Management Implications of Estimating Abundance of Quail Inhabiting Forest Environs in Mexico

Estimating abundance of forest quail in Mexico offers unique challenges to wildlife managers. Unlike quail inhabiting grassland, forest quail are often cryptic, live in inaccessible mountainous areas, and unpredictably respond to playback census techniques. During 1996–1999, we estimated abundance of singing quail (Dactylortyx thoracicus) and bearded wood quail (Dendrortyx barbatus) in northeast Mexico. Singing quail were visually counted at El Cielo Biosphere Reserve, Tamaulipas, along 14 transects varying in length from 1,400 to 5,000 m. Because of the cryptic nature of bearded wood quail, visual counts proved unsuccessful in estimating abundance. Therefore, a tape recording of their chorus call was used to determine presence. Vocalizing wood quail were documented at 10 stations on a single 1,000 m transect near Coatepec, Veracruz. Because of the varied habitat types in the area total population estimates were not estimated. Only the numbers present along our transect are reported. Estimates of abundance of singing quail were obtained due to the homogenous habitat. Density estimates from Ejido Lazaro Cardenas for singing quail were 56 quail/45.4 ha (1 quail/0.8 ha). Density estimates for La Cueva were 30 quail/15.9 ha (1 quail/0.53 ha). The management of these quail species presents a substantial challenge for biologists, because of the difficulty in obtaining population estimates. The number of wood quail estimated by each responding individual to the chorus call and possible seasonal elevation shifts of singing quail should be considered when estimates of abundance are used to set harvest regulations

Fecundity of Wild Northern Bobwhite Hens Under Hatchery Conditions

We describe egg production by 88 pairs of randomly selected, mature, wild-caught northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) hens housed under optimal conditions of food, water, climate, and a 17-hr photoperiod in a hatchery. We collected eggs daily using an 18-day period to differentiate between clutches. Hens continuously laid eggs until ceasing production. We evaluated number of eggs laid by each hen individually and hens collectively including total number, number/clutch, number/day, hatching success, and egg mass. Eighty-six hens produced 5,888 eggs. Number of eggs produced by individual hens ranged from 0 to 172 over ~ 200 days. Mean number of eggs laid/hen/day was 0.86. Clutch size ranged from 0 (n 1⁄4 2) to 12 (n 1⁄4 1). Mean number of eggs/clutch was 8.57. There was a strong correlation between clutch size and number of clutches. Some hens demonstrated continuous production of several large clutches. Hatching success of 5,793 eggs included for analysis was 61.6% (3,571 hatched, 2,222 failed to hatch). Hatched eggs had a greater mean mass compared to those that did not hatch

Propagation Effectiveness of the Surrogator for Northern Bobwhites in Southern Texas

Attempts to restore populations of northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) using pen-raised quail have been documented since the early 1900s. Low restoration success, based on low post-release survival rates and long distance dispersal from release sites, have proven the ineffectiveness of pen-raised quail in restoration of wild populations. The Surrogatort, a recent quail propagation tool using pen-raised quail, has been publicized as a method for increasing success rates in restoration of northern bobwhite populations by producing higher post-release survival and minimal dispersal. We tested the hypothesis that the Surrogatort is an effective means of supplementing populations of northern bobwhites in southern Texas. We raised 1,000 northern bobwhites in 2 Surrogators and conducted 2 trials in 2010 on a 990-ha ranch in Wilson County, Texas. Twenty northern bobwhites from each Surrogator were fitted with radio transmitters 12 hrs before release. We attempted to locate each bird daily for 3 weeks upon release from Surrogators followed by a reduced effort of 3 times per week until 100% mortality. Daily survival rates were low in Trial 1 (Surrogator A 1⁄4 0.87 and Surrogator B 1⁄4 0.96) and Trial 2 (Surrogator A 1⁄4 0.83 and Surrogator B 1⁄4 0.87). Mean distances traveled by post-released birds for Trial 1 were 401 and 1,416 m for Surrogators A and B, respectively. The Surrogator is not an effective means of restoring wild populations of northern bobwhites in southern Texas

The Influence of a Return of Native Grasslands upon the Ecology and Distribution of Small Rodents in Big Bend National Park

In the southwestern United States there is a delicate balance between the existing grasslands and the rodent fauna. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the influence of secondary succession of native grasslands upon the ecology and distribution of small rodents. Two methods of determining the rodent species were plot quadrates and trap lines using Sherman live traps

SEMI-MELANISTIC WHITE-TAILED DEER IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN

Melanistic color morphs of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are differentiated from other recognized color morphs by having uniform black hairs on the dorsal surface with subdued black hairs on the ventral surface, dark face and ears, a distinctive mid-dorsal stripe extending from the head to the apex of the tail, and a tail with black dorsally and white ventrally (Baccus and Posey 1999). Melanism results from the overproduction of the skin pigment melanin and is considered rare in white-tailed deer populations (Severinghaus and Cheatum 1956, Sauer 1984, Smith et al. 1984). Semi-melanistic deer have the same dark pelage colors as melanistic morphs, but patterns of white hairs are the same as those of normal color morphs (Baccus and Posey 1999). No literature records of melanism in white-tailed deer existed prior to 1929 (Seton 1929). Melanism has since been documented in north-central and southern Wisconsin (Anonymous 1948, Wozencraft 1979), South Carolina (Rue 1978), Michigan (Rue 1978), Texas (Smith et al. 1984, Baccus and Posey 1999), and Pennsylvania (D\u27Angelo and Baccus 2007). Semi-melanistic deer have been documented in New York (Townsend and Smith 1933), Idaho (Severinghaus and Cheatum 1956), and Texas (Bac(}us and Posey 1999). Herein, we report records for two semi-melanistic adult deer in northwestern Wisconsin

Response of golden-cheeked warblers (Dendroica chrysoparia) to wildfires at Fort Hood, Texas /

no.7 (2007

SEMI-MELANISTIC WHITE-TAILED DEER IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN

Melanistic color morphs of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are differentiated from other recognized color morphs by having uniform black hairs on the dorsal surface with subdued black hairs on the ventral surface, dark face and ears, a distinctive mid-dorsal stripe extending from the head to the apex of the tail, and a tail with black dorsally and white ventrally (Baccus and Posey 1999). Melanism results from the overproduction of the skin pigment melanin and is considered rare in white-tailed deer populations (Severinghaus and Cheatum 1956, Sauer 1984, Smith et al. 1984). Semi-melanistic deer have the same dark pelage colors as melanistic morphs, but patterns of white hairs are the same as those of normal color morphs (Baccus and Posey 1999). No literature records of melanism in white-tailed deer existed prior to 1929 (Seton 1929). Melanism has since been documented in north-central and southern Wisconsin (Anonymous 1948, Wozencraft 1979), South Carolina (Rue 1978), Michigan (Rue 1978), Texas (Smith et al. 1984, Baccus and Posey 1999), and Pennsylvania (D\u27Angelo and Baccus 2007). Semi-melanistic deer have been documented in New York (Townsend and Smith 1933), Idaho (Severinghaus and Cheatum 1956), and Texas (Bac(}us and Posey 1999). Herein, we report records for two semi-melanistic adult deer in northwestern Wisconsin

Breeding Ecology of White-Winged Doves in a Recently Colonized Urban Environment

Volume: 117Start Page: 172End Page: 17

Historic and current distribution and abundance of white-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica) in the United States /

no.6 (2006