The Northern Bobwhite Restoration Project. NRCS, 2009

The Northern Bobwhite Restoration Project

13 summaries from 11 technology development projects in 9 States that evaluated conservation practices to help meet population and habitat goals of the Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative

Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center Madison, Mississippi Issued April 2009

Acknowledgments: This report was made with assistance from current and former members of the Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center and the former Wildlife Habi- tat Management Institute respectively, as well as national NRCS biologists and the NRCS Wildlife Team. Covers: NRCS photos by Lynn Betts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Finding out what bobwhites want

he U.S. Department of Agricul- ture (USDA) Natural Resources TConservation Service (NRCS) Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) led the Bobwhite Res- toration Project, a cooperative effort among multiple agencies designed to develop and evaluate the technology needed to establish or manage the habitat needed to restore northern bobwhite quail populations to 1980 levels. The technology will assist NRCS field staff in future planning by evaluat- ing the effects of NRCS conservation practices on northern bobwhite habitat and populations. The new technology will assist in meeting a goal of the Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (NBCI)—adding 2,770,922 coveys to current populations. Partners include Mississippi State University (MSU), Forest and Wild- life Research Center, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (MSU), Quail Unlimited, Inc. (QU), and the South- eastern Association of Fish and Wild- life Agencies (SEAFWA). The Department of Wildlife and Fish- eries at MSU is the umbrella institu- tion that coordinated 11 research projects among 9 universities. States with research projects include Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ten- nessee, and Texas. This booklet summarizes 13 studies from the project. More detailed information on the project is available by contacting the AWCC or visiting the USDA NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Project Web site at http://www.cfr. msstate.edu/nbci, Finding out what bobwhites want.

This booklet was developed by Iowa State University Extension Wildlife Programs for the NRCS Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center as part of a CESU cooperative agreement. NRCS photos by Lynn Betts

Contents

Summer fire, rollerdrum chopping could double Florida rangeland...... 1 quail numbers Sculpt brush, graze rangelands in Texas Rolling Plains to benefit...... 2 bobwhites Farm Bill conservation practices improve northern bobwhite habitat....3 Field border size and shape make a difference for northern bobwhite.....4 Quadruple northern bobwhite numbers with buffers that connect...... 5 block habitats...... Woody cover and deferred grazing make habitat for quail in Texas...... 6 High Plains Northern bobwhite chicks survive better in restored habitat,...... 7 Arkansas study shows Spray tall fescue in the fall to stimulate native warm-season grasses.....8 for quail Farmers will use some, not all, practices to help quail, Missouri...... 9 survey shows Managing CRP fields increases bobwhite numbers, Illinois study...... 10 shows Fire, heavy disking, other management maintain bobwhite habitat.....11 in Tennessee Burning, disking evaluated as bobwhite management in South...... 12 Carolina More songbirds and quail with prescribed fire and strip disking...... 13 in Arkansas

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Summer fire, rollerdrum chopping could double Florida rangeland quail numbers

he dry prairie in South Florida ing vegetation throughout southern is some of the best remaining Florida for 2 years. quail and grassland habitat in T They found few songbirds and quail the Southeastern United States, but where palmetto dominated. Converse- years of winter burning have signifi- ly, birds were more abundant at sites cantly degraded the prairie as habitat, with higher percentages of grasses as well as forage for cattle. and forbs in the ground cover, condi- Saw palmetto, a native evergreen tions associated with more frequent shrub, dominates in many areas, re- use of prescribed fire. ducing quality of grasslands for quail, “Our research has shown we have an songbirds, and cattle. opportunity to double or even triple “Historical accounts suggest that saw quail populations with relatively little palmetto likely only composed 20 per- change in management. It’s mostly a cent of the vegetative community of matter of a change in season of dis- the dry prairie, and our work suggests turbance, whether it’s fire or roller that conditions for many grassland chopping. We’d like to see a 2-year fire and Savannah bird species can be frequency,” Palmer says. improved if managers strive to attain “We’ve seen that very quickly—in a this natural level,” says James Mar- NRCS photo by Lynn Betts matter of a couple of years, you can tin, a researcher at the Tall Timbers Northern bobwhite covey rise see an increase in quail populations Research Station. “These habitats are using these practices.” meant to be disturbed–– it’s a fire- driven ecosystem.” NRCS programs, such as the Envi- ronmental Quality Incentive Pro- Old habits of land management are gram (EQIP) targeted to Florida’s changing and show promise for bet- dry prairie, can directly benefit quail ter habitat and cattle production, says and improve conditions for numer- Dr. Bill Palmer, Director of Game Bird ous grassland bird species and likely Research at the Tall Timbers Research improve foraging conditions for cattle, Station. Palmer says. “By using rollerdrum chopping, He recommends EQIP practices that Summary of: an U.S. Department of Agriculture include active management scenarios (USDA) Natural Resources Conser- One in a series of summaries from the on remnant prairie patches that mimic vation Service (NRCS)-supported NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Project, natural disturbances and shift the Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center practice, and fire in the summertime plant community more towards herba- Project # 68–7482–3–121 rather than winter, we are seeing ceous instead of shrub species. increases in bobwhite quail popula- For more information, see: tions, an increase in winter bird use The results add to the science avail- USDA/NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Proj- and an increase in forage production able on bobwhites, says Dr. Wes ect online at for cattle,” Palmer says. Burger of Mississippi State Univer- http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/nbci sity (MSU), who coordinated 11 Ed Hackett The Florida study looked at Bach- studies across the quail range, and NRCS AWCC man’s sparrow, eastern meadowlark, Ed Hackett, a biologist with the Phone: (601) 607-3131 and grasshopper sparrow. They also E-mail: [email protected] NRCS Agricultural Wildlife Conserva- radio-collared about 120 bobwhites a Web site: http://www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov tion Center (AWCC), which funded year and followed their movements. the study. For more information on this summary, contact: The combination of radio telemetry The AWCC, located in Madison, Mis- and songbird point counts gave re- Dr. Wes Burger sissippi, is a fish and wildlife technol- searchers data on bird abundance MSU ogy development center. Phone: (662) 325-8782 on numerous properties with vary- E-mail: [email protected]

