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2017

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Articles 61 - 90 of 428

Full-Text Articles in Natural Resources and Conservation

Changes In Habitat Use Of Montezuma Quail In Response To Tree Canopy Reduction In The Capitan Mountains Of New Mexico, Ryan S. Luna, Elizabeth A. Oaster, Karlee D. Cork, Ryan O'Shaughnessy Nov 2017

Changes In Habitat Use Of Montezuma Quail In Response To Tree Canopy Reduction In The Capitan Mountains Of New Mexico, Ryan S. Luna, Elizabeth A. Oaster, Karlee D. Cork, Ryan O'Shaughnessy

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) are unique among quail with respect to clutch size, diet, covey dynamics, and habitat use. With the exception of a few notable early studies, there is relatively little information on the ecology of Montezuma quail. Pervious research has indicated that one of the primary habitats utilized by Montezuma quail is pinyon–juniper (Pinus spp.–Juniperus spp.) woodlands. Throughout many areas of the southwestern United States, pinyon–juniper woodlands are often targeted for thinning projects. Many studies have been conducted on the amount of canopy cover needed by other quail species. However, data on characteristics of …

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A Presence-Absence Survey To Monitor Montezuma Quail In Western Texas, Cristela Gonzalez Sanders, Fidel Hernández, Leonard A. Brennan, Andrew N. Tri, Robert Perez Nov 2017

A Presence-Absence Survey To Monitor Montezuma Quail In Western Texas, Cristela Gonzalez Sanders, Fidel Hernández, Leonard A. Brennan, Andrew N. Tri, Robert Perez

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Developing an effective monitoring program for Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) is challenging because the technique must be practical for surveying vast, remote landscapes while accounting for the species’ low detectability. We used call-back surveys within a presence–absence framework to estimate occupancy and detection probability of Montezuma quail and used this information in conjunction with habitat data to develop an estimated probability of occurrence map for the species. We established survey points at 4 sites in western Texas (n = 20–30 points/site) and conducted 5 repeat surveys/season during June–August 2007 and 2008. We documented abiotic conditions (temperature, time …

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Survival Demographics Of Montezuma Quail In Southeast Arizona, Pedro M. Chavarria, Nova J. Silvy, Roel R. Lopez, Donald S. Davis, Angel Montoya Nov 2017

Survival Demographics Of Montezuma Quail In Southeast Arizona, Pedro M. Chavarria, Nova J. Silvy, Roel R. Lopez, Donald S. Davis, Angel Montoya

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Many facets of Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae mearnsi) population dynamics, such as survival and causes of mortality, are unknown because of limited or lack of mark–recapture studies on wild populations of this species. Much of what is known about this species comes from casual observations in the field or from dog-assisted flush-count surveys. Further insight into rate and causes of mortality for this species is necessary to ensure proper conservation measures. We evaluated survival and causes of mortality of Montezuma quail in southeastern Arizona from winter 2007 to spring 2010. Survival was determined from quail captured, radiotagged, and …

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Ranges And Movements Of Montezuma Quail In Southeast Arizona, Pedro M. Chavarria, Nova J. Silvy, Roel R. Lopez, Donald S. Davis, Angel Montoya Nov 2017

Ranges And Movements Of Montezuma Quail In Southeast Arizona, Pedro M. Chavarria, Nova J. Silvy, Roel R. Lopez, Donald S. Davis, Angel Montoya

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Historical assumptions about Montezuma quail movements and home ranges at the population level are limited due to the lack of markrecapture studies on this species from which solid conclusions can be derived. Such information is crucial for estimating population sizes, densities, and rate of emigration and immigration throughout the landscape. Our study examined home range size of 29 Montezuma quail and movements of 65 quail in southeast Arizona from 2008–2010. We used radio telemetry to follow radio-tagged birds in 3 study sites that varied in vegetation composition and topography. Mean home range size (MCP) was about was similar (51 ha) …

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Population Trends And A Revised Management Plan For Quail In California, Katherine S. Miller, Matt G. Meshriy, Scott S. Gardner Nov 2017

