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Decline of the Northern Bobwhite Quail Population

Decline of the Northern Bobwhite Quail Population. Michael R. Norman Undergraduate, Wildlife and Fisheries Science, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 38505, USA. Introduction. Since the late nineteenth century bobwhite populations have been declining.

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Decline of the Northern Bobwhite Quail Population

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  1. Decline of the Northern Bobwhite Quail Population Michael R. Norman Undergraduate, Wildlife and Fisheries Science, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 38505, USA.

  2. Introduction • Since the late nineteenth century bobwhite populations have been declining. • Even today, with an array of management efforts across the bobwhite’s range, populations are still declining in North America (Guthery et al. 2000). • The reason for this decline can not be contributed to a single cause. • However, the main factor is considered by many professionals to be the loss of habitat.

  3. Objective /Hypothesis • The objective of this experiment is to observe fields, A and B, to determine which field produces the highest number of quail. • My hypothesis is that quail will prefer field A over field B, because of the native warm season grasses (NWSG) planted for quality habitat.

  4. Methods and Materials • Basic observation is the primary tool for this experiment to obtain the needed data to develop this research. • I will walk a straight line at a distance of 15 feet from the edge of the field then moving in toward the center of the field keeping the same distance. • This method should flush the quail and I will record the number seen per field. • The experiment will be conducted for both fields on different days however, the same time period and similar weather patterns will be used.

  5. Results • To determine the experimental data, the fields were observed for a total of six days, three days per field. • The data provided enough information to prove that quail preferred field A, due to the native warm season grasses.

  6. Results cont. • Furthermore, the data collected emphasizes that native warm season grasses establishes a more suitable habitat for quail.

  7. Discussion • The goal of habitat management for bobwhites should be to make all points on an area usable by bobwhites at all times (Guthery 1997). • The conversion of fescue to native warm season grass (NWSG) is one of the leading practices in bobwhite management. • Tall fescue does not provide escape, nesting, feeding, or brood rearing habitat for bobwhites because it lacks bare ground and vertical structure (Stoddard 1931, Barnes et al. 1995). • Seeds of tall fescue alone do not meet the nutrient requirements for growing or breeding bobwhites (Barnes et al. 1995, Madison et al. 1995). • Native warm season grasses are considered to be good for wildlife (Peterson 2002). • They are clump grasses and allow enough bare ground to support sufficient escape, feeding, nesting, and brood rearing habitat for northern bobwhite.

  8. Conclusion • This experiment was done on a small scale, however it still emphasizes the need to establish suitable habitat. • Eradicate any existing fescue and allow to regrow in native grasses and weeds (Peterson 2002).

  9. Questions?

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