1 Sculpt brush, graze rangelands in Texas Rolling Plains to benefit bobwhites

ven in the Rolling Plains of Brush control has been a common northwestern Texas, consid- practice in the Rolling Plains, with Eered one of the last bastions mesquite, juniper, and prickly pear for viable northern bobwhite popula- being the species most commonly tions, quail are declining about 3.5 targeted for control. percent annually. While large-scale control of mesquite, Brush management, one of the prac- juniper, and prickly pear is detrimen- tices offered by U.S. Department of tal to quail, strategic brush control, or Agriculture (USDA) Farm Bill pro- sculpting, can have significant ben- grams meant to improve grazing lands efits. for both cattle and quail, was evalu- “Ideally, we’d like to know how much ated by Texas A&M University from brush on a 200-acre basis is optimal 2005 to 2007. for quail. I would say that’s anywhere Researchers evaluated bobwhite from 10 percent canopy cover on the response to brush management prac- low end to 25 to 30 percent on the tices of the USDA Environmental high end,” Rollins says. Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) at Quail can spend most of the day in a intervals 2 to 4 years after the practice good loafing cover, a bush or brush of was implemented. They used paired NRCS photo by Lynn Betts some kind Rollins calls a quail house. control-treatment plots in three coun- NRCS District Conservationist providing “I have two rules of thumb as I talk to technical assistance ties to assess impacts of mesquite and a landowner,” Rollins says. “One that prickly pear cacti control on bobwhite a quail hunter can appreciate is that abundance. you ought to be able to see your bird Researchers used spring call counts dogs most of the time. The other is to estimate breeding capital and you ought to be able to throw a soft- simulated nests to evaluate impacts ball in the air from one quail house on nesting habitat. An array of vegeta- to another. So that gives you an idea tion measures (nest site availability, of what a sculpted landscape should forb species richness, etc.) were look like for optimal quail habitat.” monitored to assess floristic impacts The results add to the science avail- of brush management as it relates to able on bobwhites, says Dr. Wes Summary of: quail habitat. Burger of Mississippi State Univer- One in a series of summaries from the “Our results showed that 3 to 5 years sity (MSU), who coordinated 11 NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Project, after treatment, brush management studies across the quail range, and Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center tended to increase call-counts,” says Ed Hackett, a biologist with the Project # 68–7482–3–121 Dr. Dale Rollins with Texas A&M USDA Natural Resources Conserva- For more information, see: University in San Angelo, Texas. “On tion Service (NRCS) Agricultural USDA/NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Proj- sites where we monitored more than Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), ect online at 12 paired plots, brush management which funded the study. http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/nbci increased call counts by an average of The AWCC, located in Madison, Mis- Ed Hackett 29 percent over control sites. Bob- sissippi, is a fish and wildlife technol- NRCS AWCC white abundance tended to become Phone: (601) 607-3131 ogy development center. progressively greater on treated areas E-mail: [email protected] over the 3 years of our study.” Web site: http://www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov For more information on this summary, Treatments positively affected breed- contact: ing capital, but it remains to be seen whether the increase in breeding capi- Dr. Wes Burger MSU tal parlays into greater quail densities Phone: (662) 325-8782 during the fall hunting season. E-mail: [email protected]

2 Farm Bill conservation practices improve northern bobwhite habitat

lant composition and structure • Forest stand improvements and resulting from establishing con- forest openings in combina- Pservation practices with U.S. tion with prescribed burning Department of Agriculture’s (USDA provided the greatest benefit to Farm Bill funding improves habitat bobwhites. for bobwhite quail in nearly all cases, • Riparian forest buffers were a study by Clemson University indi- slow to establish but eventually cates. developed over time. The study established, demonstrated, • Hedgerow plantings were also and evaluated practices funded by the slow to develop and control of Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, invasive weeds was a problem. including filter strips, field borders, • Controlling invasive weeds was forest stand improvements, forest key to establishing and maintain- openings, prescribed burning, hedge- ing native warm-season grasses. row planting, riparian forest buffers, and native warm-season grass plant- A landowner survey was also con- ings. ducted in 2007. Results included: “These practices have a tremendous • Most were familiar with Farm potential to improve wildlife habitat,” Bill wildlife conservation prac- says Dr. Greg Yarrow of Clemson tices. University. • A majority had signed up for Field border (top); Prescribed burning programs and were satisfied. Yarrow established the practices us- (bottom) ing USDA Natural Resources Conser- • Those who signed up heard vation Service (NRCS) guidelines at about programs through news- the 2300-acre Pee Dee Research and papers or mailings. Education Center outside of Florence, • Those who signed up were South Carolina, then evaluated them motivated by other landowners against control sites. The evaluation who participated, demonstrated, was made based on habitat require- or passed along knowledge of ments for the northern bobwhite programs and practices. quail. • Those who had not signed up Summary of: A major recommendation of the study indicated they would be more was to use a mixture of planted and inclined to participate if smaller One in a series of summaries from the unplanted (fallow) sites to establish parcels of land could be signed NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Project, native, early successional habitat. up under the same contract, Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center Project # 68–7482–3–121 “Planting ensures a desirable mixture more technical assistance was of native plants, while fallow areas available, and there were fewer For more information, see: are less costly to landowners,” Yarrow restrictions. USDA/NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Proj- explains. The results add to the science avail- ect online at http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/nbci “It will also be important to use her- able on bobwhites, says Dr. Wes bicides, disking, or fire to maintain Burger of Mississippi State Univer- Ed Hackett NRCS AWCC habitats, and for the NRCS to be flex- sity (MSU), who coordinated 11 studies across the quail range, and Phone: (601) 607-3131 ible in establishment and maintenance E-mail: [email protected] guidelines to allow for local condi- Ed Hackett, a biologist with the Web site: http://www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov tions.” (NRCS) Agricultural Wildlife Conser- vation Center (AWCC), which funded For more information on this summary, contact: Highlights of the study include: the study. • Planted and fallow filter strips Dr. Wes Burger The AWCC, located in Madison, Mis- MSU and field borders provided habi- sissippi, is a fish and wildlife technol- Phone: (662) 325-8782 tat for bobwhite quail. ogy development center. E-mail: [email protected]

