MOUNTAIN QUAIL TRANSLOCATIONS IN EASTERN OREGON

Transcription

1 MOUNTAIN QUAIL TRANSLOCATIONS IN EASTERN OREGON Project Report: 2004 Michael Pope 1, Faculty Research Associate Oregon State University Dave Budeau, Upland Game Bird Program Coordinator Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Dave Zalunardo, Wildlife Biologist Ochoco National Forest Rick Vetter 04 Contact Information: Nash Hall, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR Ph: popem@onid.orst.edu

2 2 Executive Summary Mountain Quail populations have declined in many areas of the western Great Basin, particularly across former ranges in southeastern Washington, western Idaho, and eastern Oregon. Strategies for restoring declining wildlife populations have been largely reactive with recovery programs typically initiated only after populations or suitable habitats reached critically low levels. Restoration plans were often implemented without a clear understanding of the life-history or habitat requirements of a species. Griffith et al. (1989) suggested conducting research and testing restoration techniques on species before populations reached crisis levels. Mountain Quail are an excellent candidate for translocations given the criteria proposed by Griffith et al. (1989). This species is highly productive with large clutches (10-12 eggs/clutch), and has a highly varied, mostly herbivorous diet. Currently, western Oregon has abundant and easily accessible populations of Mountain Quail that could be a source for re-establishing or supplementing populations in areas of eastern Oregon where populations are rare or have been extirpated. In 2001, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Game Bird Program at Oregon State University initiated a Mountain Quail translocation and research program for eastern Oregon. The goal of this project was to implement a restoration plan for Mountain Quail in eastern Oregon based on translocations of Mountain Quail from western Oregon to former ranges in eastern Oregon. A critical component of this program was the post-release monitoring of radiomarked, translocated Mountain Quail. Data from the monitoring effort will be used to refine procedures for future translocations and to evaluate the success of translocations. In winter of 2001, 69 radio-marked birds and 47 banded but un-radioed birds were translocated from southwestern Oregon to 3 sites near the south fork of the John Day River in north-central Oregon. Radio-marked Mountain Quail were monitored from early March-July 2001 to determine survival, movements, and reproductive characteristics. In winter 2002, 93 Mountain Quail captured in southwest Oregon were released in Cabin and Jackass Creeks in the Murderer s Creek Coordinated Resource Area (MCCRA) and the Maury Mountains in north-central Oregon (Jackle et al. 2002). Seventy-five of the 93 translocated quail were radio-marked and monitored until 30 July In 2003, 271 Mountain Quail were captured in southwest Oregon and released in Cabin Creek, Black Canyon, Jackass Creek, and Flat Creek in MCCRA in north-central Oregon and Fly Creek in the Deschutes National Forest (DNF), northwest of Sisters in central Oregon. Seventy-five radio-marked Mountain Quail were translocated to Fly Creek on 4 March, 8 and 15 April. Fifty-seven radio-marked Mountain Quail were translocated to Cabin Creek in MCCRA near the south fork of the John Day River on 4 March and 8 April. One hundred and thirty-nine banded (without radios) Mountain Quail were translocated to Cabin Creek, Black Canyon, Jackass Creek, Flat Creek on 4 March, 8 and 15 April. Radio-marked birds were monitored until August In spring 2004, 115 Mountain Quail were released at 2 sites in eastern Oregon. Sixty-four quail were translocated to the Deschutes National Forest and released at Fly Creek on 13 March Forty-four of the birds were radio-marked and 20 were marked only with leg bands. Fifty-one Mountain Quail were translocated to the Malheur

3 National Forest (MNF) and released at Wolf Creek northeast of Burns Oregon. Forty-five quail were radio-marked and 6 only banded. We found eleven Mountain Quail nests in the DNF and 6 in the MNF. Most of the nests were located in open sites dominated by ponderosa pine and juniper. Nine of 17 nests successfully hatched chicks. Direction and distance of movements from release sites to breeding areas was similar for birds that lived >1 May for DNF and MNF. However, during the early part of the breeding season birds in MNF made substantially greater movements and experienced higher mortality than DNF. Mortality of birds in DNF was lower (52% vs 73%) than MNF for the 5 month monitoring period. This report summarizes data collected from the radio-marked birds at Fly and Wolf Creeks during March-July

