Data from: Factors influencing nest site selection of the Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) in an urban area in Karaj, Iran

Urban habitats are rapidly changing, making the conservation and
management of species adapted to these environments challenging. Nest site
selection is a pivotal point in the process of habitat selection and
breeding for bird species. We measured 10 structural and spatial
characteristics at 32 nest presence sites and 64 randomly selected nest
absence sites of Laughing Doves (Spilopelia senegalensis) in an urban
environment in Karaj, Iran. To model the nest site selection, we performed
spline binary logistic regression. Two variables significantly influenced
the nest site selection of Laughing Doves: nest height above ground, with
an optimal range of ~286–347 cm, and nest concealment, favoring invisible
places from the front and sides. Distance to opposite building, with an
optimal range of ~16–34 m, was marginally significant. Additionally, we
surveyed the feasibility of occupying artificial nestboxes (n = 17) by
Laughing Doves between February and September 2019. The occupancy rate of
the artificial nestboxes was ~35%. Overall, these results suggest that
despite the relatively high structural heterogeneity of our urban
environment, Laughing Doves exhibit distinct preferences for certain nest
site characteristics, which may reflect a dependence on close proximity to
humans for safety and access to food and water.