Population Trends And A Revised Management Plan For Quail In California, Katherine S. Miller, Matt G. Meshriy, Scott S. Gardner

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

California supports a diversity of habitats suitable for mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus), California quail (Callipepla californica), and Gambel’s quail (Callipepla gambelii). These three species require different habitats for foraging, nesting and brood-rearing, and overwinter survival, yet most published information focuses on California quail. Currently the state-wide surveys for quail are limited to the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. We used BBS data (1970–2013) to create abundance maps for quail throughout California. We developed 5-year averages to account for boom-and-bust cycles, and then established 100 random points for …

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Evaluation Of Population Indices And Estimators For Scaled Quail In The Rolling Plains Of Texas, Bradley Kubečka, John T. Edwards, Fidel Hernández, Dale Rollins Nov 2017

Evaluation Of Population Indices And Estimators For Scaled Quail In The Rolling Plains Of Texas, Bradley Kubečka, John T. Edwards, Fidel Hernández, Dale Rollins

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Accurate and precise population indices and estimators are important to gain reliable knowledge and make appropriate management decisions. Indices and estimators for scaled quail (Callipepla squamata), however, have not been evaluated thoroughly. Our objectives are to compare relationships among 8 years of roadside counts, spring call counts, and mark-recapture data obtained from the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch in Fisher County, TX, USA. Furthermore, we assess the efficacy of distance-based helicopter surveys as a method for scaled quail density estimates as compared to mark-recapture estimates for 2016–2017.

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Effect Of Meso-Mammal Nest Predator Activity On Northern Bobwhite Nest Success, Alexander L. Jackson, William E. Palmer, D. Clay Sisson, Theron M. Terhune Ii, James A. Martin Nov 2017

Effect Of Meso-Mammal Nest Predator Activity On Northern Bobwhite Nest Success, Alexander L. Jackson, William E. Palmer, D. Clay Sisson, Theron M. Terhune Ii, James A. Martin

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Perceived changes in predator-prey dynamics along with documented declines of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) have created a renewed interest from biologists and managers about the role meso-mammals play in shaping bobwhite population trajectories. As part of a larger effort to understand this predator-prey relationship, we evaluated meso-mammal activity on sites where bobwhite demographic data was simultaneously being collected via radio- telemetry. During 1999–2006 we conducted 66 meso-mammal activity surveys using scent stations on 16 sites in 3 southeastern states (Florida, Georgia, and Alabama). We calculated an index of meso-mammal activity (PI), for each site, as the average number …

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Habitat, Climate, And Raptors As Factors In The Northern Bobwhite Decline: A Multi-Scale Analysis, John T. Edwards, Fidel Hernández, David B. Wester, Leonard A. Brennan, Chad Parent, Robert Perez Nov 2017

Habitat, Climate, And Raptors As Factors In The Northern Bobwhite Decline: A Multi-Scale Analysis, John T. Edwards, Fidel Hernández, David B. Wester, Leonard A. Brennan, Chad Parent, Robert Perez

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Landscape-level processes such as habitat loss and fragmentation are primarily responsible for the declines in northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). These landscape processes generally occur at a scale beyond that of traditional quail studies and may involve not only habitat loss and fragmentation but also broad-scale changes in climate trends and predation risk. However, reductions in usable space and changes in habitat configuration at smaller scales may also reduce population viability. It is therefore imperative to study relationships to bobwhite populations at multiple scales. The objective of our research is to quantify to what extent habitat loss and fragmentation, …

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Landscape Features Affecting Northern Bobwhite Predator-Specific Nest Failures In Southeastern Usa, Susan N. Ellis-Felege, Shannon E. Albeke, Nathan P. Nibbelink, Michael J. Conroy, D. Clay Sisson, William E. Palmer, John P. Carroll Nov 2017

Landscape Features Affecting Northern Bobwhite Predator-Specific Nest Failures In Southeastern Usa, Susan N. Ellis-Felege, Shannon E. Albeke, Nathan P. Nibbelink, Michael J. Conroy, D. Clay Sisson, William E. Palmer, John P. Carroll