4 4 INTRODUCTION Mountain Quail (Oreortyx pictus) are the largest of 6 species of New World quail in North America. They are secretive birds that inhabit a diverse range of habitats, but typically are associated with early seral, shrub vegetation. Males and females have identical plumage and size characteristics. Mountain Quail are the least studied of the New World quail in North America with much of the biological knowledge based on incomplete or anecdotal sources (Pope 2002). Mountain Quail populations have declined in many areas of the western Great Basin during the past century (Brennan 1990, 1994, Vogel and Reese 1995, Gutiérrez and Delehanty 1999, Pope 2002). Their current geographic range extends south to the Baja Peninsula, north to Vancouver Island in British Columbia, and east to western Idaho and Nevada (Crawford 2000). Historically, there were accounts of Mountain Quail in every county in Oregon (Jobanek 1997). Currently, Mountain Quail are common in the Coast and Cascade Mountain Ranges of western Oregon, but are less common or have been extirpated in many areas east of the Cascade Mountain Range (Pope 2002). The lack of information on Mountain Quail and their apparent decline in many areas of eastern Oregon prompted the Game Bird Research Program at Oregon State University (OSU) to initiate a research project on Mountain Quail ecology in This research (Pope 2002) compared the life history attributes (habitat selection, survival, reproduction, and movement patterns) of a sample population of Mountain Quail in southwestern Oregon in the lower Cascades where populations are stable and abundant with a resident population near Hell s Canyon in northeastern Oregon where Mountain Quail may be declining. An additional goal was to translocate a sample of Mountain

5 5 Quail from southwestern Oregon to northeastern Oregon, and compare the life history of these transplanted quail with the resident populations in Hell s Canyon and in the Cascades. Results from this research were used to develop a Mountain Quail translocation and research plan for eastern Oregon (Pope et al. 2002) with translocations as a major pro-active component of this plan. The translocation component of this plan included the release of wild Mountain Quail (captured in the southwestern Cascades) into multiple sites in eastern Oregon. The research objectives of this phase of the plan were to monitor a radio-marked sample of quail released at sites selected in historic ranges of Mountain Quail in eastern Oregon to: 1) determine habitat use, survival, reproduction parameters, and movements of translocated quail in areas that differ ecologically, 2) to determine if translocated radio-marked Mountain Quail can be used to locate resident populations of Mountain Quail in eastern Oregon, and 3) to refine and evaluate protocols for future translocations and post-release monitoring procedures. The first phase was initiated in the winter of 2001 with the translocation of 69 radio-marked birds and 47 banded but un-radioed birds to 3 sites in MCCRA near the south fork of the John Day River. In winter of 2002, 66 radio-collared birds were released in 2 of the 3 release sites used in 2001 near the south fork of the John Day River, and 27 birds (9 radio-collared, 18 banded) were released in the Maury Mountains near Prineville. During the spring of 2003, 271 Mountain Quail (132 radio-marked and 139 banded ) were captured in southwest Oregon and released at four sites in MCCRA and at Fly Creek in the Deschutes National Forest northwest of Sisters. In 2004, 115 Mountain Quail (89 radio-marked and 26 banded only) were released in Fly Creek in the Deschutes National Forest northwest of Sisters and Wolf Creek in the Malheur National Forest

6 6 northeast of Burns. This report summarizes data collected the field from March-July METHODS RELEASE SITES The 43,193 ha MCCRA (Figure 1) is jointly managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), and includes the 9256 ha Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area managed by ODFW. Historical records indicated heavy livestock use on the Murderer s Creek flats from , with public land permits allocating 50,000 AUM s compared with 6,000 today (ODFW, unpublished report). In 1972, ODFW purchased part of Murderer s Creek to provide winter range habitat for mule deer, control wildlife damage, and protect riparian zones. Current grazing practices combine high density, short duration grazing with a rest/rotation system. Four sites in MCCRA, Black, Jackass Creek, Flat Creek, and Cabin Creek, were selected as release locations based on vegetation complexity and diversity. Jackass Creek, a tributary of the south fork John Day River, has steep, rugged, slopes dominated by western juniper with diverse understory shrubs, dominated by mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata vaseyana) and bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata). Cabin Creek (tributary of Murderer s Creek), Flat Creek, and Black Canyon, are characterized by gentle-sloped, grassy uplands dominated by western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) and bitterbrush and riparian zones dominated by red alder (Alnus rubra) and willow (Salix spp.). Upland and ridge-top forests are dominated by stands of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), mountain mahogany (Cerocarpus betuloides), and grand fir (Abies grandis). Elevations range from 701m at

7 7 Wolf Creek Figure 1. Mountain Quail translocation sites in Murderers Creek Cooperative Resource Area, Fly Creek in the Deschutes National Forest, and Wolf Creek in the Malheur National Forest, winter-spring