3 Field border size and shape make a difference for northern bobwhite

North Carolina State University dominated landscapes and farms with (NCSU) study found that quail nonlinear borders, with as little as 2 Apopulations may be increased to 3 percent of the total row crop area in agricultural landscapes with rela- converted to field borders,” Riddle tively little amounts of land dedicated says. to early successional habitat. Ideally, the researchers say field bor- The study of linear and block field ders would comprise 5 to 10 percent borders on 24 farms found that quail of the landscape. However, block populations almost doubled on farms habitats increased quail numbers by where 2 to 3 percent of the cropland 30 percent even in areas that were not edge was allowed to go fallow. It also connected to other habitats. found that blocks of fallow habitat “If you wanted to design your field (1/4 acre to 6 acres in size) produced borders in a way that best benefits twice the number of quail as narrow quail, you’d want block habitats of (10-foot wide) linear field borders. fallow vegetation in landscapes domi- “We were trying to come up with ways nated by cropland,” Moorman says. to fine tune the practice of field bor- “This is a simple thing farmers can ders so that we can be more efficient do at very low expense, and they can NRCS photos by Lynn Betts in the way we put field borders on have maybe double the number of Block field border top( ); Linear field bor- the landscape,” says Dr. Christopher der (bottom) quail they had before they implement- Moorman, associate professor at ed this practice,” he adds, “and that’s NCSU. a big contribution to quail populations In North Carolina and in the South- if applied over a very large area.” east, many of the plants that naturally Although their 24 research sites were volunteer on fallowed ground provide conducted in southeastern North exceptional cover and food for quail, Carolina, Moorman and Riddle feel so researchers felt there was no need confident that the results will apply to do any special planting in the field to much of the quail range, especially borders to get a quail response. the Southeast where agricultural crop “We create field borders by allowing production dominates. croplands to go fallow, and once you The results add to the science avail- abandon them, they come back in na- able on bobwhites, says Dr. Wes Summary of: tive grasses, a diversity of herbaceous Burger of Mississippi State Univer- plants like goldenrod and sometimes One in a series of summaries from the sity (MSU), who coordinated 11 NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Project, a mixture of shrubs,” Moorman ex- studies across the quail range, and Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center plains. Ed Hackett, a biologist with the Project # 68–7482–3–121 The study lasted for 3 years, beginning U.S. Department of Agriculture For more information on wildlife conser- in 2004, which was a pretreatment (USDA) Natural Resources Conser- vation technology, contact: year. Moorman and graduate student vation Service (NRCS) Agricultural Ed Hackett Jason Riddle sampled summer quail Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), NRCS AWCC populations through point counts which funded the study. The AWCC Phone: (601) 607-3131 from mid-May through the end of June is a fish and wildlife technology de- E-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov and then returned to all the farms in velopment center located in Madison, October and November and listened Mississippi. For more information on this summary, for coveys. contact: Dr. Wes Burger “I was surprised that we were able MSU to see the dramatic quail increase Phone: (662) 325-8782 that we did on farms in agriculture- E-mail: [email protected]

