Montezuma Quail In The Edwards Plateau Of Texas: Detection, Occurrence, And Habitat,
2022
Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
Montezuma Quail In The Edwards Plateau Of Texas: Detection, Occurrence, And Habitat, Zachary J. Pearson, Eric D. Grahmann, Fidel Hernández, Robert Perez, Leonard A. Brennan, Humberto L. Perotto-Baldivieso
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) were historically found throughout nearly every county in the Edwards Plateau region of Texas, USA. Over the last century, shifting land use, reduction of fire on the landscape, and the subsequent encroachment of woody vegetation have constricted the distribution of Montezuma quail to a few counties in the southern portion of the Edwards Plateau. A renewed interest in management for Montezuma quail over the last decade has been met with a lack of information regarding their habitat requirements in this region. This lack of general information and increased sightings of this elusive species in …
Monitoring Scaled Quail Occupancy And Colonization Post-Translocation On A Large Landscape,
2022
Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation
Monitoring Scaled Quail Occupancy And Colonization Post-Translocation On A Large Landscape, Rebekah E. Ruzicka, Dale Rollins
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
Large landscapes are important for sustaining quail populations in semiarid climates where annual variation in vital rates, and thus population volatility, tends to be larger than in subtropical climates. Translocations may need to be conducted on a similar scale to ensure long-term success. Large landscapes pose challenges for monitoring release sites in terms of costs and logistics. However, large landscapes also provide an excellent opportunity to evaluate habitat preferences and suitability because they inherently hold more variation in habitat type. Multiseason occupancy surveys are a potential monitoring tool for translocations where population persistence is a benchmark for success. Occupancy (i.e., …
Evaluating Release Strategy For Translocated Northern Bobwhites In Cross Timbers Ecoregion Of Texas: A Pilot Study,
2022
Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation
Evaluating Release Strategy For Translocated Northern Bobwhites In Cross Timbers Ecoregion Of Texas: A Pilot Study, Rebekah E. Ruzicka, Dale Rollins, Ty Bartoskewitz
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) population decline is largely driven by the loss, fragmentation, and degradation of grassland habitats. Translocation is used to reintroduce or augment populations in fragmented landscapes where natural dispersal is inhibited. Northern bobwhites have been successfully translocated in the southeastern portion of their range, but outcomes of translocations in western ranges have been mixed. Our objective was to conduct a pilot study to test the feasibility of translocating northern bobwhites to a restored, but isolated, habitat in the Cross Timbers ecoregion of Texas, USA and to evaluate the influence of release strategy for improving northern …
Stress And Predation Impacts On North American Quail Translocations,
2022
Texas A&M University Commerce
Stress And Predation Impacts On North American Quail Translocations, Curt A. Vandenberg, Sarah A. Currier, Jeffrey G. Whitt, Kelly S. Reyna
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
Translocations have been used in attempts to bolster or restore native quail populations for >150 years, often with little success. However, with some northeastern United States quail populations undetectable or extirpated, and others across the United States on the extreme decline, translocation as a tool for quail population restoration is becoming increasingly popular. Two factors contributing to translocation failure are physiological stress and predation. Chronic stress associated with translocations can result in weight loss, reduced immune system function, suppressed reproduction, and an altered fight-or-flight response. These stress-induced responses increase vulnerability to predation, the primary cause of quail mortality. Here, we …
Translocating Wild California Valley Quail To Texas: An Evaluation Of Survival, Dispersal, Tracking Efficacy, And Roost Preference,
2022
Texas A&M University Commerce
Translocating Wild California Valley Quail To Texas: An Evaluation Of Survival, Dispersal, Tracking Efficacy, And Roost Preference, Garrett Rushing, Jordan T. Conley, Jeffrey G. Whitt, Kelly S. Reyna
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
Quail translocations are becoming increasingly popular in regions of suitable habitat where local quail populations have declined. In northeastern Texas, USA, northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations have drastically declined for over a century and have reached undetectable levels in many areas. As a result, the number of quail hunters and quail conservation funding have also declined. California valley quail (Callipepla californica; hereafter, valley quail) have increased across their range and have been translocated to many states and countries. Thus, the goal of this study was to determine whether translocating wild valley quail to Texas was feasible, …
Highly Variable Autumn Calling Rates Of Northern Bobwhite Following Translocation,