8 8 canyon bottoms to 2130 m on the top of Aldrich Mountain. Temperatures during averaged from a mean high of 22 C in July to a mean low of 2.2 C in January. Most of the moisture in this area falls in the form of snow, and the average annual moisture accumulation for this period was 28 cm (Oregon State Climate Center, Oregon State University). The Fly Creek translocation site (Figure 1) is 30 km northwest of Sisters, Oregon and is in an area primarily managed by the Deschutes National Forest (DNF). Fly Creek drains into the Metolius arm of Lake Billy Chinook and is 1.5 km from the edge of the Eyerly fire that burned an estimated 23,573 acres in Fly Creek is characterized by gentle-sloped, grassy uplands dominated by ponderosa pine and western juniper with bitterbrush the dominant shrub. Ridge-top forests are dominated by ponderosa pine, white fir (Abies amabilis), and Douglas-fir with ceanothus (Ceanothus sp.) and manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp) being the primary understory. Elevations range from 600 m on the shore of Lake Billy Chinook to 1460 m on the top of Green Ridge. Temperatures during averaged from a monthly mean high of 17 C in July to a low of 1.3 C in January. Annual precipitation during this period was 36 cm (Oregon State Climate Center, Oregon State University). Wolf Creek in the Malheur National Forest (MNF) is approximately 50 km northeast of Burns, Oregon. The area is characterized by forested, steep mountain slopes dissected by stream systems. Forest habitats in the uplands are generally dominated by Douglas-fir, western juniper, and ponderosa pine with understories composed of snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), mountain mahogany or bunch grasses (Poa spp.). Riparian areas are dominated by willow, red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera),

9 9 mountain alder (Alnus incana), currents (Ribes spp.), and black hawthorn (Crataegus douglasii). Elevations range from m. Temperatures during averaged from a monthly mean high of 19 C in July to a low of 4.2 C in January. Annual precipitation during this period was 27 cm (Oregon State Climate Center, Oregon State University). METHODS CAPTURE AND RADIO TELEMETRY: 2004 We captured Mountain Quail from November 2003-February 2004 in southwestern Oregon using treadle traps baited with grain. A total of 187 birds were captured in Douglas County and Jackson County. Captured birds were weighed, banded, identified by plumage as hatch year (HY) or after hatch year (AHY) (Leopold 1939), and blood was extracted for gender identification (Wildlife Genetics International, Nelson, B.C.) from birds selected for radio-marking. Captured quail were held in a holding facility specifically constructed for captive wild Mountain Quail at the Southwest Regional office of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) in Roseburg, Oregon. Seventy-one birds died or were killed in captivity when 3 feral cats accessed the holding facility. Eighty-nine Mountain Quail were fitted with necklace-style radio transmitters that weighted approximately 3.6 g (Model PD2C, Holohil System Ltd., Woodlawn Ontario, Canada) (Table 1). Forty-four radio-marked birds and 20 without radios (banded only) Mountain Quail were released at Fly Creek in the Deschutes National Forest on 13 March Forty-five radio-marked Mountain Quail and 6 unradioed birds (banded only) were released at Wolf Creek in the Malheur National Forest

10 10 on 31 March. Eighty-nine (77%) of 115 translocated Mountain Quail were HY (hatch year) birds and 44 of 89 (49%) radio-marked birds were females (Table 1). Table 1. Number of radio-marked and banded translocated Mountain Quail released at Fly Creek in the Deschutes National Forest and Wolf Creek in the Malheur National Forest in March Release Location Deschutes NF Malheur NF Date # Radio- Marked # Banded Only Male 1 Female 1 HY 2 AHY 3 Fly Creek 13 March Wolf Creek 31 March Totals Gender determined only for radio-marked birds and gender unknown for 1 radio-marked bird 2 HY = hatch year birds 3 AHY = after hatch year birds Mountain Quail with transmitters were relocated from time of release in early March to the last week in July. Telemetry methods included monitoring from fixed winged aircraft, mobile tracking by vehicle/atv, and ground monitoring. Flights were generally bimonthly April-June when available. We recorded, for all ground-monitored radio-marked birds, location (UTM), habitat associations (based on plant assemblages), topographic characteristics (slope, elevation, and aspect), and distance to road and water. Nest sites were located by tracking and visually identifying radio-marked Mountain Quail that were incubating clutches. The birds were flushed off nests to count number of eggs, and we installed temperature-sensitive data-loggers (Model HOBO-pro, Onset Computer, Pocasset, MA) to determine nest attendance patterns on most nests.