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Nest predation is a critical component in avian productivity and typically is the leading cause of nest failure for most birds. Several landscape features are thought to drive the behavioral interaction between northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; e.g., nest placement) and their predators (e.g., search methods for food acquisition). In order to understand habitat characteristics influencing predation, we studied bobwhite nests using 24-hour near-infrared video cameras. We monitored 675 bobwhite nests with cameras on 3 properties in northern Florida and southern Georgia, USA, during 2000–2006. To test the association between nest failures and specific failure causes with landscape structure, …

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Impacts Of Red Imported Fire Ants On Northern Bobwhite Nest Survival, Angelina M. Haines, D. Clay Sisson, Robert A. Gitzen, Christopher A. Lepczyk, William E. Palmer, Theron M. Terhune Ii Nov 2017

Impacts Of Red Imported Fire Ants On Northern Bobwhite Nest Survival, Angelina M. Haines, D. Clay Sisson, Robert A. Gitzen, Christopher A. Lepczyk, William E. Palmer, Theron M. Terhune Ii

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Invasive species are a large management issue because of extensive environmental and economic damage. The red imported fire ant (RIFA, Solenopsis invicta) is an invasive species of growing concern in wildlife management in the United States because of its increasing distribution, difficulty to suppress, and aggressive predation on native invertebrates, herpetofauna, birds, and small mammals. Managers of the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) have questioned the direct impact of RIFA on bobwhite nest success, particularly the factors that might influence the level of nest predation. We hypothesized that RIFA predation on northern bobwhite would vary by location and …

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Use Of Extinguish Plus™ To Reduce Red Imported Fire Ants And Increase Northern Bobwhite Abundance, James W. Caldwell, Nova J. Silvy, Roel R. Lopez, Fred E. Smeins, Michael E. Morrow, Brian L. Pierce, Israel D. Parker Nov 2017

Use Of Extinguish Plus™ To Reduce Red Imported Fire Ants And Increase Northern Bobwhite Abundance, James W. Caldwell, Nova J. Silvy, Roel R. Lopez, Fred E. Smeins, Michael E. Morrow, Brian L. Pierce, Israel D. Parker

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Populations of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) have been declining throughout Texas since at least the 1970s. The red imported fire ant (RIFA, Solenopsis invicta) was introduced from South America and reached Texas by the 1950s. Previous studies have documented the negative effects of RIFA on northern bobwhite populations through both direct predation and indirect reduction of small invertebrates. In 2013, 2014, and 2015, large areas (1,490 ha in 2013 and 2,380 ha in 2014 and 2015) of the 3,744-ha portion of the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge (APCNWR) in Colorado County, Texas, were aerially treated with …

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A Brief History Of Insecticides And Quail, Amanda Gobeli, Caitlin Thompson, Kelly S. Reyna Nov 2017

A Brief History Of Insecticides And Quail, Amanda Gobeli, Caitlin Thompson, Kelly S. Reyna

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Humans have employed chemical methods of pest control since the earliest days of agriculture and these substances have affected native wildlife, including quail and other gamebirds (Galliformes), to varying degrees. Several quail species have experienced steep population declines over the past several decades and insecticides may be a contributing factor. Quail are also known to use agricultural habitat for nesting and foraging purposes and are therefore likely to encounter elevated levels of insecticidal chemicals in the soil, vegetation, and insect biomass in that environment. The first commercially available insecticides appeared in the early 1900s with the introduction of arsenic-based compounds …

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Free-Ranging, Northern Bobwhite Submissions To The Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (1982-2015), Roger Applegate, Richard W. Gerhold Jr., Heather Fenton, John R. Fischer Nov 2017

Free-Ranging, Northern Bobwhite Submissions To The Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (1982-2015), Roger Applegate, Richard W. Gerhold Jr., Heather Fenton, John R. Fischer

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

There are concerns regarding population declines of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) over the past 4 decades (Palmer et al. 2011). Infectious and noninfectious diseases are among the limiting factors that potentially influence bobwhite demographics (Applegate 2014). The last update of diseases of bobwhite was presented at the Second National Quail Symposium in 1982 (Davidson et al. 1982). Since that report, scientists at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) have examined 133 wild bobwhites from 13 states. The SCWDS is a cooperative between states and the University of Georgia and obtains cases from the cooperating states. In this …

