The Increasing Decline of the Northern Bobwhite Quail

1. The Increasing Decline of the Northern Bobwhite Quail Brad G. Daugherty, Undergraduate in Wildlife and Fisheries Science, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 38505

2. Statement of Problem • The northern bobwhite quail population has experienced a decline in the population due to the rapid declining habitat.

3. Introduction • Madison, Robel, and James (2002) reports that the northern bobwhite (Colinus viginianus) populations have been declining significantly throughout much of their North American range.

4. Introduction Cont. • Habitat development will provide a relief for bobwhite quail and other species. • Weber, Roseberry, and Wolf 2002 reports how agriculture land use initially provided excellent habitat for upland game by opening the prairies and forest, thus allowing for greater diversity of food and cover.

5. Introduction Cont. • Dimmick, Gudlin, and McKenzie 2002 tells how habitat improvements would greatly improve population numbers by increasing the amount and enhance the quality of the agriculture lands for nesting, brood-rearing, and roosting by bobwhites and other grassland species of wildlife by adding native warm season grasses and other conservation plantings such as shrubs and forbs.

6. Objective/Hypothesis • Objective: To test certain fields, field A and field B, to determine which field produces the greater number of quail per area. This will provide information to determine which types of foliage quail as well as other species prefer for food and cover plots. • Hypothesis: The final hypothesis is that quail and other bird species prefer field B than field A because the type of foliage in field A is not very suitable for quality habitat for many bird species.

7. Methods and Materials • Basic observation was the primary tool within this experiment to obtain data needed to develop this research. • The experiment started by walking in a straight line 3.048m from the edge of the field, and every 3.048m apart from here on out until reaching the other side of the field keeping count of the number of quail flushed out. • The experiment was conducted on both fields at different days but was done at the same time period on each field with similar weather patterns. • This method of data collection was modeled by the protocol used to sample bird communities (e.g., point-count surveys) (Sallabanks, Arnett, and Marzluff 2000). • Data Form

8. Results • Number of quail and dove per study area. • Number of birds in field B show a higher number than in field A.

9. Results cont. • Data collection from observation site.

10. Discussion • Dimmick, Gudlin, and McKenzie 2002 agree that projecting the habitat improvements needed to accomplish the restoration of bobwhites required developing assumptions about quail biology and demographics, delineating the current status of land use and habitat characteristics, and applying this information to develop and effective management strategy

11. Discussion Cont. • Sallabanks, Arnett, and Marzluff 2000 agree by incorporating more rigor in experimental design researchers can reduce or eliminate such factors affecting the interpretation of hypothesis tests. • Greenfield, Burger, Chamberlain, and Kurzejeski claim that to provide the results that demonstrates that bobwhite habitat management practices can enhance brood-rearing habitat.

12. Discussion Cont. • Madison, Robel, and James 2002 suggests that possible action to increase over winter survival and reduce over winter mortality of bobwhites. • Dimmick, Gudlin, and McKenzie 2002 claim that the overall goal for all wildlife management practices is to maintain the population of species at a level where there is no chance for the species to become an endangered species, and for quail the goal is to restore northern bobwhite population range wide to an average density equivalent to that which existed on improvable acres in the baseline year of 1980.

13. Summary • In order for the quail population to increase, areas must be established to provide food plots, breeding grounds, and cover for protection.

14. Any Questions ? Thank you for your attention