4 Quadruple northern bobwhite numbers with buffers that connect block habitats

esearch in Mississippi by Iowa buffers is going to drastically increase State University (ISU) and Mis- the overall wildlife benefit received Rsissippi State University (MSU) from those buffers.” shows a cumulative positive effect And, when filter strips are combined for quail from applying buffers that on a farm with larger blocks of habi- connect larger blocks of grassland tat, even more wildlife gains can be habitat. made, especially for quail. Researchers compared quail and “We’ve seen that in wide open agri- songbird populations in strips of cultural landscapes in the Delta, we switchgrass to filter strips planted to a expect about one covey per 125 acres more diverse mixture of Indiangrass, in the fall. In landscapes where buf- big bluestem, little bluestem, and fers are implemented, we can double other grasses and forbs. They also that population to about one covey studied responses to various filter per 70 acres. And on a landscape strip widths. where comprehensive conservation “Farms with buffers alone supported is implemented across the property, twice as many quail as nearby con- we can produce about one covey per ventional farms,” says Dr. Wes Burger, 29 acres. So buffers double the popu- professor and principal investigator lation, comprehensive conservation NRCS photos by Lynn Betts for the project at MSU. “We found a across the property doubles it again,” Block habitats (top); Buffer connecting farm with buffers and blocks support- Burger says. block habitat (bottom) ed four times as many. The study also Burger was somewhat surprised found that narrow buffers were better at how quickly the buffers were than no buffers at all, and wide buf- colonized by grassland species like fers were better than narrow buffers.” dickcissel and bobwhite. “It’s amaz- They also confirmed that more diverse ing when you go into an agricultural plantings produced a greater diversity landscape and you create a little bit of birds. of habitat by installing upland habitat buffers, how quickly they respond,” “We use nesting survival as an indi- Burger says. cation of the habitat quality for the wildlife species that are inhabiting The results add to the science Summary of: these particular habitat treatments,” available on bobwhites, says One in a series of summaries from the says Ross Conover of ISU. Burger, who coordinated 11 stud- NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Project, ies across the quail range, and Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center “The conservation buffers had lower Ed Hackett, a biologist with the Project # 68–7482–3–121 nesting survival than early succession- U.S. Department of Agriculture For more information, see: al block habitat, but it’s important to (USDA) Natural Resources Conser- note here that we witnessed approxi- USDA/NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Proj- vation Service (NRCD) Agricultural mately 30 percent nesting survival in ect online at Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/nbci our conservation buffer habitats.” which funded the study. The AWCC, Ed Hackett As shown in other studies, buffer located in Madison, Mississippi, is a NRCS AWCC widths make a difference for quail fish and wildlife technology develop- Phone: (601) 607-3131 and songbirds. “When we compared ment center. E-mail: [email protected] 90-foot-wide buffers to 120- and 180- Web site: http://www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov foot-wide buffers, we found the wider For more information on this summary, buffers increased nesting density,” contact: Conover says. Dr. Wes Burger MSU “The bottom line here is increased Phone: (662) 325-8782 width and diversity of conservation E-mail: [email protected]

5 Woody cover and deferred grazing make habitat for quail in Texas High Plains

n the High Plains of Texas, percent cover. “You needed visual obstruction, woody cover and visual obstruc- approaching 3 feet off the ground. Ition to a height of about two and The better a habitat area was able to a half feet are critical predictors of obscure the vision of predators, the bobwhite quail abundance, a study by more quail we had on those sites,” Texas Tech University shows. Dabbert adds. Researchers examined practices used “EQIP’s incentives for prescribed in the U.S. Department of Agricul- grazing, brush management, and ture’s (USDA) Environmental Quality prescribed burning can be a powerful Incentives Program (EQIP) for their tool for encouraging proper grazing usefulness to quail on eight study management. And it can help increase sites in Bailey, Cochran, Hockley, and the acreage of suitable habitat for Yoakum Counties in Texas. Five sites northern bobwhite in the High Plains, were treated with brush management, where rangeland provides the most three with prescribed grazing. potential for adding usable habitat,” NRCS photos by Lynn Betts Dabbert says. Measuring visual obstruction; Dog on point “We estimated quail abundance on (inset) each study site and an adjacent con- “We recommend, when implement- trol site using call counts from 2005 ing the prescribed grazing practice to 2007,” says Dr. Brad Dabbert, As- here, that stocking rates and defer- sociate Professor in the Department ment periods be tailored so that visual of Natural Resources Management obstruction is established and main- at Texas Tech. “We also went out on tained at a height of 16 inches or more those areas and looked at habitat fea- to help northern bobwhites.” tures including percent woody cover, Brush needs to be controlled, the percent forbs, percent grasses, and study indicates, but at least 10 percent percent bare ground. And we exam- brush cover is needed. In contrast to ined visual obstruction, which is how brush management (removal), range well the habitat obstructs the view of planting and prescribed grazing may quail predators.” be more useful tools for providing What they found surprised Dabbert. quail with the necessary mix of woody “Generally, if you look at the scientific and grass components, the study Summary of: quail and brush management litera- concludes. One in a series of summaries from the ture, most of it indicates quail need NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Project, The results add to the science avail- from 5 to 20 percent woody cover in Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center able on bobwhites, says Dr. Wes the environment. So we thought on a Project # 68–7482–3–121 Burger of Mississippi State Univer- lot of these sites we might have too For more information, see: sity (MSU), who coordinated 11 much woody cover. What we ended studies across the quail range, and USDA/NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Proj- up finding was that woody cover was Ed Hackett, a biologist with the ect online at the number one important variable for http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/nbci USDA Natural Resources Conserva- the presence and abundance of quail,” tion Service (NRCS) Agricultural Ed Hackett Dabbert said. “If you got below about Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), NRCS AWCC 10 percent woody cover, populations Phone: (601) 607-3131 which funded the study. The AWCC, pretty much didn’t exist. But the site E-mail: [email protected] located in Madison, Mississippi, is a with about 40 percent woody cover Web site: http://www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov fish and wildlife technology develop- had the highest quail populations of For more information on this summary, ment center. any of the sites we examined.” contact: The second most important factor Dr. Wes Burger MSU was visual obstruction, whether it was Phone: (662) 325-8782 grassy and weedy cover or woody E-mail: [email protected]

