Northern Bobwhite Quail Research

Transcription

1 Northern Bobwhite Quail Research Cooperation between Northwest Arkansas Community College, Pea Ridge National Military Park, and The National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative Elizabeth Smith and Chloe Stillings EMPACTS Project, Environmental Special Problem Kurtis Cecil, Instructor

2 Personal Introductions Mr. Kurtis Cecil, a Life Science faculty member at Northwest Arkansas Community College, became an associate member of the National Bobwhite Technical Committee in In 2016 he proposed an Environmental Science Special Problems course to the Dean of Math and Sciences and the Northern Bobwhite Quail Habitat Assessment Course was approved.

3 Personnel Introductions Elizabeth Smith (pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Environmental, Soil and Water Science) Chloe Stillings ( pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology, followed by a Master s in Wildlife Biology)

4 Significance The distinct Bob-white! Bob-white! call from the Northern Bobwhite quail was once often and well heard from Arkansas natives. Today, the sounds are scarcer as populations dwindle. Bobwhites have been in sharp decline throughout the past half century, the likely cause being habitat loss and changes in agriculture.the population has declined 65% in the last 20 years throughout its territory in the Southeastern United States which has made this once abundant game bird an increasingly high priority for conservation. Another reason they are a high priority is, as Texas Parks and Wildlife notes, Bobwhites are considered an indicator species whose decline is linked to the disappearance of prairie and savanna ecosystems and the species they support. Their health shows the health of many other species in a habitat.

5 Bobwhites are small quail with rounded bodies, small heads, rounded wings, and short tails. Range- Northern Bobwhite Quail Colinus virginianus

6 Characteristics of the Northern Bobwhite Quail Color Pattern- Intricately patterned in brown, rufous, buff, and black. Males have bold black-and-white head pattern. Females have a buffy throat and eyebrow. Behavior- Travel in coveys of 3-20 individuals, and run across the ground from the shelter of one shrubby patch to another. When they are flushed, they explode into flight with quick wingbeats and then duck into the nearest cover. Typically roost on the ground in an outward facing circle with their tails pointing towards the center. Habitat- Bobwhites live in open pine forests, overgrown fields, shrubby areas, and grasslands. They respond well to areas managed with prescribed fire, which helps to maintain an open, grassy ground layer. They avoid mature woodlands inhabiting instead the early stages of a regrowth after a fire, farming, or logging. A key component to their habitat is edge, which was observed by Aldo Leopold. Diet- Diet consists mostly of seeds and leaves supplemented with varying amounts of insects during the breeding season. Fall/winter diet includes many legume seeds, ragweed seeds, pine seeds, and acorns. Spring diet includes leafy green parts of plants. Summer diet includes grass seeds, some fruit,and arthropods. Chicks are fed mostly insects until they are 6-8 weeks old. Breeding- Males fight to attract females. Both males and females perform courtship displays. Not always monogamous. Males can raise broods with multiple females and females can raise broods with multiple males (more uncommon).under good conditions a bobwhite pair can produce 2 or 3 broods, totaling 25 offspring or more in a single breeding season.

7 Pea Ridge National Military Park Known for its important location and history as the location for the Civil War battle that determined the fate of the state of Missouri and the West as being a part of the Union. Very different landscape from what it was then to what it was now. Thanks to the partnership between National Park Service, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative an increase of work is being done to return the landscape to its condition during the two day battle in the Spring of This original landscape was prime bobwhite habitat, filled with native grasses instead of red cedars and fescue. The park is currently working on returning 75 acres of fields to native grasses. Doing this involves treating the non-native fescue, sericea, and johnson grass with herbicide, mechanically thinning the abundant, invasive red cedars, and using prescribed fire. The local community supports these efforts, and even children from local schools have been able to be a part of growing native plants that will be used by the park.

8 Map of the planned vegetation changes to the park Provided by Nolan Moore, National Park Service Biologist at Pea Ridge

9 A map of the acreage of the park Map provided by Nolan Moore, National Park Service Biologist at Pea Ridge

10 Great strides have been already taken at Pea Ridge National Military Park. Here is an article published in NBCI s Bobwhite Almanac- State of the Bobwhite 2015 edition. It feature the parks biologist Nolan Moore, who has assisted us throughout the habitat assessment course.

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12 Trapping began in January of 2016 Telemetry, radio-collaring and tracking, of Bobwhites in the area have shown that they are present and move between the park and neighboring private properties. As a part of our project we participated in trapping birds to radio collar in January and February. Unfortunately we were unable to trap any wild Bobwhites this year, A sampling of wild quail were trapped, collared and tracked in Pen-raised Bobwhite Quail A prepared trap

13 Bobwhites have been seen traveling in the park and by surrounding properties. This video was taken by Nolan Moore.

14 Quail crop examination and data collection 1/14/2016 Bird Identification # Sex of Bird Male Female Female Male Female Female Female Bird Location Labette County, KS Labette County, KS Labette County, KS Labette County, KS Chautauqua County, KS Labette County, KS Labette County, KS Weight of crop contents in grams Estimated % weight of legume Estimated % weight of other unidentified food/seeds 5.36 gm 5.5 gm 3.55 gm 3.67 gm 0.44 gm 3.61 gm 3.17 gm 100% 100% 90% 50% 0% 100% 100% 0% 0% 10% 50% 100% 0% 0%

15 Eye-worm Examination and data collection Conducted an examination for evidence of the eye worm Oxyspirura petrowi on 1/14/2016 Bird Identification # Bird Location Labette county, KS Labette county, KS Labette county, KS Chautauqua County, KS Labette county, KS Labette county, KS Labette county, KS Presence of eye worm? (y/n) No No No No No No No

16 Photographic data from eye-worm and crop examination: Bird # 1 and #2

17 Photographic Data: Bird # 3 and #4

18 Photographic Data: Bird #5 and #6

19 Photographic Data: Bird #7

20 National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative COORDINATED IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM In 2012 the National Bobwhite Technical Committee (NBTC) initiated a strategic habitat conservation program-in 2014 the NBCI Management Board approved the NBCI Coordinated Implementation Program (CIP). The National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (NBCI) is a consortium of state agencies, conservation organizations and hunters working to improve the prospects of this species. NBCI Focal areas have been implemented in Delaware, Missouri, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma,Texas, Virginia and Arkansas. Here, in Arkansas, Focal Area programs have been developed,or are being developed, by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commision and the Pea Ridge National Military Park.