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Geographic Survey Of Oxyspirura Petrowi Among Wild Northern Bobwhites In The United States, Bradley Kubečka, Andrea Bruno, Dale Rollins Nov 2017

Geographic Survey Of Oxyspirura Petrowi Among Wild Northern Bobwhites In The United States, Bradley Kubečka, Andrea Bruno, Dale Rollins

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Eyeworms (Oxyspirura petrowi) are potentially associated with northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) declines. We examined hunter-donated bobwhites from the 2013–2015 hunting seasons in 9 states to document infection prevalence (% of bobwhites [of total n]) and intensity (mean no. of eyeworms ± SE). Four states harbored infected bobwhites: Texas (59.1% [n = 110], 15.6 ± 2.1), Oklahoma (52.1% [n = 121], 6.9 ± 1.2), Virginia (14.8% [n = 27], 2.5 ± 1.0), and Alabama (1.6% [n = 61], 2.0). Prevalence and intensity of eyeworms in the Texas Rolling Plains were greater ( …

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Genetic Structure Of Northern Bobwhite In The Rolling Plains, Peter E. Schlichting, Melanie Murphy, Byron R. Buckley, C. Brad Dabbert Nov 2017

Genetic Structure Of Northern Bobwhite In The Rolling Plains, Peter E. Schlichting, Melanie Murphy, Byron R. Buckley, C. Brad Dabbert

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

The recent declines in northern bobwhite quail populations in the Rolling Plains of Texas have raised concerns about habitat connectivity and gene flow. In addition, bobwhites have several life history traits that make them likely to display high levels of spatial genetic structure including low survival, high reproductive rates, and low dispersal rates. To determine if populations within the Rolling Plains have limited gene flow, we investigated the genetic structure of northern bobwhites within the ecoregion. Blood samples were collected at 16 ranches, encompassing 22 million acres, between February 2010 and April 2013. Bobwhites were also samples at a ranch …

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Comparing The Accuracy Of Egg Candling And Egg Flotation To Estimate The Hatching Date Of Northern Bobwhite Clutches, Byron R. Buckley, Alicia K. Andes, C. Brad Dabbert Nov 2017

Comparing The Accuracy Of Egg Candling And Egg Flotation To Estimate The Hatching Date Of Northern Bobwhite Clutches, Byron R. Buckley, Alicia K. Andes, C. Brad Dabbert

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Floating and candling avian eggs to assess hatch dates has been used successfully to estimate hatch dates for wild bird clutches for decades. However, there is a dearth of information assessing the accuracy of these techniques to estimate northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) hatch dates. We captured and fitted a hen bobwhites with very high frequency transmitters during January and February of 2011–2012. We monitored each bird twice weekly until nesting was initiated. We searched for the nest while the hen was away from the nest (i.e., feeding) to reduce potential abandonment. We used egg floatation and egg candling …

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Using First Passage Time Analysis To Identify Foraging Patterns Of The Northern Bobwhite, Diana J. Mcgrath, Theron M. Terhune Ii, James A. Martin Nov 2017

Using First Passage Time Analysis To Identify Foraging Patterns Of The Northern Bobwhite, Diana J. Mcgrath, Theron M. Terhune Ii, James A. Martin

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Patterns in movement data can reveal important information relating environmental variables to behavioral mechanisms. First passage time analysis (hereafter; FPT) can be used to quantify the spatial and temporal variation in movements by identifying areas of restricted search behavior based on measuring residence time in an area. It is applicable in studies of foraging ecology and habitat selection because it can empirically quantify behavioral decisions without any a priori assumptions of habitat availability. Furthermore, FPT analysis is simple to implement and interpret; however, the technique has yet to be applied to the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus, hereafter bobwhite) …

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Effect Of Temperature And Wind On Metabolism Of Northern Bobwhite In Winter, L. Wes Burger Jr., Thomas V. Dailey, Mark R. Ryan, Eric Kurzejeski Nov 2017