2022
Tarleton State University
Highly Variable Autumn Calling Rates Of Northern Bobwhite Following Translocation, John Palarski, Shelby Simons, Bradley W. Kubečka, Theron M. Terhune Ii, Greg Hagan
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
Fall covey counts are a popular index for monitoring population trends of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter, bobwhite), but their utility is tenuous under different scenarios. Detecting an individual covey is the product of the probability that the covey’s activity center is located within the sampling frame, the probability the covey is located within the sampling frame during the sampling periods, the probability of the covey vocalizing, and the probability an observer will detect a calling covey. Researchers attempt to maximize detection or account for these potential sources of error using standardized protocol of limiting counts to certain …
Survival, Movement, And Habitat Use Of Translocated Northern Bobwhite In Texas,
2022
Texas A&M University - College Station
Survival, Movement, And Habitat Use Of Translocated Northern Bobwhite In Texas, Ricardo Cagigal Perez, Nova J. Silvy, Brian L. Pierce, Therese A. Catanach
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
For decades there has been a noticeable decline in northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter, bobwhite) populations. Few studies have assessed the survival of translocated bobwhite. We evaluated the effectiveness of reintroduction of bobwhite into the Texas (USA) Parks and Wildlife Department’s Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area (GEWMA), where they had been extirpated but now have suitable habitat. Before reintroduction, GEWMA was surveyed (spring call counts) to make sure no bobwhite were present. Forty-six bobwhite were trapped from March–April 2019 in South Texas, banded, bled, radio-tagged, transported to GEWMA, and released. In addition, 17 bobwhite were trapped banded, bled, …
Effect Of Food Distribution On Northern Bobwhite Resource Selection,
2022
University of Georgia
Effect Of Food Distribution On Northern Bobwhite Resource Selection, Rachel R. Gardner, John Maerz, Theron M. Terhune Ii, Ira B. Parnell, James A. Martin
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
Supplemental feeding is a common management tactic used to increase survival and reproduction of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter, bobwhite). Different supplemental feeding methods alter the distribution of resources across a landscape in unique ways and may influence the space use and resource selection of target species differently. Predators may concentrate their movements near fed sites, and different distributions of supplemental feed may encourage bobwhite to concentrate their movements closer to feed than other areas, thereby altering the potential for predator-prey interactions near feed. We used radio-tracked locations and movements in areas with stationary feeders (“feeder fed”) and …
Impacts To Quail Space Use And Demographics From Oil And Gas Development,
2022
Texas A&M University Kingsville, Kingsville, TX
Impacts To Quail Space Use And Demographics From Oil And Gas Development, Kelsey R. Davis, Eric D. Grahmann, Fidel Hernández, Chase R. Currie, Timothy E. Fulbright, David B. Wester, Humberto L. Perotto-Baldivieso
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
Southern Texas contains some of the last relatively unfragmented habitat for northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter, bobwhite) and scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) in the United States. Development of the Eagle Ford Shale hydrocarbon formation in this region could negatively impact quail and their habitat. Our objective was to examine the indirect effects of oil and gas activity (traffic and noise) on bobwhite and scaled quail on 2 private ranches in southern Texas. In 2015 and 2016, we radio-marked bobwhite and scaled quail in 2 areas where oil and gas activity was occurring (disturbed treatment) and 2 …
Cascading Effects Of Hunting Disturbance On Northern Bobwhite Behavior, Physiology, And Survival,
2022
University of Georgia
Cascading Effects Of Hunting Disturbance On Northern Bobwhite Behavior, Physiology, And Survival, Emily Prosser, Theron M. Terhune Ii, Kristen J. Navara, Geoff Beane, James A. Martin
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
The northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter, bobwhite) is an important gamebird across the United States and has been in decline for several decades. As a commonly hunted prey species, the bobwhite provides an ideal study species to investigate the use of proactive and reactive antipredator behaviors in response to hunting pressure. We designed an experiment to understand how late-season hunting affects bobwhite demographics using fecal glucocorticoid (fGCM) concentrations, foraging and movement behaviors, survival, and breeding season metrics. Our results show that bobwhite responded to increased interactions with a shotgun through proactive responses. After one encounter with …
Avian Abundance And Diversity On Knoxville Wildlife Area In California Following The County Fire Of 2018,
2022