11 11 Data loggers measured nest temperatures with 0.2-cm thick thermistors placed under eggs, and ambient temperatures with monitors positioned <15 m from nest sites. All nests were flagged for later identification. Nests were checked and data collected from loggers once a week. We limited disturbance by observing birds from >8 m distances to confirm incubation. After hatch, eggshell membranes, shells, and unhatched eggs were counted to determine number of hatched chicks. Successful nests were defined as those in which 1 egg hatched and unsuccessful if abandoned or depredated and no eggs hatched. NEST SITE AND RANDOM SITE CHARACTERISTICS Protocols for nest-site sampling were derived from Pope s (2002) research on Mountain Quail. To limit disturbance, we conducted vegetation sampling in July after eggs had hatched. Two random sites for each nest were selected using random numbers to select azimuths ( ) and distances ( 500 m) from nest bowl. Nest site characteristics were defined by an 8-m radius plot (0.08 ha) centered on the nest. Twenty-one characteristics were recorded from the nests and random sites. Overstory (canopy closure) was measured with a convex spherical densiometer (Lemmon 1957) at nest center and at 4 points, 8 m from nest center in each of the cardinal directions (Pope 2002). Densiometer readings were averaged to estimate percent canopy coverage. Shrub composition and density were determined using line-intercept estimates (Canfield 1941), and ground-level characteristics were derived from 20-x 50-cm Daubenmire frames (Daubenmire 1959) centered on the nest and placed at 2 and 4 m points along 4, 8-m transects that radiated from the nest center in each of the cardinal directions (Pope 2002). Foliage height and cover was estimated from 220 cm Robel poles (Robel et al. 1970)

12 12 placed 8m from nests in the 4 cardinal directions (Pope 2002). Elevation and distances to nearest road and water source was determined by Arcview GIS. All means reported in this summary are ± SE. RESULTS: POST-RELEASE MONITORING BREEDING RANGE MOVEMENTS Summaries of movements during the breeding season were based on 35 translocated radio-marked Mountain Quail that survived until or after 1 May. The first location after 1 May was used as a reference location to compare with the release site location. Movement summaries are also provided for birds in MNF that may have died prior to 1 May but were only found (dead) after 1 May. Twenty-three quail that lived > 1 May were from birds released in DNF and 12 from MNF. For translocated quail in DNF that survived > 1 May, the mean distance of breeding ranges to the release site was 4.8 ± 1.0 km (range ). Males (n = 11) in DNF moved a mean distance of 4.0 ± 1.5 km (range ) and females (n = 12) a mean distance of 5.6 ± 1.4 km (range ) from the release site. AHY (n = 3) birds moved a mean distance of 4.8 ± 1.3 km and HY (n = 19) a mean distance of 4.9 ± 1.2 km. Ten birds moved in a northeast (1-90º) direction, 11 in a northwest direction ( º), and 2 in a southwest direction ( º). The mean elevation change from the release site to breeding ranges in DNF was 79 ± 20 m (range ). Males had a mean elevation change of 107 ± 22 m and females 54 ± 32 m. Seven translocated quail in DNF moved down in elevation while migrating to breeding ranges from release sites with a mean decline in elevation of 44 ±

13 13 13 m, and 16 translocated quail moved higher in elevation with a mean elevation gain of 130 ± 17 m. The mean distance from release sites for birds (n = 12) in MNF that were alive >1 May was 5.1 ± 1.9 km (range ). Males (n = 7) moved a mean distance of 2.5 ± 0.3 km (range ), and females (n = 5) a mean distance of 8.7 ± 4.2 km (range = ). One AHY bird moved 23 km and 2 moved 2.8 km from the release site. Nine birds moved northwest ( º), 1 northeast (1-90º), 1 southwest ( º), and 1 east (90º) from the release area. For birds (n = 24) that were found dead after 1 May, the mean distance to the release site was 10 ± 1.5 km (range ). Females that were found dead > 1 May moved a mean distance of 8.2 ± 2.2 km and males 11.9 ± 2.1 km. The mean elevation change from the release site to breeding ranges in MNF was 203 ± 41 m. All birds moved higher in elevation. Mean elevation change was 349 ± 38 m for quail that were found dead > 1 May. SURVIVAL We determined survival for only the radio-marked translocated quail (Table 2). Fifty-eight of 89 (65%) radio-marked quail were found dead after release. Sixty-one per cent of HY birds, 72% of AHY, 61% of males, and 66% of females were found dead (Table 2). Of the radio-marked quail released in DNF, 23 (52%) died, 2 (5%) were never relocated after their release, and 4 (9%) were relocated shortly after release but subsequently disappeared. Sixteen (70%) of the 23 mortalities were HY birds and 14 (61%) of the mortalities were females (Table 2). Of the radio-marked quail released in MNF, 33 (73%) of 45 were found dead and 4 (9%) were not relocated after they were