Effect Of Temperature And Wind On Metabolism Of Northern Bobwhite In Winter, L. Wes Burger Jr., Thomas V. Dailey, Mark R. Ryan, Eric Kurzejeski

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) are widely distributed across more than half of the United States, and extending into Canada and Mexico. Within this distribution they tolerate a wide range of climatic conditions and thermal stress. Annual variation in weather can produce dramatic short-term population fluctuations, particularly in the northern portion of the distribution. To better understand effects of thermal stress on energy requirements of bobwhite, we measured roosting metabolic response to cold stress and wind speed using open respirometry in a closed-circuit wind tunnel. Oxygen consumption was measured for 8 winter-acclimated captive bobwhites at each of 8 temperatures …

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Genetic Diversity And Relatedness Within And Among Northern Bobwhite Coveys In South Texas, Katherine S. Miller, Leonard A. Brennan, Randy W. Deyoung, Fidel Hernández, X. Ben Wu Nov 2017

Genetic Diversity And Relatedness Within And Among Northern Bobwhite Coveys In South Texas, Katherine S. Miller, Leonard A. Brennan, Randy W. Deyoung, Fidel Hernández, X. Ben Wu

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Although biologists have studied northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) genetic diversity and population structure, there is little known about the genetic diversity, structure, and relatedness of their winter coveys. Both flexible mating strategies and the fall shuffle may have implications for inbreeding and genetic diversity in northern bobwhite populations. Our goal was to determine genetic diversity and relatedness for coveys on a private ranch in Jim Hogg County in South Texas. During the 2010–2011 and 2011–2012 hunting seasons, 96 northern bobwhites were sampled from 29 coveys. We analyzed 11 northern bobwhite microsatellite DNA loci, measured genetic structure with an …

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Effect Of Field Trials On Northern Bobwhite Survival And Hunt Quality On Dixie Plantation, D. Clay Sisson, Theron M. Terhune Ii Nov 2017

Effect Of Field Trials On Northern Bobwhite Survival And Hunt Quality On Dixie Plantation, D. Clay Sisson, Theron M. Terhune Ii

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

The potential negative effects of horseback field trials on survival and post trial hunting quality of northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) have long been debated. Recent acquisition of Dixie Plantation (3,650 ha) by Tall Timbers Research Station provided a unique opportunity to evaluate this interaction as Dixie has been home to the Continental Field Trial since 1937. We monitored radio-tagged bobwhites annually (n = 183; ~20 coveys during fall/winter) on a core study area (640 ha) upon which a portion of the field trial was conducted during January 2015 & 2016. We estimated Kaplan-Meier survival of radio-tagged bobwhites …

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Evaluating The Impacts Of Hunting Paths On Northern Bobwhite Survival, Economic Costs, And Hunter Satisfaction, Seth Wood, Theron M. Terhune Ii, James A. Martin Nov 2017

Evaluating The Impacts Of Hunting Paths On Northern Bobwhite Survival, Economic Costs, And Hunter Satisfaction, Seth Wood, Theron M. Terhune Ii, James A. Martin

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

The amount and spatial configuration of habitat is known to influence the abundance, movements, resource use, and persistence of many species. As such, land managers must be judicious in their application of management actions to minimize its impact on wildlife while concurrently providing recreational opportunities. Mowing or roller-chopping is a common management technique implemented on intensively managed northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) plantations to increase hunter accessibility, provide travel corridors for pointing dogs, manage vegetation succession, among other benefits. Managers typically create hunting paths in a grid pattern at 30 ft spacing resulting in approximately 35% of vegetation removed …

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Refining The Hunting Zone Of Hunter-Covey Interface Models, James A. Martin, Diana J. Mcgrath, Seth Wood, Theron M. Terhune Ii Nov 2017

Refining The Hunting Zone Of Hunter-Covey Interface Models, James A. Martin, Diana J. Mcgrath, Seth Wood, Theron M. Terhune Ii