6 Northern bobwhite chicks survive better in restored habitat, Arkansas study shows

esearch in Arkansas comparing locations that researchers assumed unrestored fescue fields with were not used by bobwhite broods. Rareas restored for bobwhite Nesting habitat in fescue fields con- quail brood use discovered mixed sisted of dense stands of tall fescue results. with little bare ground and few forbs. Habitat that broods used supported “We looked at two restored areas more forbs, shorter and not par- and two adjacent unrestored areas in ticularly dense grass with more open Searcy and Fulton Counties in Arkan- ground. sas between spring of 2005 and summer of 2007,” says Dr. Chris Kellner of Researchers also developed a dis- Arkansas Tech University. “We found criminant function model to deter- that the habitats used by broods did mine how effective the management not differ between restored areas and activity was in producing nesting and nonrestored areas.” brood rearing habitat. “We found the best management included activities “We also found that chicks grew that created some bare ground, pro- substantially faster in nonrestored moted development of forbs, and also areas, where arthropod biomass was supported a variety of grass species,” significantly greater than in the re- Kellner says. “For example, a com- stored areas,” says Dr. James Bednarz NRCS photo by Lynn Betts bination of disking, burning, fescue of Arkansas State University. “We also Northern bobwhite eradication, and planting of native found that chicks moved more slowly grasses produced a habitat structure in unrestored areas, which may indi- that was similar to habitats used by cate better habitat for foraging.” bobwhite broods.” On the other hand, researchers also However, broods in Searcy County found bobwhite chicks that used seldom used restored habitat, even restored habitat in Fulton County when such habitat was adjacent to the survived better than chicks that used brood’s home range. Quail tended to unrestored areas in both Searcy and leave managed areas at the beginning Fulton Counties. of the breeding season and seldom Management activities for restoration returned. included burning, disking, eradication Summary of: The results add to the science avail- of fescue with herbicides, planting One in a series of summaries from the able on bobwhites, says Dr. Wes native warm-season grasses, fencing NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Project, Burger of Mississippi State Univer- borders of pastures, and land clearing. Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center sity (MSU), who coordinated 11 Project # 68–7482–3–121 Quail followed with radiote- studies across the quail range, and For more information, see: lemetry Ed Hackett, a biologist with the Researchers captured 90 bobwhites U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA/NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Proj- ect online at and fitted them with transmitters to (USDA) Natural Resources Conser- http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/nbci locate nests and follow broods. All vation Service (NRCS) Agricultural chicks were individually marked; Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), Ed Hackett NRCS AWCC missing chicks were assumed to have which funded the study. Phone: (601) 607-3131 died. Broods were monitored inten- The AWCC, located in Madison, Mis- E-mail: [email protected] sively to assess habitat use and move- Web site: http://www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov sissippi, is a fish and wildlife technol- ment patterns. ogy development center. For more information on this summary, Habitats that bobwhite broods used contact: were characterized, and comparisons Dr. Wes Burger were made among habitat used by MSU broods, nesting habitat, and random Phone: (662) 325-8782 E-mail: [email protected]

7 Spray tall fescue in the fall to stimulate native warm-season grasses for quail

igh-quality quail habitats are herbicide applications, with or with- dominated by plants that out disking, and after spring herbicide Hprovide protective cover, nutri- treatments. Forb coverage increased tious food sources and allow travel, dramatically following all treatments. feeding, and loafing within and under Food resources for northern bobwhite the cover. were increased following all treat- “Tall fescue fails that test on at least ments. Forb coverage, both desirable two counts,” says Dr. Craig Harper, and undesirable, tended to decrease associate professor and Extension in the second year after treatment. wildlife specialist at the University of The structural characteristics of the Tennessee (UT). “Its dense structure field improved dramatically following near the ground and deep thatch layer eradication of tall fescue. The open- limits mobility of quail chicks and ness at ground level was increased ground-feeding songbirds. The dense following all treatments, especially growth and thatch also suppress the disking treatments. Vertical struc- germination of desirable forbs that ture was increased following all treat- provide food resources.” ments except for spring sprayings, which did not kill tall fescue as well NRCS photo by Lynn Betts Harper was the principal investigator as the fall spraying treatments. Dr. Craig Harper of UT stands in a disk on a UT study that compared herbi- strip cide and disking treatments to eradi- Recommendations cate tall fescue. “We recommend spraying tall fescue Research treatments in the fall with two quarts per acre of a glyphosate herbicide,” says Harper. The study evaluated two herbicides “If undesirable grasses are expected ––glyphosate and imazapic––that to become a problem, apply imazapic were applied in the spring and fall, at a rate of 6 to 8 ounces per acre with and without disking in the sea- in April before undesirable plants son after application. The treatments emerge.” were applied in three fields across Tennessee. Prior to herbicide applica- Harper says if desirable plants do tion, fields were prepared for spraying not emerge from the seedbank by by haying or grazing to remove all the second growing season following Summary of: debris from the field. The tall fescue spraying, it may be necessary to plant One in a series of summaries from the was allowed to regrow 6 to12 inches a mixture of native grasses and forbs. NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Project, before applying herbicides. Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center The results add to the science avail- Project # 68–7482–3–121 “Fall applications of glyphosate and able on bobwhites, says Dr. Wes For more information, see: imazapic, with and without disking, Burger of Mississippi State Univer- provided greater reduction in tall sity (MSU), who coordinated 11 USDA/NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Proj- ect online at fescue coverage than spring applica- studies across the quail range, and http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/nbci tions, with and without disking,” says Ed Hackett, a biologist with the John Gruchy, a biologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Ed Hackett NRCS AWCC Mississippi Department of Wildlife, (USDA) Natural Resources Conser- Phone: (601) 607-3131 Fisheries and Parks, who helped carry vation Service (NRCS) Agricultural E-mail: [email protected] out the study. “Disking following fall Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), Web site: http://www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov herbicide applications did not further which funded the study. For more information on this summary, reduce tall fescue coverage.” The AWCC, located in Madison, Mis- contact: By the second growing season after sissippi, is a fish and wildlife technol- Dr. Wes Burger treatment, coverage of native warm- ogy development center. MSU season grasses increased after fall Phone: (662) 325-8782 E-mail: [email protected]

