Comparison of radiotransmitter attachment techniques using captive mourning doves

Although subcutaneous radiotransmitter implants with external antennas have been shown to be a tractable transmitter attachment technique for mourning doves (Zenaida macroura), few experiments have been conducted comparing im plants to conventional external attachment techniques. To determine whether implants provide an improved alternative, we compared the physiological an d pathological effects of subcutaneous implants with external antennas (SC1 ), subcutaneous surgeries without implants (SC2), transmitters attached wit h harnesses (HAR), transmitters with glue attachment (GLU), and a control g roup (CNT) without surgery or transmitter; we also compared differences in amount of time needed to attach transmitters and transmitter retention rate s. A captive colony of 195 wild-trapped doves was assigned randomly to each treatment. Average time required to attach radiotransmitters differed amon g treatments (P less than or equal to0.001), and was greatest for GLU (9.24 min +/- 0.22, (x) over bar +/- SE) and least for HAR (2.49 +/- 0.07). Tran smitter retention rates differed among treatments (log-rank: P=0.005, Wilco xon: P=0.016), with 100.0% of SC1 remaining attached during the 63-day post -treatment period and 38.5% of GLU. Heterophil:lymphocyte ratios (P=0.316) or body masses (P=0.305) did not differ among treatments. Pathological data showed 89.7% of HAR doves with mild to moderate thickening and yellowing o f the wing skin and tissue, and 10.3% with severe thickening and yellowing skin, tissue swelling, and pressure necrosis where the harness was cutting into the wing tissue. No differences existed among treatments in 5 blood pl asma chemistries (P=0.843). Our data suggest that subcutaneous implants are superior to glue attachment based on retention time, and superior to harne sses based on pathological effects. Implants do not appear to affect captiv e doves physiologically, though long-term effects on wild free-flying doves are unknown.