14 14 released. Twenty-seven (82%) of 33 mortalities were HY birds and 15 (45%) were females (Table 2). Table 2. Proportions of radio-marked translocated Mountain Quail by locations, age, and gender that were found dead after their release in Fly Creek on the Deschutes NF and in Wolf Creek on the Malheur NF, Oregon, spring-summer Location All HY AHY Male Female Fly Creek 23/44 (52%) 16/36 (44%) 7/8 (88%) 9/20 (45%) 14/23 (61%) Wolf Creek 33/45 (73%) 27/35(77%) 6/10 (60%) 18/24 (75%) 15/21 (71%) Combined 58/89 (65%) 43/71 (61%) 13/18 (72%) 27/44 (61%) 29/44 (66%) REPRODUCTIVE AND NEST SITE CHARACTERISTICS Reproductive Characteristics During late May and early June 2004, 17 nests of radio-marked translocated quail were located in the DNF near Sisters in central Oregon and in the MNF northeast of Burns (Table 3). We located 11 nests in the DNF and 6 in the MNF. Nine of 17 (53%) nests were incubated exclusively by males and 8 by females. Twelve of 17 (71%) birds that incubated clutches were HY (hatch year) birds. One mated pair where both the female and male were equipped with transmitters produced nests. Both nests had 11 eggs and were depredated. Mean clutch size was 9.8 ± 0.6 eggs (range 6-14) with a total of 167 eggs produced. Mean clutch size for males was 9.6 ± 0.9 eggs (range 6-13) and for females 10 ± 0.8 eggs (range 7-14). Mean clutch size for AHY birds was 10.8 ± 1.1 eggs and for HY birds 9.4 ± 0.7 eggs. Nine of 17 (53%) nests successfully hatched chicks and 6 nests were completely depredated. Three of nine (33%) nests incubated by males were depredated and 3 of 8 (38%) unsuccessful nests were incubated by females. One female was killed while off her nest and 1 female abandoned her nest. Seventy-seven of 167 (46%) eggs hatched and 15 eggs in successful nests did not hatch or disappeared. Mean hatch size from successful nests was 8.5 ± 0.8 chicks (range 5-13). For males, mean

15 15 hatch size was 9.5 ± 0.9 chicks (range 6-13) and for females 6.7 ± 1.2 chicks (range 5-9). Mean hatch size for AHY quail was 7.3 ± 1.2 chicks and for HY birds 9.2 ± 1.1 chicks. In the MNF, 4 of 6 (83%) of nests were incubated exclusively by males. Mean clutch size was 8.8 ± 0.9 eggs (range 7-12). Four of six nests (66%) successfully hatched chicks. Mean hatch size was 8.3 ± 0.85 chicks (range 6-10). Thirty-eight of 53 (66%) eggs hatched and 5 eggs from successful nests either did not hatch or were depredated. Five of 11 (45%) nests in the DNF were incubated by males. Mean clutch size was 10.4 ± 0.8 eggs (range 6 to 14). Five of 11 (45%) nests successfully hatched chicks, 1 female was killed while off her nest, and 1 female abandoned her nest. Mean hatch size was 8.8 ± 1.5 chicks (range 5-13). Forty-four of 114 (39%) eggs hatched, and 10 eggs from successful nests did not hatch or were disappeared. Nest Site Characteristics Eight nests were located in ponderosa pine/juniper/bitterbrush plant associations, 5 in Douglas-fir/common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) associations, 2 in juniper/bitterbrush/bunchgrass associations, 1 in a Douglas-fir/mountain mahogany association, and 1 in a riparian area dominated by alder and willows (Salix spp.) The mean width of nest bowls was 14.7 ± 0.5 cm and the mean depth was 5.3 ± 0.4 cm. Mean slope of nest sites was 23 ± 2.3º and the mean elevation was 1020 ± 84 m (range ). Seven nests (42%) were located on northeast facing aspects, 6 (35%) on northwest slopes, and 4 (24%) on southwest aspects. Fourteen (82%) nests were positioned at mid-slope or at the top of canyons or mountain ridges. The average distance of nests to water was 243 ± 47 m (range 13 57) and the average distance to the nearest road was 326 ± 71 m (range ).

16 16 The mean distance of nest sites to the release site in DNF was 3.5 ± 0.6 km (range ). Female nests in DNF were further to the release site than male nests (female 0 = 4.8 km, male 0 = 1.8 km). Six nests in DNF were northeast (1-90º) and 5 northwest ( º) of the release area. Mean elevation change from the release site to nest sites was 123 ± 82 m. The mean distance of nests in MNF to the release site was 4.2 ± 1.8 km (range ). Four nests in MNF were northwest of the release site, 1 northeast, and 1 southwest of the release area. Mean elevation change from the release site to nest sites was 176 ± 15 m. Shrubs, rocks, and litter were the primary ground cover components in nest plots. In nest plots, mean canopy closure was 52 ± 5%, the average percentage of shrubs in 8-m radius nest plots was 11 ± 2%. The mean height of the tallest shrubs was 65 ± 14 cm and the mean height of the shortest shrubs was 46 ± 10 cm. Mean height of perimeter (8 m from nest center) vegetation was 70 ± 12 cm. For plots that contained trees, the dominant species were western juniper Douglas-fir, or ponderosa pine and the mean height of trees in plots was 14 ± 2.9 m. Generally, nests were embedded in grass clumps or shrubs, or between rocks or under down wood, and were generally well-concealed. All nests (n = 6) in MNF were located in Douglas-fir dominated stands with either snowberry or mountain mahogany as the dominant understory shrub. Most nests (n = 10) in DNF were in habitats dominated by ponderosa pine and juniper with bitterbrush understories. Mean slope was greater (29 º vs 19 º) and mean elevation was higher (1455 m vs 779 m) for nests of birds translocated to the MNF than birds released in the DNF in Also nests in the Malheur National Forest were closer to roads and water than