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Avian Abundance And Diversity On Knoxville Wildlife Area In California Following The County Fire Of 2018, Katherine S. Miller, Stacy Martinelli, Levi E. Souza
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
Wildfires can have negative impacts on wildlife during and immediately after a burn event, yet these fires are also necessary for plant succession and biodiversity. Knoxville Wildlife Area (KWA) in Napa County, California, USA is a diverse environment that contains oak woodlands, chaparral, grasslands, and riparian corridors. In July 2018, the County Fire burned 36,353 ha in the Northern California Interior Coast Ranges, including 2,429 ha on KWA. California Department of Fish and Wildlife employees used this opportunity to monitor avian abundance and diversity as the burned area revegetates. From 10 June through 14 June 2019, we began a pilot …
Northern Bobwhite Survival And Productivity In Relation To Food Supplementation,
2022
University of Georgia
Northern Bobwhite Survival And Productivity In Relation To Food Supplementation, Shelby R. Simons, Greg Hagan, Theron M. Terhune Ii, James A. Martin
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter, bobwhite) populations have experienced a 3.4% decline annually nation-wide from 1966 to 2018. Limitations on resources, such as food, can regulate population growth. Supplemental food could alleviate resource limitation by raising carrying capacity, leading to increased survival and breeding productivity. Studies have shown higher survival rates and higher nest production when food is supplemented; however, repeating experiments in different contexts allows for strong inference. Our objectives were to assess how supplemental food influenced survival and breeding productivity of resident and translocated bobwhite during a 2-year study on public lands in Leon County, Florida, …
Behavioral State-Specific Northern Bobwhite Chick Resource Selection,
2022
University of Georgia
Behavioral State-Specific Northern Bobwhite Chick Resource Selection, Justin N. Hill, Theron M. Terhune Ii, James A. Martin
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
Determining resource selection rates for all life stages of a species is critical to enable a holistic management approach that focuses on bolstering populations across all life stages. Moreover, tying these selection rates to specific life history needs (e.g., foraging, roosting, and loafing) can provide valuable information to guide management practices. Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter, bobwhite), a gallinaceous species of North America, has experienced steady population declines throughout much of its range over the last 50 years. Although the species has been well studied, chick ecology is still relatively unknown. We studied bobwhite chick resource selection on …
Measuring Multiple Demographic Rates In Two Populations Of Northern Bobwhite,
2022
Tall Timbers Research Station
Measuring Multiple Demographic Rates In Two Populations Of Northern Bobwhite, Alexander L. Jackson, D. Clay Sisson, Justin A. Rectenwald
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
Demographic rates of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter, bobwhite) may vary spatially and temporally, and understanding the significance of these individual rates to population performance is critically important to bobwhite management. We present descriptive evidence from 2 populations that were simultaneously monitored from 2015–2020 that suggests different demographic rates can be more important to population performance than other demographic rates within the same region. Our objective was to understand the relative importance of various demographic rates to population performance in separate and seemingly stable populations. We monitored bobwhite seasonal survival and reproductive demographics on 2,475 bobwhites via radio-telemetry …
Diurnal Occurrence Of Great-Horned Owls On Northern Bobwhite Hunting Properties In Southwest Georgia,
2022
Tall Timbers Research Station
Diurnal Occurrence Of Great-Horned Owls On Northern Bobwhite Hunting Properties In Southwest Georgia, Justin A. Rectenwald, Philip M. Coppola, Theron M. Terhune Ii, D. Clay Sisson, James A. Martin
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
Understanding interactions between prey species and their predators is essential to discerning the ecology and management fundamentals of a species. Great-horned owls (Bubo virginianus) have long been considered an opportunistic predator of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter, bobwhite) and recent studies have demonstrated that bobwhite survival is reduced at higher great-horned owl densities (Rectenwald et al. 2021). Managers on quail properties often mechanically remove live oak (Quercus virginiana) hammocks as part of larger predation management plans to reduce the amount of suitable predator habitat. While scattered live oaks are typically left for aesthetic purposes, …
Breeding Season Survival And Reproduction In A High-Density Bobwhite Population: A Case Study,
2022
Tall Timbers Research Station
Breeding Season Survival And Reproduction In A High-Density Bobwhite Population: A Case Study, William E. Palmer, Shane D. Wellendorf, D. Clay Sisson
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