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Regulating harvest is important to sustain northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations. Direct measures to control harvest such as setting fixed proportions (i.e., percent of fall population) are not typically feasible, thus, indirect measures (e.g., managing access, season length) are more commonly used. However, these measures are predicated on relationships between hunter effort and kill rate (K) which is a function of several parameters including: the probability of encountering a covey (p), where p is a function of the effective area hunted (a) divided by that available (A). Thus, a, …

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Evaluating Hunting Success Of Pen-Reared And Wild Northern Bobwhite In A Reclaimed Kentucky Mineland, Jeremy P. Orange, John M. Yeiser, Danna L. Baxley, John J. Morgan, Ben A. Robinson Nov 2017

Evaluating Hunting Success Of Pen-Reared And Wild Northern Bobwhite In A Reclaimed Kentucky Mineland, Jeremy P. Orange, John M. Yeiser, Danna L. Baxley, John J. Morgan, Ben A. Robinson

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) have experienced severe population declines across their distribution. In order to address population declines and to continue providing hunting opportunities, multi-state efforts have been undertaken to stabilize and restore bobwhite populations. Ongoing efforts using the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative’s quail focus area approach have so far demonstrated success throughout Kentucky. However, population increases in the Peabody Bobwhite Focal Area, in western Kentucky, have not been correlated to increases in perceived hunter success. Consequently, some sportsmen question the effectiveness of focal area conservation. In response to hunter concerns, we tested dog hunting ability with wild …

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Factors Influencing Northern Bobwhite Hunter Success On A Public Wildlife Management Area In Kentucky, Jarred M. Brooke, John J. Morgan, Danna L. Baxley, Craig Harper, Pat Keyser Nov 2017

Factors Influencing Northern Bobwhite Hunter Success On A Public Wildlife Management Area In Kentucky, Jarred M. Brooke, John J. Morgan, Danna L. Baxley, Craig Harper, Pat Keyser

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Hunter success is a critical measure of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) restoration. Understanding the factors influencing hunter success can guide wildlife agencies in efforts to improve success and satisfaction and sustain hunter support of conservation initiatives. We compared use of vegetation types by radiomarked bobwhite (n = 30 coveys) and hunting dogs (n = 241) equipped with Global Positioning System collars during the 2014–2015 quail hunting season on Peabody Wildlife Management Area in western Kentucky. We surveyed hunting parties (n = 252) immediately after their hunt to determine success (flushed bobwhite) and gather hunt-party characteristics. …

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Hunter-Covey Interactions Using Pointing Bird Dogs, Theron M. Terhune Ii, Diana J. Mcgrath, Seth Wood, James A. Martin Nov 2017

Hunter-Covey Interactions Using Pointing Bird Dogs, Theron M. Terhune Ii, Diana J. Mcgrath, Seth Wood, James A. Martin

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Hunting northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) with pointing dogs is a long-standing tradition in the Southeastern United States. Despite this rich hunting legacy, a paucity of empirical, behavioral information exists on the interaction between bobwhite coveys, pointing dogs and humans. As such, the efficiency of using pointing dogs to locate bobwhite coveys or an individual covey’s behavioral response to hunting is poorly understood. During 2013 – 2015, we conducted hunts (n = 192) by mode of foot on Tall Timbers Research Station (TTRS, ~1,570 ha) in Leon County, Florida and horseback on a private property (2,023 ha) in …

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Distance Sampling To Assess Post-Grazing Northern Bobwhite Recovery In South Texas, Rachel A. Smith, Leonard A. Brennan, Fidel Hernández, Humberto L. Perotto-Baldivieso Nov 2017

Distance Sampling To Assess Post-Grazing Northern Bobwhite Recovery In South Texas, Rachel A. Smith, Leonard A. Brennan, Fidel Hernández, Humberto L. Perotto-Baldivieso

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) require habitat structure with substantial grass cover for nesting, predator avoidance, and thermal refuge. During the past 2 decades, many land managers have reduced or completely eliminated livestock across South Texas rangelands with the goal of improving bobwhite habitat. How bobwhites respond to post-grazing habitat recovery is unknown. Our objective is to investigate how bobwhites respond to the vegetative changes following removal of grazing. Our study is being conducted on a private ranch in Jim Hogg County, Texas and involves 3 different areas of post-grazing habitat recovery: a 1,246 ha area rested from grazing …

