selectivas al elegir la ubicación de los nidos dentro de los árboles, excepto las palomas de collar turcas que anidan en los fresnos del río Grande (Fraxinus berlanderiana). Las palomas de alas blancas (Zenaida asiatica) y la paloma de collar turca solían anidar más alto en los árboles que la paloma huilota (Zenaida macroura) o la tortolita cola larga (Columbina inca) donde coexistían las cuatro especies. La productividad de la paloma de collar turca, la tortolita cola larga, la paloma huilota y la paloma de alas blancas fue de 1.3 ± 0.1 (ES) crías que salieron por nido, 1.3 ± 0.2, 0.9 ± 0.1, y 1.1 ± <0.1, respectivamente. En general, las columbidae de anidación urbana utilizaron una estrategia general de asociación de hábitat y sitios de anidación, lo que negó la competencia interespecífica por los sitios de anidación disponibles. Proporcionamos una parte de la primera información sobre la ecología de anidación y la productividad de la paloma de collar turca asociada con especies de columbidae nativas dentro de América del Norte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baylisascaris procyonis is a large ascarid of raccoons ( Procyon lotor) and is a zoonotic threat. We documented the potential rate a raccoon population can contaminate their environment with B. procyonis eggs. We estimated the population size of raccoons using a 9 × 7 trapping grid of Havahart traps, identified locations of raccoon scats through systematic searches, and enumerated the distance B. procyonis eggs passively travel from site of origin upon scat decay. During an 8-week capture period, the raccoon population was estimated to be 19.6 ± 1.3 raccoons within the 63-ha study area (1 raccoon/3.2 ha). There were 781 defecation sites, of which 744 (95.3%) were isolated sites and 37 (4.7%) were latrine sites. Fifty-three (6.8%) defecation sites occurred in areas associated with human structures (commensal zone). Of the noncommensal sites, 9 (1.2%) and 719 (98.8%) sites were identified as latrine sites and isolated scats, respectively. More latrine sites were located within the commensal zone ( p < 0.0001, ) than proportionately available space. Twenty-five raccoon scats containing B. procyonis eggs were allowed to decay on level bare soil by way of simulated rain events, 13 were allowed to desiccate naturally in the environment, and 12 were allowed to desiccate and, subsequently, experience a simulated 1 cm rain event; eggs were found 49 ± 6, 28 ± 8, and 68 ± 8 cm from the initial scat location, respectively. We calculated that a single B. procyonis-infected raccoon could contaminate 0.03 ± 0.01 ha/year with B. procyonis eggs. Our findings indicate that B. procyonis represents a substantial risk to humans in areas where infected raccoons and humans co-occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed nested PCR protocols and performed a multiyear survey on the prevalence of several protozoan parasites in wild northern bobwhite ( Colinus virginianus) and scaled quail ( Callipepla squamata) in the Rolling Plains ecoregion of Texas and Oklahoma (i.e. fecal pellets, bird intestines and blood smears collected between 2010 and 2013). Coccidia, cryptosporidia, and microsporidia were detected in 46.2%, 11.7%, and 44.0% of the samples ( n = 687), whereas histomona and hematozoa were undetected. Coccidia consisted of one major and two minor Eimeria species. Cryptosporidia were represented by a major unknown Cryptosporidium species and Cryptosporidium baileyi. Detected microsporidia species were highly diverse, in which only 11% were native avian parasites including Encephalitozoon hellem and Encephalitozoon cuniculi, whereas 33% were closely related to species from insects (e.g. Antonospora, Liebermannia, and Sporanauta). This survey suggests that coccidia infections are a significant risk factor in the health of wild quail while cryptosporidia and microsporidia may be much less significant than coccidiosis. In addition, the presence of E. hellem and E. cuniculi (known to cause opportunistic infections in humans) suggests that wild quail could serve as a reservoir for human microsporidian pathogens, and individuals with compromised or weakened immunity should probably take precautions while directly handling wild quail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]