8 Farmers will use some, not all, practices to help quail, Missouri survey shows

large majority of landowners These landowners fit a profile: row want bobwhite quail on their crop income was not important; Aproperty, and they recognize positive experience with government that habitat management is the solu- conservation programs; willing to tion to quail restoration, a landowner use quail-friendly management (fire, survey by the Missouri Department of disking, native plants, etc.); money Conservation (MDC) indicates. and time less of a constraint; attended habitat workshops; allowed quail A smaller percentage of landowners, hunting; male; some college educa- however, were willing to use pre- tion; and owned land for just a few scribed quail-friendly practices. years. “Much of the potential success of Many of the landowners had par- large-scale northern bobwhite restora- ticipated in conservation programs. tion depends on private landowners The two most used programs were working together to restore habitat on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s multiple, contiguous farms,” says Dr. (USDA) Conservation Reserve Pro- Tom Dailey of the MDC. “So we want- gram and programs of Missouri Soil ed to get a better idea of what it will and Water Conservation Districts. take to engage landowners to manage Across all programs, 76 percent rated habitat for quail.” NRCS photo by Lynn Betts their experiences as “good.” NRCS employee discussing northern bob- The MDC analyzed responses from white with landowner “Overall responses from this study 735 northern Missouri landowners–– confirm the need for aggressive res- 20 percent were full-time farmers, 24 toration programs with conservation percent farmed part-time, 36 percent agencies and organizations collaborat- were landlords, and 20 percent were ing. Landowner needs are complex, recreational owners who did not use so multiple strategies must be used the land for farming. to craft programs that are effective, Reasons landowners gave for hesitat- socially acceptable and economically ing to manage land for bobwhite quail attractive,” Dailey says. were that they did not: The study gave the USDA Natural Re- • like the (weedy, unmowed) sources Conservation Service (NRCS) Summary of: habitats or practices (use of a better understanding of landowner One in a series of summaries from the prescribed fire) needs and desires, and why they NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Project, might adopt certain practices, accord- Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center • have the expertise or equipment Project # 68–7482–3–121 to implement the practice ing to Pat Graham, retired NRCS state biologist in Missouri. For more information, see: • have the labor or money The survey was one of 11 projects USDA/NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Proj- • want strangers knocking on ect online at their door asking to hunt coordinated across the quail range by http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/nbci Mississippi State University and fund- • like contracts or the require- ed by the NRCS Agricultural Wildlife Ed Hackett ments involved NRCS AWCC Conservation Center (AWCC) as part Phone: (601) 607-3131 On the other hand, of the more than of the Bobwhite Restoration Project. E-mail: [email protected] 80 percent of landowners who wanted The University of Missouri and Quail Web site: http://www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov to see quail on their land, nearly half Unlimited also participated. For more information on this summary, showed interest in quail habitat res- contact: toration. The top priority for these The AWCC, located in Madison, Mis- landowners was knowing that man- sissippi, is a fish and wildlife technol- Dr. Wes Burger ogy development center. MSU agement is, in fact, increasing quail Phone: (662) 325-8782 numbers. E-mail: [email protected]

9 Managing CRP fields increases bobwhite numbers, Illinois study shows

anaged U.S. Department of cessional vegetation conditions,” says Agriculture (USDA) Con- graduate student Douglas Osborne. servation Reserve Program M The herbicide treatments were rela- (CRP) fields had more use by bob- tively effective at decreasing exotic whites and other grassland songbirds grass cover, but disking was ineffec- during the breeding season than non- tive at decreasing grass cover and managed fields, according to a South- increasing bare ground for more than ern Illinois University (SIU) study. one growing season. The study found that more than 93 “Bobwhite abundance in sprayed and percent of the original CRP plantings spray/seed fields was nearly six-fold in Illinois were seeded to exotic cool- greater compared to disked and season grasses, primarily tall fescue. untreated fields in 2006 and 2007,” Low bobwhite abundance and poor Sparling says. brood rearing conditions in Illinois have been linked to a high percentage “In general, imprinted bobwhites con- of fields planted to fescue. sumed more arthropods in spray and seeded fields than any other treatment The study did not establish a link be- type.” tween northern bobwhite abundance and the amount of CRP acreage. Avian relative abundance and species NRCS photo by Lynn Betts richness responded positively with Northern bobwhite hen on the nest “It appears that the decline in bob- all three treatments during the first 2 white numbers is not correlated with years of the study, but species diver- the amount of CRP, but it may be sity decreased across all treatment related to the quality of these grass types from 2006 to 2007. stands,” says Dr. Donald Sparling, Associate Director of the Cooperative “We believe CRP management has Wildlife Research Laboratory at SIU. the potential to create more desirable habitat conditions for quail and other The SIU study evaluated the effective- grassland birds,” Sparling says, “but ness of three commonly used farm the effectiveness of CRP management management practices to increase depends on the acceptance and coop- bird use, improve habitat conditions eration of landowners.” Summary of: for bobwhites, increase arthropod availability, and increase foraging ef- The results add to the science avail- One in a series of summaries from the NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Project, ficiency of imprinted bobwhite chicks. able on bobwhites, says Dr. Wes Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center Burger of Mississippi State Univer- Thirty fields were treated––10 with Project # 68–7482–3–121 sity (MSU), who coordinated 11 strip disking and 20 with a strip her- For more information, see: studies across the quail range, and bicide application of glyphosate and Ed Hackett, a biologist with the USDA/NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Proj- ammonium sulfate––in October 2005 USDA Natural Resources Conserva- ect online at to 2006. Ten select herbicide sprayed http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/nbci tion Service (NRCS) Agricultural strips were then drill planted with Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), Ed Hackett 87 percent Korean lespedeza and 13 which funded the study. NRCS AWCC percent partridge pea in April 2006 to Phone: (601) 607-3131 2007. The AWCC, located in Madison, Mis- E-mail: [email protected] sissippi, is a fish and wildlife technol- Web site: http://www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov “We expected to see an increase in ogy development center. For more information on this summary, the use of managed fields by bobwhite contact: broods and select grassland songbirds during the breeding season due to a Dr. Wes Burger MSU predicted increase in arthropod abun- Phone: (662) 325-8782 dance and more desirable early suc- E-mail: [email protected]

