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Managing Longleaf Pine Forests for Bobwhite Quail

Managing Longleaf Pine Forests for Bobwhite Quail. Claude L. Jenkins Certified Wildlife Biologist Alabama Wildlife Federation. Quail: A Longleaf Associate. Historic Landscape. Complex landscape Large scale. Modern Landscape. Natural system replaced with production system on large scale

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Managing Longleaf Pine Forests for Bobwhite Quail

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  1. Managing Longleaf Pine Forests for Bobwhite Quail Claude L. Jenkins Certified Wildlife Biologist Alabama Wildlife Federation

  2. Quail: A Longleaf Associate

  3. Historic Landscape • Complex landscape • Large scale

  4. Modern Landscape • Natural system replaced with production system on large scale • Elimination of fire • Loss of herbaceous ground cover • Hardwood midstory development

  5. Habitat • Essential resources consistent with bobwhite adaptations required for survival and reproductive success • Includes both living and non-living components of the environment

  6. Habitat Requirements

  7. Spatial Diversity • Interspersion • Intermixing of different habitat types • High degree of interspersion • Influences potential habitat quality • Juxtaposition • Measure of the proximity of year-round habitat

  8. Forest Structure • Open canopy (40-60% open) • Absence of midstory hardwoods • Herbaceous ground cover • Scattered understory woody/shrub cover

  9. Forest Structure • Provide the habitat context for quail and quail predators • Longleaf management should seek to maximize habitat space and minimize risk of predation • Historically was accomplished by land use and natural processes • Today, it must be planned

  10. Vegetation Structure Dense enough to provide protection from predators Not too dense to impede movement Maintain with fire in longleaf systems

  11. Longleaf for Quail • Open canopy • Burn early, often and throughout rotation • Habitat retention throughout rotation • Fire is the key

  12. Fire Ecology

  13. Fire Effects • Reduces litter accumulation • Creates bare ground • Sets back plant succession • Inhibits woody invasion • Stimulates germination of grasses, forbs, and legumes • Increases insect production • Creates mosaic of plant communities

  14. “Firebird”

  15. Fire Considerations • Frequency • 2 to 3 year return interval • Season • Growing season better at controlling hardwoods • Less important than frequency • Extent • 50 to 70% • Burn pattern ReturnInterval Habitat Quality

  16. Burn Pattern Complete burn Patchy burn

  17. Longleaf Pine Habitat Restoration Project Partners: Alabama Wildlife Federation +National Wildlife Federation PH: 334.285.4550 Email: cjenkins@alabamawildlife.org

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