“Guidance Liaison” Services In A Program for Graduates of a School For The Deaf*

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Impacts of predation on northern bobwhite and scaled quail

Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) populations have declined throughout most of their distribution, and these declines have become more dramatic in recent years. In this review, we examine the role of predation in quail management. Predation is the major source of nest loss and of mortality for young and adult quail. Mean nest success across studies reviewed was 28%. Estimates of annual survival rates have varied from 5 to 26% for radiotelemetry studies and from 15 to 30% based on age-ratio studies. Breeding season survival estimates ranged from 13 to 51% in telemetry studies reviewed. Brood survival is the least studied aspect of quail survival; estimates ranged from 13 to 47%. Mammalian predators most often implicated in nest predation include striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), raccoons (Procyon lotor), opossums (Didelphis virginianus), foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus and Vulpes vulpes), coyotes (Canis latrans), and feral hogs (Sus scrofa). Accipiters (Accipiter spp.) and northern harriers (Circus cyaneus) are the most common avian predators of quail. Less information is available to assess impact of predation on scaled quail, but observations from areas where bobwhites and scaled quail are sympatric suggested that scaled quail are less vulnerable to predation than bobwhites. Although quail have adapted to cope with high predation rates (e.g., renesting, large clutches), populations in some areas may be suppressed by predation. Changes in land use, management practices, and predator communities interact to depress quail populations over much of the bobwhite\u27s range. Additional studies are needed to assess the role of predation and predation management in light of these landscape-level changes. A variation of the Integrated Pest Management philosophy used in crop production is proposed as an appropriate model to address predation management for quail

Impacts of predation on northern bobwhite and scaled quail

Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) populations have declined throughout most of their distribution, and these declines have become more dramatic in recent years. In this review, we examine the role of predation in quail management. Predation is the major source of nest loss and of mortality for young and adult quail. Mean nest success across studies reviewed was 28%. Estimates of annual survival rates have varied from 5 to 26% for radiotelemetry studies and from 15 to 30% based on age-ratio studies. Breeding season survival estimates ranged from 13 to 51% in telemetry studies reviewed. Brood survival is the least studied aspect of quail survival; estimates ranged from 13 to 47%. Mammalian predators most often implicated in nest predation include striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), raccoons (Procyon lotor), opossums (Didelphis virginianus), foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus and Vulpes vulpes), coyotes (Canis latrans), and feral hogs (Sus scrofa). Accipiters (Accipiter spp.) and northern harriers (Circus cyaneus) are the most common avian predators of quail. Less information is available to assess impact of predation on scaled quail, but observations from areas where bobwhites and scaled quail are sympatric suggested that scaled quail are less vulnerable to predation than bobwhites. Although quail have adapted to cope with high predation rates (e.g., renesting, large clutches), populations in some areas may be suppressed by predation. Changes in land use, management practices, and predator communities interact to depress quail populations over much of the bobwhite\u27s range. Additional studies are needed to assess the role of predation and predation management in light of these landscape-level changes. A variation of the Integrated Pest Management philosophy used in crop production is proposed as an appropriate model to address predation management for quail

Characteristics of Four Agricultural Crops Established as Northern Bobwhite Brood Habitat

Small plots of agricultural crops are often planted in the Southeast for northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) management. Often these are viewed as primarily winter habitat, and assumed to provide summer habitat. We evaluated the macroinvertebrate and vegetative structure of millet, sorghum, wheat, and soybean plots on a cotton farm to assess their value as bobwhite brood habitat. During June and July 1999 and June, July, and August 2000, we studied 5 blocks, each planted with all 4 agricultural crops. We measured invertebrate abundance along a 15-meter transect in each plot using vacuum sampling and height/density of vegetation. Visual obstruction readings (VOR) were highest in millet and sorghum, followed by wheat and then soybean (P \u3c 0.001). Macroinvertebrate numbers differed among cover types (P \u3c 0.001), but macroinvertebrate weights did not (P = 0.14). Among important Orders, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera, and Homoptera were found in greater numbers in millet. Numbers of Hymenoptera did not differ among crops. In most cases, millet yielded the highest biomass and numbers of macroinvertebrates, followed by sorghum. Soybeans and wheat had fewer macroinvertebrates among the crops studied. On our study area it appears that millet provides the best brood habitat, although sorghum appears to provide a second useful crop. Thus, among these crops we recommend use of millet plots as brood habitat for northern bobwhite chicks

Effects of patch size and basal area on avian taxonomic and functional diversity in pine forests: Implication for the influence of habitat quality on the species–area relationship