10 Fire, heavy disking, other management maintain bobwhite habitat in Tennessee

arly successional habitat, the cover, and is not effective in plant communities often found controlling tree saplings. Ein fields and forest openings, • Herbicides are particularly require disking, burning, or some useful for controlling undesir- other form of management to keep able plants in early successional the grass and forb plant community habitats. from becoming a forest plant com- Harper has a number of recommenda- munity. tions for landowners wanting to see “The quality of early successional more quail on their land. habitat is determined by the types of • Burning during spring (March) plants that are present and the struc- on a shorter rotation (2–3 years) ture of the vegetation at the ground in larger blocks (50–100 acres) level,” says Dr. Craig Harper, associ- will promote a greater density of ate professor and Extension wildlife warm-season grasses ideal for specialist at the University of Tennes- grassland song birds. see (UT). • Burning in September or spray- “Many species, including quail, thrive ing herbicides may be necessary in early successional habitats made up in some years to control woody of a diverse mixture of native grasses succession. Disking areas during Photo by Craig Harper, UT for nesting substrate, forbs to provide the fall/winter (October–Feb- Early successional habitat food, and shrubs for escape cover. ruary) on a 3-year rotation will Such plant communities are open at create better brood-rearing and ground level with a dense canopy of feeding cover for bobwhites. vegetation at about waist high that • Breaking fields into smaller man- allows small wildlife to move about agement units (5–10 acres) will easily without being exposed to create a more diverse array of predators or extreme weather condi- cover types for a greater variety tions,” he adds. of species. Desirable shrubs provide important cover and should Harper’s research on management be protected. options has led him to a number of conclusions on managing for quail. It is critical that landowners think beyond their property boundaries and Summary of: • Prescribed burning removes lit- partner with neighbors to conserve, One in a series of summaries from the ter, improves ground level veg- sustain, and increase populations of NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Project, etation structure, and stimulates early successional wildlife, Harper Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center desirable plants in the seedbank. concludes. Project # 68–7482–3–121 • Disking improves habitat struc- For more information, see: The results add to the science ture and composition by incor- available on bobwhites, say Dr. USDA/NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Proj- porating litter, reducing ground Wes Burger of Mississippi State ect online at http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/nbci level vegetation density, and University, who coordinated 11 stimulating desirable forbs. studies across the quail range, and Ed Hackett • The effects of disking and burn- Ed Hackett, a biologist with the NRCS AWCC ing vary greatly based on the Phone: (601) 607-3131 U.S. Department of Agriculture E-mail: [email protected] timing and frequency of distur- (USDA) Natural Resources Conser- Web site: http://www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov bance and the local seedbank. vation Service (NRCS) Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), For more information on this summary, • Mowing (or bush hogging) is the contact: least desirable practice for man- which funded the study. Dr. Wes Burger aging early successional habitats The AWCC, located in Madison, Mis- MSU because it creates dense thatch sissippi, is a fish and wildlife technol- Phone: (662) 325-8782 at the ground level, reduces ogy development center. E-mail: [email protected]