21 Main Goals of the Coordinated Implementation Program The CIP hopes to demonstrate in numerous places that within 5-10 years habitat management can achieve a bobwhite population level that both meets the state s NBCI 2.0 population goals for that area, and is sustainable. The CIP defines the criteria for designing and implementing a NBCI Focal Area, and establishes standard protocol for monitoring bobwhite and grassland bird population responses to prescribed management. For further information visit the NBCI public website or the technical web site

22 Understanding Habitat Mapping Using GIS, points were chosen for reference points. Chosen at random, eight of these points were selected to be mapped. A circle around that point with a diameter of 500 feet was drawn using satellite technology. For each point, aerial photos were provided. Then the fieldwork began. Using GPS we would locate the point, the center of this circle. From there we would separate this circle into polygons ( patches ) that were at least 900m squared (or 30 x 30 meters). Then we would walk the perimeter of each polygon and record the data using the GPS. For each of theses polygons we would complete a habitat data sheet. Future students should prepare themselves for hiking through thick brush, including blackberry vines. Brush pants and bug spray were essential.

23 Example of Habitat Survey Map from NBCI s Shaker Village habitat assessment training

24 Example of NBCI Habitat Data Sheet

25 Particulars about the Data Sheet Within these polygons, the hope was to find the right amount of bare ground with nearby escape cover. If the escape cover was less than 900 m squared then it would be considered a part of the polygon, if it was greater it would become its own polygon. An area with greater than 10% canopy closure and vegetation with a height of greater than 12 ft= forest patch An area with greater than 33% shrub closure and vegetation with a height of less than 12 ft= shrub/woody patch An area with at least 33% grass and at least 33% forbs is considered a mixed herbaceous open patch For a patch to be considered good habitat for quail it has to have between 25% and 75% bare ground with escape cover within 50 meters.

26 Examples of canopy coverage >12 ft. tall Canopy with deciduous trees, including oaks. Canopy with coniferous trees, including cedars.

27 Protective cover is vegetation that provides year round overhead protection from predators and inclement weather. Examples of forb cover and protective cover. Forbs can act as protective cover as long as it meets minimum mapping standards of 28m^2 (3-m radius circle) Protective shrub cover, includes blackberry shrubs.

28 Examples of graminoids and bare ground. Broomsedge Fescue Bare ground

29 Habitat Data We started with point #69 which got broken down into nine separate polygons.

30 Habitat Data Sheet Point #69-1 through 69-4

31 Habitat Data Sheet Point #69-5 through 69-9

32 GIS map of point 69 After all the data was collected we met with Nolan Moore. He took the data from the GPS unit and recorded it into the Geographical Information System (GIS).

33 Spring Quail Call Counts Call counts begin around the 2nd or 3rd week of April. We visited two reference areas, one 900 acre cattle ranch (Lovette property), and the other 1,200 acre cattle ranch called 12 Stones Ranch in Decatur, AR. For three days we went out to different points at the reference area and set the timer for 5 minutes. We then listened for the bobwhite call and recorded any data. In the future we hope to see population numbers increase at Pea Ridge and remain the same at the reference area. Here is a sample from the Audubon website of a Spring call:

34 Example of Quail Count Data Sheet

35 Conclusion There are 8 random points that have been selected for habitat assessment. During the Spring semester of 2016 we have completed 3 points. There is still a lot of work to be done. Through combined efforts of NWACC students and faculty, Pea Ridge National Military Park, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commision, and the NBCI, we hope to see the population numbers increase in the future. Thank you for your interest in the Northern Bobwhite quail.

36 Questions?

37 Contacts Donald F. McKenzie -Director of NBCI Thomas V. Dailey, Ph.D -Assistant Director, Science Coordinator, NBCI Clifton Jackson -Quail/Small Game Program Coordinator, AGFC Kurtis Cecil -Life Science Faculty, NWACC. Associate member, NBTC Nolan Moore -NPS biologist, Pea Ridge National Military Park Elizabeth Smith -Student Chloe Stillings -Student

38 References Burger, L. Wes, M. Smith, R. Hamrick, B. Palmer, and S. Wellendorf. CP33- Upland Habitat Buffers Monitoring Protocol. Southeast Quail Study Group, Research Committee. PDF file. 2 May Bobwhite Almanac-State of the Bobwhite. National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative.Print CIP Focal Area Project Implementation. pdf. January 2016 Considerations for Training Field Personnel to Conduct the Habitat Assessment as Outlined in the NBCI Coordinated Implementation Program. National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative. 1. June Print. January Doty, John. National Military Park Ramps Up Landscape Restoration For Historical Accuracy and Bobwhites. NBCI Bobwhite Almanac- State of the Bobwhite PDF file. 4 May Guide to North American Birds. Audubon. Web. 04 April Perez, Robert and Steve Lightfoot. Plight of the Bobwhite. Texas Parks and Wildlife. September Web. 12 May 2016.