Breeding success and predation on artificial nests of the endemic pigeons Bolle's Laurel Pigeon Columba bollii and White-tailed Laurel Pigeon Columbajunoniae in the laurel forest of Tenerife (Canary Islands)

Breeding success and nest predation effects on the two Canarian endemic pig eons, Bolle's Laurel Pigeon Columba bollii and White-tailed Laurel Pigeon C . junoniae, were studied during 1995 in five zones of laurel forest on Tene rife Island. Nest predation was the more important cause of nesting failure of both species (88%), but principally affecting the White-tailed Laurel P igeon. Experiments using artificial nests showed it greater predation on th e ground than in trees and a lower predation in the February-March period t han in June-July and September-October. The abundance of predators, estimat ed by bait consumption, showed a similar seasonal pattern, while fruit avai lability decreased over time from the first to third period. Predators iden tified by automatic cameras showed that Black Rat Rattus rattus was the maj or nest predator of both pigeons. These general patterns of nest predation affect the White-tailed Laurel Pigeon, which breeds on the ground mainly du ring April-July, much more than Bolle's Laurel Pigeon, which breeds in tree s, especially in February-June. All seems to indicate that rats are the key factor causing the scarcity of the White-tailed Laurel Pigeon on Tenerife.