17 17 nests in the Deschutes National Forest, and were larger in diameter but shallower in depth. Nest plots in DNF generally had more vegetation (ground cover) but less litter or rocks than MNF. Mean canopy closure for nests in MNF was nearly twice (70% vs 41%) that of DNF and shrub height was generally shorter in MNF nest plots. MNF and DNF nests had similar proportions of shrubs within plots but the proportion of grass was greater in DNF nest plots.

18 18 Table 3. Band number, sex, age, clutch size, hatch size, fate, and location of nests of translocated Mountain Quail (n = 17) located in Deschutes National Forest in central Oregon and in the Malheur National Forest near Burns, Oregon, spring and summer Band # Sex Age 1 Clutch Size Hatch Size Fate 2 Location 278 M HY 6 0 D MNF 975 F HY 7 6 S MNF 225 M AHY 8 8 S MNF 703 F HY 9 0 D MNF 706 M HY 11 9 S MNF 246 M HY S MNF 904 M HY 7 0 D DNF 256 M HY 6 6 S DNF 912 F HY 8 0 A DNF 280 F AHY 9 9 S DNF 218 F HY 11 0 HD DNF M AHY 11 0 D DNF F HY 11 0 D DNF 254 M HY S DNF 284 M HY S DNF 939 F AHY 12 0 D DNF 940 F AHY 14 5 S DNF AVG HY = hatch year birds and AHY = adult or after hatch year. 2 S = successful or nests that hatched 1 chick(s), D = nests that hatched no chicks and were completely depredated (all eggs destroyed), A = nest abandoned and clutch did not hatch, and HD = hen depredated while off nest and clutch did not hatch. 3 Mated pair.

19 19 DISCUSSION Survival rates for Mountain Quail are poorly documented. Little data are available that describe mortality for native or translocated populations of Mountain Quail. The continued decline of Mountain Quail in many areas of the western Great Basin make accurate estimates of survival critical for restoration planning and management. Survival of translocated Mountain Quail released in central Oregon in the Deschutes National Forest area in 2004 was similar to those reported for translocated and native quail in Hell s Canyon and the lower Cascades (Pope and Crawford 2004) and higher than for translocated Mountain Quail in the Murderer s Creek area near John Day in 2002 (Jackle et al. 2002). Mortality of translocated Mountain Quail in the MNF in 2004 was considerably higher than the DNF, sw Cascades, HCNRA, or MCCRA releases. Similar to Hell s Canyon and the lower Cascades, the likelihood of survival for translocated Mountain Quail in the DNF was greater for males than for females, but males and females in MNF had similar mortality rates. Hatch year birds had a higher survival rate than AHY birds in DNF but there was little difference in survival in MNF between the age groups. Accurate estimates of survival are essential for developing translocation strategies for restoration plans. Without knowledge of mortality of translocated birds, the success or lack of success of reintroductions as a restoration technique cannot be adequately evaluated. Similar to Pope s (2002) study on translocated Mountain Quail in Hell s Canyon, and Jackle et al s and Pope et al s (2002-3) reports on translocated Mountain Quail in MCCRA and DNF, a number of translocated quail in DNF and MNF in 2004 moved considerable distances to breeding ranges. These movements were particularly large for

20 20 translocated quail in MNF during the early part of the breeding season and were comparable to the movements reported for translocated Mountain Quail in Hell s Canyon and in earlier releases at MCCRA. The direction (primarily NW-NE) of movements in 2004 was also similar to translocated birds monitored in Hell s Canyon in and to native birds in the Cascades of southwestern Oregon in Translocated birds in DNF and MNF in 2004 moved higher in elevation during breeding season, but not nearly as high as translocated birds in Hell s Canyon and native birds in the lower Cascades of southwest Oregon. There appeared to be a relationship between the distance of movements and elevation gain. Most birds that moved considerable distances also moved higher in elevation. Reproductive behaviors were similar for the translocated quail released in southeastern Oregon and central Oregon in 2004 and the other study areas (translocated Mountain Quail in Hell s Canyon , in DNF and MCCRA , and the native quail in HCNRA and the lower Cascades ( ). Males actively incubated clutches and brooded their chicks without assistance from their mates. Mountain Quail from both studies demonstrated a reluctance to abandon nests even after partial nest depredation. Also, a number of nests from both studies had infertile or unhatched eggs, and most of the unhatched eggs were found in male-incubated nests. Comparisons between nests found in MCCRA ( ) near the south fork of the John Day ( ), in the DNF ( ), HCNRA ( ), the southwestern Cascades ( ), and MNF (2004) suggested some differences in nests site characteristics between the areas (Table 4). Nests of resident quail in the southwestern Cascades were further from release or trapping sites than either MCCRA,