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The Efficacy Of Gopro Cameras To Account For Northern Bobwhites Flushed, But Undetected During Aerial Surveys, Andrea Bruno, Leonard A. Brennan, Andrew N. Tri, Habin Su Nov 2017

The Efficacy Of Gopro Cameras To Account For Northern Bobwhites Flushed, But Undetected During Aerial Surveys, Andrea Bruno, Leonard A. Brennan, Andrew N. Tri, Habin Su

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Estimating density and abundance is central to wildlife conservation for planning and decision-making purposes. Development of model-based techniques, such as distance sampling, allows researchers to estimate density with the inclusion of detection probabilities. However, the reliability of estimates obtained through this method are dependent upon the satisfaction of underlying assumptions, the most critical being that objects at zero distance from the observer be detected with 100% certainty. Conventional distance sampling, where line transects are traversed from an aerial platform, is a commonly used method to estimate northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) density over large, open areas. The restricted observer …

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Comparison Of Dog Surveys And Fall Covey Surveys In Estimating Fall Population Trends Of Northern Bobwhite, Evan P. Tanner, R. Dwayne Elmore, David K. Dahlgren, Craig A. Davis, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf Nov 2017

Comparison Of Dog Surveys And Fall Covey Surveys In Estimating Fall Population Trends Of Northern Bobwhite, Evan P. Tanner, R. Dwayne Elmore, David K. Dahlgren, Craig A. Davis, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

The use of fall covey surveys to monitor population trends for northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter bobwhite) have been widely used in bobwhite research. Estimates of relative abundance from this monitoring technique are often important in assessing population responses to management practices or annual variation. However, conducting covey call surveys is labor intensive and typically can only be conducted during a narrow time frame. The use of dogs as a research tool may offer an efficient alternative to monitor bobwhite population trends. While dogs have been used in research for many other gallinaceous species, their application for bobwhite …

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Retention And Efficacy Of Citizen Scientist Volunteers Of The Texas Quail Index, Kelly S. Reyna, Dale Rollins Nov 2017

Retention And Efficacy Of Citizen Scientist Volunteers Of The Texas Quail Index, Kelly S. Reyna, Dale Rollins

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

The Texas Quail Index (TQI) was a 5-year, science-based project that utilized citizen scientists to collect data in the field, including 5 indices of bobwhite abundance in the spring, and 3 indices of bobwhite abundance in the fall. Over the course of the study, 84% of all volunteers dropped out of the program and <8% of all data sets were complete. Accordingly, we surveyed the volunteers by mail to determine the rate and cause of participation decline and to identify characteristics of a reliable volunteer. Results indicated that annual volunteer participation rate declined more rapidly as time and labor requirements increased. Similarly, 74.3% of survey respondents who dropped out of the study reported leaving because the project required too much time and work. Motives may have contributed to the volunteer attrition as 72% of volunteers joined the program to learn more about quail management; however 71% of those that left the program reported not gaining knowledge in that area. We recommend that project designs, for citizen-science projects, should incorporate the motives of volunteers and recruit those whose motives best align with project goals. We also recommend that citizen-science coordinators keep volunteer tasks short and within the interest of the volunteer, to increase retention. Finally, we recommend stipends for volunteers on large-scale, laborious projects.

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Use Of Spring Whistle Counts To Predict Northern Bobwhite Relative Abundance, D. Clay Sisson, Theron M. Terhune Ii Nov 2017

Use Of Spring Whistle Counts To Predict Northern Bobwhite Relative Abundance, D. Clay Sisson, Theron M. Terhune Ii

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Spring whistle counts are commonly used to index northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) breeding populations and make inference about relative autumn abundance. They are relatively cheap and easy to implement and provide the advantage of surveying bobwhite populations from multiple points daily and early in the year. This could prove useful on properties available for potential lease, purchase, or as translocation sites; as well as to monitor population trends. Our objective was to determine whether spring whistle counts reliably forecast autumn covey numbers on a wide range of sites, years, and densities on 6 properties in southwestern Georgia from …

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