11 Burning, disking evaluated as bobwhite management in South Carolina

anagement techniques can curred in the seed bank, these forages and do affect the plant com- responded best in plots disked in the Mposition and structure in winter. early successional quail and songbird Existing seed bank critical habitat, a study in South Carolina The research confirmed that success- confirms. ful establishment of early succession- The study of early successional habi- al habitat relies heavily on the existing tats, field borders, perennial hedge- seed bank. “Managers may want to rows, and native warm-season grasses evaluate their seed bank by first disk- on 14 fields across 250 acres on the ing a test strip at different times of the Nemours Plantation in the coastal fall and winter to observe resulting plains found that forb cover was plant species,” says Greg Yarrow of increased on all areas treated. Clemson University. “To get quality habitat, you may have to eradicate “Forb cover was greater than grass undesirable species and plant desir- cover in all treatment plots whether able species if they don’t exist in the burned or disked and regardless of seed bank.” frequency,” says Ernie Wiggers of the Nemours Wildlife Foundation. Songbird nest searches resulted in 75 nests, primarily from shrub nesters. NRCS photo by Lynn Betts The mean percent cover for forbs Field borders and hedgerows account- Prescribed fire in grass ranged from 49 percent to 71 percent ed for 61 percent of the nests but and was highest in winter disking made up only 15 percent of the avail- treatments conducted every 2 or 3 able field habitat. Only 11 bobwhite years. The mean percent cover for nests were found, but 951 telemetry grass species ranged much lower, locations showed ditch lines, food (16–40%), and was highest in treat- plots, and hedgerows were used by ment plots that were burned annually. bobwhites more than field borders Mean percent cover for bare ground and native grasses. was lowest, at or below 11 percent across all treatments, but was highest Partners in the study include the U.S. in treatment plots that were disked Department of Agriculture (USDA) annually in winter or summer. Natural Resources Conservation Summary of: Service (NRCS) in South Carolina, the Researchers found the best timing for One in a series of summaries from the South Carolina Department of Natural disking to prevent woody stem growth NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Project, Resources, and Clemson University. Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center was in the spring, every 1 or 2 years. Project # 68–7482–3–121 Frequency of disking had more to do The results add to the science avail- with its value than timing. able on bobwhites, says Dr. Wes For more information, see: Burger of Mississippi State Univer- USDA/NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Proj- Agricultural pest plants or otherwise sity (MSU), who coordinated 11 ect online at undesirable species including crota- studies across the quail range, and http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/nbci laria and dewberry were more domi- Ed Hackett, a biologist with the Ed Hackett nant than desirable species in many NRCS Agricultural Wildlife Conserva- NRCS AWCC treatment plots. Desirable plant spe- tion Center (AWCC), which funded Phone: (601) 607-3131 cies included grasses such as broom- E-mail: [email protected] the study. The AWCC, located in Madi- sedge and bluestems and seed pro- Web site: http://www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov son, Mississippi, is a fish and wildlife ducing forbs including ragweed and technology development center. For more information on this summary, partridge pea. Broomsedge and other contact: native grasses responded best to plots Dr. Wes Burger burned in winter and spring every 2 MSU or 3 years. Ragweed and partridge pea Phone: (662) 325-8782 were not widespread. Where they oc- E-mail: [email protected]

12 More songbirds and quail with prescribed fire and strip disking in Arkansas

comparison of managed and not statistically different in managed nonmanaged landscapes in Ar- areas compared to reference areas in Akansas shows landscapes with both years. managed habitats support more quail Quail were detected more frequently and songbirds. on the managed area routes compared The comparisons by Arkansas State to the reference area routes each year. University (ASU) and Arkansas Tech Species diversity was also slightly University also show a greater diver- greater on the Fulton and Searcy sity of songbirds in managed land- county managed BBS routes. scapes. “We documented 1,992 radio-tagged “We conducted point counts in 2005 to quail locations in 2005 and 2006. Our 2007 at 68 points in Fulton County and telemetry data suggested that areas 60 points in Searcy County on land set with prescribed burns were higher aside by the Arkansas Fish and Game quality habitat than unburned areas,” Commission for use as demonstra- Baxter says. tion areas,” says Dr. James Bednarz The response by quail and other birds of the Department of Biological Sci- was more pronounced in Fulton ences at ASU. “Half of the points in County than Searcy County, and this each area were in managed areas NRCS photo by Lynn Betts may be due to the fact that a greater and half were in reference areas. We Conducting prescribed burn proportion of the Fulton County focal also established two Breeding Bird area has been managed (>20%) com- Survey (BBS) routes in both counties. pared to the Searcy County focal area The BBS data allowed us to examine (<10%). Prescribed burning and strip landscape-level responses by birds to disking were the most beneficial prac- management. We also radio-tagged tices for quail and songbirds. There quail to determine habitat use in the was also a noticeable positive re- managed area of Fulton County.” sponse by some songbirds, especially Dr. Bednarz, Dr. Chris Kellner, Rich- prairie warblers and yellow-breasted ard Baxter, and Kevin Labrum found chats, to thinning and burning of significantly higher densities (more woodlands. than 50% higher) of all songbirds in Summary of: The results add to the science avail- managed areas (.4 birds/acre) than able on bobwhites, says Dr. Wes One in a series of summaries from the reference areas (.25 birds/acre) in Ful- Burger of Mississippi State Univer- NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Project, ton County during 2005. Birds classi- Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center sity (MSU), who coordinated 11 fied as early successional species also Project # 68–7482–3–121 studies across the quail range, and had significantly higher densities in Ed Hackett, a biologist with the For more information, see: managed areas in 2005 (.07 birds/acre) U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA/NRCS Bobwhite Restoration Proj- than reference areas (.02 birds/acre). (USDA) Natural Resources Conser- ect online at In 2006, managed areas again support- vation Service (NRCS) Agricultural http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/nbci ed significantly higher total birds, 1.7 Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), Ed Hackett birds per acre, than reference areas at which funded the study. NRCS AWCC 1.3 birds per acre. Early-successional Phone: (601) 607-3131 species were also more abundant in The AWCC, located in Madison, Mis- E-mail: [email protected] managed areas (.44 birds/acre) than sissippi, is a fish and wildlife technol- Web site: http://www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov in reference areas (.07 birds/acre) in ogy development center. For more information on this summary, Fulton County in 2006, although this contact: last trend was not significant. Dr. Wes Burger In Searcy County, densities of all birds MSU Phone: (662) 325-8782 and early successional birds were E-mail: [email protected]

Excellent bobwhite habitat was found and new guidelines were suggested for habitat in study areas, including (clockwise) Flor- ida, Mississippi, Texas, and North Carolina.