21 21 DNF, or HCNRA. Canopy closure appeared to be higher for nests in MNF than the other areas and nearly 2 times that of DNF. Slope was comparable for MCCRA, HCNRA, CR, and MNF and generally greater than percent slope for nests in DNF. Nests in DNF and MNF were closer to roads than MCCRA and HCNRA but further from roads than CR. Nest plots in HCNRA and CR contained a greater proportion of shrubs and taller shrubs than either DNF or MCCRA. DNF, MCCRA, and HCNRA had greater quantities of grass in nest plots than MNF and CR, and less woody debris than the CR. Nests in MCCRA, MNF and HCNRA were located in higher elevations than either DNF or CR. Clutch sizes were similar for DNF, MCCRA, HCNRA, and CR (DNF = 10.8 eggs, MCCRA = 10.8 eggs, HCNRA = 11.6 eggs, CR = 10.9 eggs,) but clutches were smaller for the limited number of nests at MNF. Hatch size for successful nests was less in DNF, MNF, and MCCRA (DNF = 7.4 chicks, MCCRA = 8.4 chicks, HCNRA = 10.3 chicks, CR = 9.5 chicks, and MNF = 8.3). Mean hatch date for MCCRA (20 June) was similar to DNF (24 June) but considerably earlier than hatch dates for CR (6 July) and HCNRA (5 July). We did not determine hatch dates for nests in MNF. Nest success (number of nests that hatch chicks) was higher in MCCRA (84%) and CR (83%) than HCNRA (62%), MNF (66%) and DNF (66%).

22 22 23 Table 4. Mountain Quail nest site (n = 106) characteristics in 8-m nest centered radius plots for the eastern Cascades of central Oregon in the Deschutes National Forest (DNF), John Day area of north-central Oregon (MCCRA), the lower Cascades in southwest Oregon, Hell s Canyon National Recreation (HCNRA) in northeast Oregon, and Malheur National Forest (MNF) near Burns, Oregon, spring and summer DNF (2003-4) n = 30 MCCRA ( ) n =13 SW Cascades ( ) n = 23 HCNRA ( ) n = 34 MNF (2004) n = 6 Variable Mean SE Mean SE Mean SE Mean SE Mean SE Distance to road (m) Distance water (m) Distance release area (km) Canopy closure (%) Slope (degrees) Elevation (m) Proportion of shrubs Proportion of grass Proportion of wood Proportion litter Height perimeter vegetation (cm) Proportion of plot composed of shrubs (Canfield lineintersect) Height shortest shrub (cm) Height tallest shrub (cm)

23 23 MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS Translocations of wildlife to supplement or re-establish populations of native species have become an important and broadly accepted conservation technique (Griffiths et al. 1996). A survey of translocation programs estimated that nearly 90% of approximately 700 translocations between 1973 and 1986 were game species, and gallinaceous birds accounted for a significant proportion (43%) of these translocation efforts (Griffiths et al. 1989). Few translocation efforts incorporated post-release monitoring that evaluated the effectiveness of the program or compared survival of translocated populations (Griffith et al. 1989). Game farm or pen-raised animals are usually less successful than wild birds as a source for translocations (Fellers and Drost 1995). A primary goal of this research was to coordinate management objectives with research to develop an effective and successful restoration program for Mountain Quail in eastern Oregon. Translocation programs will not succeed unless some measures of success are established and subject to evaluation. Post-release monitoring of radio-marked animals is one of the most effective methods of evaluating success. Translocated Mountain Quail in northeastern, north-central, central, and souteastern Oregon were successful in establishing nest sites, selecting mates, and producing chicks. Nest sites were characterized by a diversity in structure, topography, and habitat associations. A number of nests in eastern Oregon were in areas with generally open or partially open canopies and limited shrub cover. Most nests were located in the upper 1/3 of mountain slopes or ridges. Few nests were located in riparian areas or associated with riparian vegetation. Many of the translocated radio-marked quail that produced nests were paired with un-marked native quail and a number of birds moved considerable distances from winter ranges or spring release sites to breeding ranges. In 2004, distances that birds moved from the release site to mortality sites in