Relationships between avian diversity and habitat area are assumed to be positive; however, often little attention has given to how these relationships can be influenced by the habitat structure or quality. In addition, other components of biodiversity, such as functional diversity, are often overlooked in assessing habitat patch value. In the Sandhills Ecoregion of Georgia, USA, we investigated the relationship between avian species richness and functional diversity, forest basal area, and patch size in pine forests using basal area as a surrogate for overstory structure which in turn impacts vegetation structure and determines habitat quality within a patch. We conducted bird surveys in planted mature pine stands, during breeding season of 2011. We used three classes of stand basal area (BA): OS, overstocked (BA ≥ 23 m2/ha); FS, fully/densely stocked (13.8 m2/ha ≤ BA \u3c 23 m2/ha); and MS, moderately stocked (2.3 m2/ha ≤ BA \u3c 13.8 m2/ha). MS patches showed more structural diversity due to higher herbaceous vegetation cover than other two pine stocking classes of patches. Total species richness and functional richness increased with the size of MS patches, whereas functional divergence decreased with the size of OS patches (p \u3c 0.05). Functional richness tended to be lower than expected as the size of OS patches increased. Greater richness of pine–grassland species was also found at MS patches. Percent cover of MS patches within a landscape influenced positively the richness of pine–grassland species (p \u3c 0.05). Our results suggest that (a) avian species–habitat area relationship can be affected by habitat quality (structural diversity) and varies depending on diversity indices considered, and (b) it is important to maintain moderate or low levels of pine basal area and to preserve large-sized patches of the level of basal area to enhance both taxonomic and functional diversity in managed pine forests

Quails in Mexico: Needs and Opportunities

Recently, McGowan et al. (1995) completed a worldwide conservation strategy for all species of partridges, quails, and francolins. They identified priority species and projects for the next 5 years. Mexico was identified as a critical country in Latin America because of the presence of a large number of species of quails (15) and presence of several species and one subspecies which received conservation status; the bearded tree-partridge (Dendrortyx barbatus), ocellated quail (Cyronyx ocellatus) and masked bobwhite (Colinus virginianus ridgwayi). We are presently undertaking research and conservation efforts on the critically endangered bearded treepartridge and use this to highlight concerns and opportunities related to quails in Mexico. This program includes local educational programs advertising the plight of this species, development of survey techniques, collection of life history data, and a complete survey of distribution of the species. From our efforts so far, we have found that local involvement and interest in rural communities is possible. We are finding that techniques, such as play-back of tape recorded calls, show great potential for both census and surveys of the bearded tree-partridge. Finally, we are finding that lack of basic life history and population data of these species can result in misguided development of conservation strategie

Estimating abundance of Galliformes: tools and application

A large number of techniques are available for assessing populations of vertebrates. However, application of many of those techniques to Galliformes is hampered by a variety of constraints. These problems are often magnified by poor understanding of the biology of many species of concern, and an absence of valid estimates of abundance and demographic parameters. Researchers interested in developing estimates of Galliformes populations must address a number of key issues before collecting field data, to avoid biases in the resulting population estimates. General guidance exists for the identification of appropriate population estimation techniques, and a dichotomous key has been developed for abundance estimation of other vertebrates, such as mammals. First, we review some of the basic principles of abundance estimation, with the goal of identifying sources of bias, and avoiding these in field surveys. We then develop specific guidelines for Galliformes, and a key to abundance estimation for field researchers. Based on our knowledge of the general biology of Galliformes, the most applicable techniques for estimating abundance are based on variations of distance sampling techniques, mark-resighting techniques, and removal techniques. Use of indices should be considered only when more quantitative analyses are logistically or biologically impossible. However, their use can be made more valuable by employing double sampling or other methods that directly link indices to unbiased estimates of abundance

Habitat Use and Survival of Gray Partridge Pairs in Bavaria, Germany

Gray partridge (Perdix perdix) habitat studies have been undertaken in a number of countries but have generally focused on winter and brood rearing. We monitored survival of grey partridge pairs relative to habitat during the breeding season. Our study area was located near Feuchtwangen in north-west Bavaria, Germany. During 1991 to 1994, we used compositional analysis to assess habitat with survival and year as covariates for 38 radio-tagged partridge pairs. Comparing study area habitat to habitats within pair home ranges, we found overall habitat use was non-random with no year effect but a significant effect of survival status. Stubble habitat ranked high for both survival categories, whereas those pairs where the radio-tagged bird died were more associated with meadow habitat. Comparing home ranges to individual radio locations, only surviving partridge used habitat differently from availability. Edge and set aside ranked high whereas meadow ranked low in usage. Our results suggest differences between habitats of partridge which died versus those that survived during breeding season. At the landscape level, association with meadow habitat suggests that it may provide cover but may also support predators. Within home ranges, we see edge and set aside possibly providing more cover diversity, suggesting predation avoidance for those that survived. Our data suggests that late winter and early spring periods, where survival may impact numbers of adults going into the breeding season and ultimately recruitment, are also crucial