The demographic behavior of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter, bobwhite) populations at high densities could provide important insights into why bobwhite populations fluctuate. Therefore, we documented breeding season demographics of bobwhites to understand how prebreeding density influenced reproductive effort and postbreeding density on an intensively managed property in Leon County, Florida, USA, 2002–2006. We estimated prebreeding bobwhite density each April using multi-observer strip-transects and postbreeding densities each November using covey call grid surveys. We radio-tagged 217 bobwhites in March and located bobwhites at least 5 days/week, 15 April–30 September to determine vital rates. Prebreeding density ranged from 1.5–8.6 …
Home Range And Space Use Of Northern Bobwhite Under Two Different Management Models In Southwestern Missouri,
2022
Missouri Department of Conservation
Home Range And Space Use Of Northern Bobwhite Under Two Different Management Models In Southwestern Missouri, Thomas R. Thompson, Frank L. Loncarich, R. Kyle Hedges
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter, bobwhite) management in Missouri, USA has traditionally been focused on providing an interspersion of grass, crop, old field, and woody cover juxtaposed to disked idle areas and food plots to maintain bobwhite populations. This traditional model is implemented with the goal of providing all essential habitat components within 40-acre blocks throughout a larger area used by a population. While this model can produce usable bobwhite space in agriculture-dominated landscapes, it may not be the most effective or efficient approach to producing and maintaining bobwhite in grassland-dominated landscapes. In southwestern Missouri native tallgrass prairie …
A Monitoring Program To Evaluate The Coastal Grassland Restoration Incentive Program,
2022
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
A Monitoring Program To Evaluate The Coastal Grassland Restoration Incentive Program, Stephen J. Demaso, William G. Vermillion, Mark W. Parr
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
The Gulf Coast Joint Venture (GCJV) is a regionally based, biologically driven, landscape-oriented volunteer partnership of private, state, and federal conservation organizations dedicated to the delivery of habitat important to priority bird species. The GCJV partnership’s Coastal Grassland Restoration Incentive Program (C-GRIP) provides financial incentives to private landowners for conducting habitat treatments that address the greatest limiting factor(s) to providing suitable grassland bird habitat on their property. The C-GRIP program is a way for the GCJV to deliver bird habitat to meet planning objectives for grassland birds, including northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). Our monitoring objective is to evaluate …
Results From Kentucky’S 10-Year Bobwhite Recovery Plan,
2022
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Results From Kentucky’S 10-Year Bobwhite Recovery Plan, Cody M. Rhoden, John J. Morgan, Ben A. Robinson, Gary Sprandel
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
The northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter, bobwhite) has experienced a precipitous population decline through almost all its historical range over the last 6 decades. We initiated a 10-year restoration plan in Kentucky, USA in 2008 and reported on it through 3 published “Road to Recovery” reports along with 30 peer-reviewed articles and abstracts, 2 technical documents, 7 theses or dissertations, and 11 popular literature pieces. Seven Quail Focus Areas were selected across the state based on site personnel, geographic position (east to west), and land ownership (e.g., private, public, state, federal) for monitoring and habitat management. The focus …
Lessons Learned From The First 10 Years Of The Oaks And Prairies Joint Venture’S Grassland Restoration Incentive Program (Grip),
2022
Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture & American Bird Conservancy
Lessons Learned From The First 10 Years Of The Oaks And Prairies Joint Venture’S Grassland Restoration Incentive Program (Grip), James J. Giocomo, Robert M. Perez, Kenneth Gee, Steven Riley, Derek Wiley, Anna M. Matthews, Ty Higginbotham, Amanda Haverland, Thomas S. Janke, Amber Brown, Kati Biggs, Mitchell Riggs, Taylor Daily, Charlotte Wilson, Cole Fagen, William Newman, Leah Lowe, Jonathan Hayes
National Quail Symposium Proceedings
The Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture (OPJV) was formed in 2008 as a public-private partnership of agencies and organizations working across jurisdictional boundaries in portions of Texas and Oklahoma, USA. The OPJV’s major focus is reversing declines of bird populations by supporting strategic habitat conservation (biological planning, conservation design, conservation delivery, mission-based monitoring, and assumption-driven research) for northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), grasslandobligate species, and their respective habitats. Our objective for this paper is to document and share a decade of lessons learned in developing a partnership-based native grassland conservation program to meet grassland bird conservation targets. We share …