24 24 MNF were >2 times that reported for DNF and for birds that survived >1 May in MNF. The direction of most the movements were either northwest or northeast. Six birds in DNF crossed the Metolius River and were located by air or on the ground on the Warm Springs Reservation. Several birds in MNF moved > 20 km. Movement patterns (distance and direction) may be related to availability of mates and inherent (e.g., nest site fidelity) behaviors that are not related to quality or quantity of habitat. The long distance movements of many of the birds early in the breeding season in MNF in 2004 may have reduced survival by exposing birds to a broader array of predators. For spring 2005, we propose to release 50 translocated Mountain Quail in Fly Creek in the Deschutes National Forest and in Wolf Creek in the Malheur National Forest. We will also begin a translocation program in the Steens Mountains and release Mountain Quail near Frenchglen in the northwest part of the Steens. Most of the birds from all sites will be radiomarked and monitored after their release to determine habitat use, survival, reproductive rates, and movement patterns. Translocations will continue through 2006 in Wolf Creek and 2007 in the Steens. Comparisons of survival and reproductive success between the translocated sample populations at each site will allow for an effective evaluation of restoration strategies. Additionally, an on-going review of release procedures will provide more effective methods for translocations and insure that the maximum numbers of birds survive until the breeding season. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS D. Speten and W. Schwartz were the field technicians for this project in 2004 and were invaluable to the success of this years field work. We thank G. Jackel, D. Bruning, T. Lum, R. Garner, Steve Denney, D. Gonzalez, C. Heath (ODFW) for their assistance and support throughout the project. We appreciated the invaluable assistance of L. Turner, K. Martin, and K.

25 25 Hennings from the Deschutes National Forest, and C. Courtright of the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests. B. Waddell from the Ochoco National Forest assisted in the GIS and survey work. We thank pilots, C. Culp and K. West (Oregon State Police), and the Prineville BLM Helitack Crew for their help in aerial telemetry. J. Wilson (The Relocator) provided trapping services. R. Vetter (USFS-Malheur NF) provided excellent photos and field assistance. G. Gunderson (USFS-Portland regional office) provided support and guidance. The Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation provided funding to purchase radio-transmitters and Oregon Hunter s Association provided support for trapping quail. J. Crafton and Quail Unlimited provided invaluable funding and assistance. We also appreciated the financial support of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Bureau of Land Management, and the U. S. Forest Service. COOPERATORS Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Game Bird Research Program-Oregon State University U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Quail Unlimited and Oregon Hunter s Association National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation LITERATURE CITED Brennan, L. A What happened to the Mountain Quail of Idaho. Quail Unlimited Magazine 9: Brennan, L. A Broad-scale declines in four species of North American quail: an examination of possible causes. Pages in Sustainable ecological systems: implementing an ecological approach to land management. USDA, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, General Technical Report RM-247, Fort Collins, Colorado. Canfield, R Application of the line interception method in sampling of range Vegetation. Journal of Forestry 39:

26 26 Crawford, J. A Historic distribution of Mountain Quail in the Pacific Northwest. Pages in L. A. Brennan, W. E. Palmer, L. W. Burger, Jr., and T.L. Pruden (eds.). Quail IV: Proceedings of the Fourth National Quail Symposium. Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, Florida. Daubenmire, R.F A canopy-coverage method of vegetation analysis. Northwest Science 33: Fellers, G. M. and C. A. Drost Handbook for restoring native animals. USDI, National Park Service Report, NPS/NRPORE/NRR-95/19, Denver, Colorado. Griffiths, B. J., J. M. Scott, J. W. Carpenter, and C. Reed Translocation as a species conservation tool: status and strategy. Science 245: Griffiths, H. I., A. Davison, and J. Birks Species reintroductions. Conservation Biology 10:923 Gutiérrez, R. J. and D. J. Delehanty Mountain Quail (Oreortyx pictus). In A. Poole and F. Gill (eds.), The Birds of North America, No The birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia. Jackle, G., M. D. Pope, E. V. Rickerson, and D. Zalunardo Mountain Quail translocations in eastern Oregon: annual report. Unpublished report, Oregon State University. Jobanek, G. A An annotated bibliography of Oregon bird literature published before Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. Lemmon, P. E A new instrument for measuring forest overstory density. Journal of Forestry 55: Leopold, A. S Age determination in quail. Journal of Wildlife Management 3: Pope, M. D The ecology of Mountain Quail in Oregon. Ph.D. Dissertation, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. Pope, M. D., and J. A. Crawford Survival rates of translocated and native Mountain Quail in Oregon. Western Great Basin Naturalist 64(3): Pope, M. D., E. V. Rickerson, and D. Zalunardo Mountain Quail translocations in eastern Oregon. Unpublished proposal. Game Bird Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. Robel, J. J. N. Briggs, A. D. Dayton, and L. C. Hulbert Relationships between visual obstruction measurements and weight of grassland vegetation. Journal of Range Management 23:

27 Vogel, C. A. and K. P. Reese Habitat conservation assessment of Mountain Quail. Unpublished report, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise, Idaho 27